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11/24/2000: Although the year-end holidays are just weeks away, there is still plenty of time to select tasteful, desirable gifts that will match the personalities on your gift-giving list and still reflect your audiophile passion. Why not give presents that will keep on playing year round? And in particular, why give gifts of headphones or headphone accessories? Headphones may not top the bill of glamorous audio components. They are typically categorized as "accessories" at audio retailers, and the relative affordability of headphones have further lowered their status in some eyes to "disposable accessories." Yet whatever their perceived value may be, they are surely the most commonly used audio interface.

Today, just about anyone who listens to music will spend far more time with headphones than speakers. The mobile audiophile who has had to endure the sound of cheap, poorly-made headphones that are sold with portables will experience an epiphany when they are replaced by a choice pair. The home audiophile who has invested considerable amounts in a state-of-the-art loudspeaker system may have haphazardly purchased headphones in the mistaken belief that headphone sound cannot compare to loudspeaker reproduction. A pair of state-of-the-art headphones and a headphone amplifier with crossfeed filter could alter that audiophile's world view!

Here are some gift ideas:

1. That favorite tune-toter on your list is probably listening to music on the original not-so-good (read "terrible") headphones that came with the portable player. Replacement headphones with better sound quality can be had for as little as $20 US. Here are some models have been frequently recommended in the HeadWize forums:

   Lightweight types: Grado SR40, SR60; Koss SportaPro, PortaPro Jr.
   Closed types: Beyerdynamic DT231, Sennheiser HD25 SP1, Sony MDR-7506/V6
   In-ear types: Sennheiser MX5 (earbuds); Sony MDR-EX70 (canal headphones)

2. For the audiophile who only wants (and can afford) the best sound, there is now a selection of headphones with stratospheric price tags. Some feature exotic technologies such as electrostatic transducers and spatial sound design. Here are a few high-end headphone suggestions:
   AKG K1000
   Etymotic ER-4B/P/S
   Grado RS1
   Sony CD3000
   Stax Omega II
   Sennheiser HD600
   

3. The high-tech audiophile will do flips over the AKG Hearo 999 (or any other model in the Hearo line). The Hearo 999 is a wireless headphone with a built-in virtualizer that has been getting very good reviews. So far, the Hearos have been limited in distribution to Europe and Asia, but there are rumors that they will make it to U.S. stores in time for holiday shopping.

4. A new audio hardware category is taking the world by storm: headphone amplifiers. The old headphone jack on preamps and integrated amps is taking on a life of its own. Like most audiophile equipment, headphone amps can be very expensive, but there are good buys. The HeadRoom AirHead retails for $130 and has a built-in crossfeed filter. The Antique Labs MG Head DT (all tube), Creek OBH-11 (solid state) and Musical Fidelity X-Cans (IC/tubes) retail for less than $300. The Creek and MF units are often on sale for less than $200.

   The past year has been witness to a surge in high-end headphone amplifiers. Some models are priced well above $5,000 US. While these products tend to be too rich for most headphone-philes, there are those who are fortunate to either own them or otherwise have access to them. Among the high-end amplifiers frequently mentioned in the forums are:

   Cary CAD-300SEI (integrated amp with headphone section)
   EarMax Pro
   HeadRoom Max
   Holmes-Powell DCT-1
   McCormack Headphone Drive
   Audio Valve RKV Mk II
   Stax SRM-717 (electrostatic amp for Stax headphones)
   Wheatfield HA2
   

5. For those who like to give personalized gifts and want to exercise their DIY skills, a pair of custom-modified headphones or a hand-built headphone amplifier is sure to please. These types of gifts could include a "handcrafted by" card to authenticate the DIYer's work. A set of Koss Plugs with new ear cushions created from disposable ear plugs will greatly improve the performance of these phones for a small investment in materials. Charles Miller's modifications for the Sennheiser HD500 fine-tunes the performance of those phones. The ideas and techniques described in the project articles could also be applied to other similar models of headphones.

   Headphone amp kits are an excellent value as they can result in a finished product that costs many times less than their commercial equivalents. Some kits have unique features that are not available in other products. All of the following kit suggestions use premium quality parts. The HD83 is a tube (2 ECL83s) headphone amplifier kit from World Audio Design and costs 150 UKP for overseas orders or 175 UKP within the UK. The PHONES-01 headphone amp kit by Ben Duncan sells for about $400 US from Old Colony Sound or 218 UKP from British Audio Products. John Linsley Hood's Chiarra class A headphone amplifier kit costs about 180 UKP, including the separate Andante power supply. It is available at Williams Hart Electronics.

   Jan Meier has prepared 2 kits exclusively for HeadWizers: a headphone amp with adjustable crossfeed filter and the Analoguer, a filter that improves CD sound. The Meier kits are priced at $250 and $260 respectively (US prices). Carl Hanson is selling the pc board only for a pocket headphone amp with crossfeed filter ($6.50 US each). The designs that inspired the Meier and Hansen offerings can be found in the HeadWize Projects Library.

   The HeadWize Projects Library has many more designs for those who are willing to shop for the parts and prepare their own enclosures. The DIY beginner can turn to many resources on the web for advice. HeadWizers have always evinced a strong DIY spirit and the DIY Workshop forum is filled with discussions about headphone mods, and headphone amp design and construction. Most of the electronic parts are readily available. And those decorative holiday food tins are a great source of festive-looking enclosures. Assembling electronics projects requires patience, care and planning, so DIYers should start several weeks in advance of the holiday.

6. For headphone-philes who are very happy with their hardware, a first binaural recording could introduce them to the wonders of three-dimensional sound. Because binaural recordings do not always contain the finest performances and the musical material tends to appeal to esoteric tastes, choose the recordings carefully. The Binaural Source has a very generous return policy, and their online catalog identifies recordings with particularly good sonics.

7. There is a large number of headphone accessories which would make excellent gifts. Many are inexpensive (and small) enough for stocking stuffers and grab bags. See A Quick Guide To Headphone Accessories for a long list of possibilities. It is a good idea to include a typed instruction card for unusual items. If an accessory appears too "techie," it could be dressed up with a painted design or appropriate decals. For example, a set of RF suppressors would make a fine gift and could benefit from an attached instruction card and some colorful decoration.

HEADPHONE PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Alessandro High-End Products and Grado Labs have teamed up to create the Music Series headphones for the pro audio industry. The products will carry both the Alessandro and Grado names, but will be marketed only by Alessandro. The MS-1, MS-2 and MS-Pro are supposed to upgraded versions of the Grado SR-80, SR-325 and RS-1. They retail for $99, $299 and $699 respectively and can be purchased online from Alessandro and at select pro audio retailers such as Guitar Center.

  

• Sony has announced general availability of the MDR-DS5100 wireless headphone with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and Sony's Virtualphones technology for 3D sound. The DS5100 has a faster 125 MPS DSP than the DS5000 headphones (44 MIPS) for "a rich, natural sound quality and more substantial bass to enhance the sense of 'live' entertainment." The transmitter's range is 33 feet. The wireless headphone weighs 10 oz. The DS5100 system retails for $500 US. Additional wireless headphones are available for $150 US.

  

  Sony's MDR-CDx80 Digital Reference Series headphones feature washable cloth earpads and MDR-CD580 and higher models have user-replaceable cords. Sony sells a variety of cords for this line (different lengths, with and without volume controls). All models have a brushed-silver finish, and a closed-front, open-back earcup construction to create a wide and open sound stage. The model specs are:

  • MDR-CD780: 50mm drivers, impedance 32 ohms, sensitivity 106 dB/mW, power handling 1500mW, $200
  • MDR-CD580: 40mm drivers, impedance 40 ohms, sensitivity 104 dB/mW, power handling 1500mW, $100
  • MDR-CD380: 40mm drivers, impedance 40 ohms, sensitivity 104 dB/mW, power handling 1500mW, $60
  • MDR-CD280: 30mm drivers, impedance 24 ohms, sensitivity 98 dB/mW, power handling 1000mW, $30
  • MDR-CD180: 30mm drivers, impedance 24 ohms, sensitivity 98 dB/mW, power handling 1000mW, $30

  

• These new products from Koss follow the latest trends in portable headphone styling. The Koss KSC-15 is a supra-aural headphone with a behind-the-neck headband. Specs: impedance 32 ohms; sensitivity 98dB/mW; 4-foot, dual-entry cord with inline volume control. The Koss KSC-5 earbuds clip around the ear for an unobtrusive and secure fit. Specs: impedance 32 ohms; sensitivity 98dB/mW; 4-foot, single-entry cord. The KSC-15 and KSC-5 retail for $15 and $10 US respectively.

  

• The Sennheiser HDC-55 aviation noise cancellation headphones incorporate a swiveling earpiece design for an ergonomic fit and simple storage, and replaceable earpads at an affordable price. The headphones are a supra-aural, open-back design, and offer up to 10 dB of noise reduction in the 300 to 900 Hz range. Sennheiser is marketing the HDC-55 to the airline industry for in-flight passenger use. They are available with two-pin or three-pin connectors. Pricing is estimated at $100 US.

  Sennheiser's latest wireless headphones operate more reliably due to a new auto-tuning circuit that locks in the clearest reception with the press of a button. The RS45 operates over a distance of 100 meters. A built-in audio filter blocks interference from television sets. The RS65 has an SRS surround processor. It will reach louder volumes than the RS45 and is very comfortable with velour earpads. The RS85 has the "HiDyn Plus" noise reduction circuitry for the lowest background noise. All of the new models have "environmentally-friendly" batteries that automatically recharge when the headphones are stored on the transmitter. Sennheiser has not released pricing information on these phones yet.

  The HD575 is Sennheiser's newest Bionetic headphone. Sennheiser has not released any official information about this model yet - even though it is already available at dealers. Similar in appearance to the HD570, the HD575 uses the same transducers as the HD590 and is supposed to be a limited edition headphone. The Bionetic housing, which adapts to the shape of the listener's head, and the velour earpads provide for best fit and comfort. The MSRP is about $160 US.

  

  The Sennheiser HD535 DSP is a new package combining the HD535 headphones and DSP360 virtualizer. It retails for $169 US.

  

• Plantronics has introduced a new line of USB headphones for speech recognition and multimedia applications. The new line consists of models DSP-100, DSP-300, DSP-400 and DSP-500. They all feature a noise-cancelling microphone, a USB DAC and the PerSono Audio Control Center software. The USB DAC provides a digital audio connection to the PC via the USB port (bypassing the sound card) and uses digital signal processing technology from Texas Instruments for superior sound quality on the input and output signals. The PerSono application can be set to launch and control MP3, CD and DVD files and provides convenient adjustments for volume, balance, bass and treble for output sound, as well as mute and volume adjustment for the microphone.

  The DSP-100 is a monaural headset. The DSP-300 and DSP-400 are stereo supra-aural headphones. The DSP-400 has a foldable headband for easy storage and transport. The DSP-500 is circumaural design, offered as a gaming/multimedia headphone. The DSP-500 uses 40mm transducers for extended low frequency response. The DSP models retail for about $90, $110, $120 and $140 respectively (all US pricing). The USB DACs comply with the latest USB standards and will work on Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000 and Macintosh 9.04 platforms.

  

• Telex has introduced three new headphones. The Airman ANR 500 is a lightweight active noise reduction headset marketed to pilots and comes with its own flight bag. The ear cushions are foam-filled moleskin and electret. It has a noise cancelling microphone is mounted on a flex boom. The battery module (9V) includes the controls for power, volume, and stereo/mono operation, and operates for 50 hours. The Airman ANR 500 retails for $519 ($582 with panel power option).

  The Telex Odyssey line consists of professional-grade mono and stereo multimedia headphones for classroom applications. Extra deep ear cup cavities and a flexible new sling under the headband provide custom fit and comfort. They can be ordered with mix-and-match replaceable cord assemblies and plugs. Volume control and headband sling are now standard on all Odyssey models except model OH-200. Prices range from $35 to $45 US.

  

  The Telex H-551 and H-541 are the first commercially available full-duplex USB headphones that can connect to computers with USB ports and without the need of sound cards. The H-551 is a stereo headset with noise-canceling microphone for music, gaming and voice recognition applications. The stereo headset without the USB pack is available separately as the H-51. The H-541 is a single-sided mono headset and is suited for voice and telephony applications. They retail for $90 US and $80 US respectively and may be purchased through CompUSA stores or Telex's online store.

  

• The GN Netcom GN9000 wireless headset is the first commercially shipping product to achieve Bluetooth certification. The headset enables users to communicate with different Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as mobile phones, personal computers, PDAs within a range of 30 feet/10 meters. Bluetooth-enabled devices use radio transmission to make instant, ad hoc connections with other Bluetooth-enabled products for easy and seamless communications. The GN9000 base station will also plug into any standard desktop phone and thereby Bluetooth-enable that phone. GN Netcom is targeting the GN9000 at the professional office and SOHO markets. The GN9000 retails for $499 US. The headset only sells for $299.

  

• Bang & Olufsen's A8 clip-on earbuds have an ear frame made of aluminium and hard rubber, and weigh only 8 grams each. Both the frame and earbud are hinged for optimal adjustment and fit. The headphones come in a carrying case with a 2-meter extension cord and an extra set of earpads. The MSRP is $160 US.

  

• Samson Technologies's RH600, RH300, RH100 and PH60 make up Samson's new line of pro reference headphones. The RH studio models are an open-back design with 40mm drivers and a mesh covering on the earcups for clear, transparent sound. The PH60 is a lightweight headphone with 34mm drivers in a translucent blue housing for personal players. The RH series have impedances of 40 ohms, 32 ohms, and 64 ohms; and retail for $70 US, $55 US, and $45 US respectively.

  
  

• The Panasonic RP-HS70 and RP-HS75 clip-on headphones are available in a variety of colors. The clips have a dual hinge design and a water-resistant construction. The transducers are 28mm. The RP-HS70 comes in silver, blue and yellow. The RP-HS75 is available in silver with an inline volume control. They retail for $21.95 and $29.95 respectively.

  

  The Panasonic RQ-SW09V portable AM/FM/cassette player includes clip-on headphones with "Brain-Shaker" technology. All headphones in the "Brain Shaker" line have built-in vibration transducers (VMSS) that transmit the physical sensation of bass frequencies in music. The player itself features a digital synthesized tuner, 20-station presets, full logic auto-reverse tape playback. The aluminum body has a floating construction for excellent shock resistance. The RQ-SW09V will run for up to 28 hours on a single AA battery. It retails for $90 US.

  Panasonic also announces its new RP-HDA100 "DVD-Audio Ready" headphones. It is an open-air design with an ultra-wide frequency response to 100kHz. Each earcup contains a two-way transducer system: 57mm Woofer + 20mm Tweeter. The 10-foot headphone cord is user-replaceable and will automatically detach if it is caught on an object to prevent damage to the headphones themselves. Specs: impedance 32 ohms, sensitivity 100 dB/mW, power handling 1000mW. The RP-HDA100 is scheduled to be released in the Fall. No pricing information yet.

  

• HeadWize author Jan Meier has started a new company called Corda and is offering two products: the Headphone Amplifier and Analoguer. The circuitry in these components have opamps that are biased to operate in class A and power supplies with ground-loop breaker topology. The Headphone Amplifier features Meier's adjustable natural crossfeed filter with 4 settings and dual impedance headphone jacks for optimal headphone interfacing. The Analoguer is a filter that removes the edginess in CD recordings by reducing the ringing in high frequencies. A bass enchancement equalizer complements the filter. The circuits for the Headphone Amplifier and Analoguer are based on his designs published in HeadWize Projects Library.

  Both products are available as kits and pre-assembled and are being offered exclusively to HeadWizers. The kits are priced at $250 US/DM 575/Fl 650 and $260 US/DM 600/Fl 675 respectively. However, from now until 1/1/2001, assembled units of the Headphone Amplifier and Analoguer are on sale at the same price as the kits. Contact the Corda directly to order.

  

• Furman Sound's HDS-16 rackmount distribution system connects to the studio console and routes 8 mono and 4 stereo signals to an HRM-16 remote mixing stations via Centronics 50 pin cables. They are designed to function equally well for live (in-ear or stage monitors) and studio applications. All inputs are balanced; line outputs are balanced or single ended. A single HDS-16 will accept up to 8 HRM-16's, allowing as many as 16 users (2 per each HRM-16) to customize eight different mixes. The HRM-16 Remote Mixer attaches to a mic stand and allows headphone/monitor mixes to be created on the fly. Each HRM-16 mixer user can communicate with other users and the main mixing location through the talkback system. A SOLO system allows the engineer to mute all but one stereo send from the mix location. Additional HRM-16 features include local effects send/return, line out, overall bass/treble controls, talkback level, and a master level control. The HDS-16 retails for $700 US; the HRM-16 for $600 US.

  

• The Sound Valves Glory Headphone-Line Stage is a headphone amplifier and control preamp. It features 2 headphone outputs; several audio source inputs; DIRECT-IN switching which bypasses all internal switches other than volume; subwoofer level control; "hi-norm," "norm," and "lo" outputs. The dual mono power supply has separate transformers for each channel and HEXFET high voltage regulation with soft start. The headphone outputs are a class A, 200mW current amplifier with discrete output devices. The preamp audio stages are also class A. The Glory retails for $1800 US.

• The Esoteric Audio Research tube headphone amplifier/preamplifier has with two headphone outputs and a 1 watt drive capability. It has balanced and unbalanced inputs and a speaker mute switch. The circuit consists of 4 tubes in a single-ended, "enhanced triode mode" class A topology. The EAR headphone amplifier is scheduled to be available in the US in late October and will retail for $3,495.

  

• Antique Sound Labs has upgraded its MG Head DT tube headphone amplifier. The upgrade includes a mini ALPS volume control for better tracking, MIT MusicCap capacitors in the audio path, higher capacity power transformer, and JJ vacuum tubes (two EL84 and one ECC83). The MG Head DT retails for $279 US.

• HeadRoom has temporarily discontinued the Total AirHead portable headphone amp due to problems with battery life and distortion on some units. The TA normally has a battery life of about 7 hours. Defective units have a battery life of just 1 to 2 hours. HeadRoom will accept returns of Total AirHeads with this defect even if it was not detected until after the normal 30-day return period. Shipments of the TA will resume once the problem is isolated and corrected.

3D SOUND TECHNOLOGIES AND PC APPLICATIONS

• The TheaterPhone HSM6240 from Lake Technologies is a 2/5 channel headphone surround monitoring box with Dolby Headphone virtualization. It allows multiple user surround monitoring without the need for expensive and large multi-channel speaker set-ups. The HSM6240 has 6 analogue TRS balanced inputs with through connectors and an analogue 2 channel line out. There is a -10/+4 dbm input level switch on the rear panel. The front panel includes a channel activity display and a mode button to switch between 3 Dolby Headphone room simulations. Prototypes will be ready at the beginning of 2001, and the first production run is due in April 2001. Pricing is estimated to be less than $1,200 US.

  

• SRS Labs is launching a new line of WOW-branded products for computers, video game consoles and personal audio devices, and includes the previously released WOW Thing Box. WOW is a 3D sound and bass enchancement technology for headphones and speakers. The WOW Thing for Computers improves music and game audio quality. WOW Thing for Game Consoles is a gaming accessory kit that comes with a clear translucent WOW Thing for connecting to any video game console system. The WOW Man is a battery-operated, portable version of the WOW Thing for use with personal players. Pricing is as follows: WOW Thing for Computers ($40 US), WOW Thing for Game Consoles ($50), WOW Man ($60). All products were to be available by November, but as of this writing, they are still pending.

  

• Sensaura's Jamma is a 3D sound plugin for Winamp MP3 players (support for other players coming soon). It will virtualize a stereo sound source in headphones and loudspeakers and works with digital audio streams such as MP3 and WAV files. The ear-shaped control panel has switches for "On/Off" (bypass), Headphones/Speakers and adjusters for Width, Focus, BassFX and JammaFX. The Width option controls the apparent width of the soundstage. Focus is a form of crossfeed. BassFX enhances the low frequencies and JammaFX works with the Width option to further widen the soundstage. The minimum recommended platform is a Pentium 200 MHz PC. Jamma costs $20 and can be purchased at Sensaura's e-Commerce Store.

• At the World Airline Entertainment Association Conference in Anaheim, California (Sept. 19-22), Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation (MAS), SLAB DSP Limited and Labtec Inc. announced a strategic undertaking to develop noise-canceling solutions for potential incorporation into MAS In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems. The companies showed prototypes of analog stand-alone noise-canceling headsets that are as effective as the leading noise-canceling headsets on the market today, but which are expected to cost much less than any of today’s models. The digital models will provide a "neuro-spatial enhancement" for 3D virtual sound in headphones.

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

• In the September issue of Audiophile Audition, John Sunier reviews the Cantares SSP-1 Surround-Sound Processor and Subwoofer Crossover, which has facilities for decoding "just about any analog matrix surround format on earth today or yesterday, plus B-Format Ambisonic decoding." It also has a "Binaural" option for playback of binaural recordings over loudspeakers, although modern binaural recordings are usually equalized to sound good over loudspeakers. Sunier found that the "UHJ" and "Movie Music" modes processed binaural sound with similar effect, and so the Binaural mode was superfluous. Overall, however, the SSP-1 was a "winner".

NOTABLE SALES

• Audio FX is selling the Stax SR001 MkII electrostatic headphones for $389 (list price is $455). A 3-year extended warranty is $59 more (5 years for $89). This is a "weekly" special, so the sale price may not last long.
• GoodCans.com has the Audio Technica ATH-910 on closeout for $49.95 (list is $89). Check out their Specials page for other great deals.

DIYer Alert - Audio Amateur Corporation will be combining all three of its DIY publications (Audio Electronics, Glass Audio and Speaker Builder) into a single publication called audioXpress, the same name as their website. audioXpress will publish 12 issues per year starting in January 2001. The annual subscription rate is $29.95 US.

8/1/2000: As many of you have already noticed, there have been some major improvements to the HeadWize Forums software. Forum participation has been rising steadily over the last few months, and the increased traffic as well as the large message base warranted a major overhaul to the software. Here is a list of the new features:

• New Message Status (identifies forums with new posts since your last visit)
  
• Last Time Visited Status (we missed you while you were away)
  
• Registered Users Status (so you can watch the membership grow)
  
• Lost Password (email yourself your password, if you've forgotten it)
  
• Hot Thread Status (so you can quickly find the heated discussions)
  
• Message Previewing (for new topics and replies, so you can check HTML and UBB links)
  
• New Search Engine (multiple word searches, new search options, bug fixes)
• a few minor layout changes

I hope you find this upgrade useful. If you have problems posting, please make sure that your browser has Javascript enabled. If Javascript is disabled, the Submit button (new topics and replies) will NOT work. Please email any bug reports to me.

Here it is the middle of summer, and I am amazed at the number of new product announcements compared to the same time last year! Of course, it could be that I am just getting better at finding the new products. Also, HeadWize users have been very helpful in getting product news to me. Many thanks to them and for their continued support.

This month, there is an explosion of color in the headphone market. The latest products have highly customizable appearance and innovative design! Some have accessory kits that allow headphone wearers to change the color of earpieces to suit their tastes and moods. Others offer blank inserts, so that artistic headphone users can create their own patterns and messages. Headphones are transforming into mediums of personal expression - probably the only type of audio hardware that can claim such a distinction.

Let me repeat what has already been said many times: "Headphones are hot!!!" In fact, headphones are so hot that many audio OEMs have added or will be expanding their headphone lines. If headphones are hot, so are headphone accessories and electronics. Several new headphone amplifiers have entered the marketplace, from the economically-priced to the luxury, but all claiming excellent performance. And here is a first: an audiophile replacement headphone cable for the Sennheiser HD600. This product marks a milestone in the recognition of headphones as serious audio equipment.

PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Audio-Technica has introduced several new headphone models in eye-catching colors and styles. The ATH-R5 is a closed-back behind-the-neck type headphone. It features transducers with 40mm diaphragm, a foldable headband and comes in black and silver. Specs: 32 ohm impedance, 105dB/mW sensitivity, 500mW max. power handling. The ATH-R5 retails for 3,300 Yen.

  The ATH-EZ3 and EZ5 are over-the-ear or "hanging" style headphones in Audio-Technica's "EARZ" line for portables. The transducers are supra-aural types. Available in blue, silver, grey and white, they have 36mm drivers and come with adapters for use with CD and MD Remote Commanders. Specs: 32 ohms, 99dB/mW (EZ3) and 104dB/mW (EZ5) sensitivity, 500mW max. power handling. The EZ3 retails for 2,200 Yen; the EZ5 retails for 2,500 Yen.

  The ATH-ET7 is another over-the-ear type, but has hinged earbud-like transducers and ear shields that can be user-adjusted to different positions for optimal sound! The transducers have 31.5mm diaphragms. The ear shields are available in translucent blue, gray, pink, white, teal, light blue and violet. Specs: 32 ohms impedance, 111db/mW sensitivity. It retails for 3,500 Yen.

  

• Aiwa's HP-WA201 infrared wireless headphone system: The headphones are lightweight, supra-aural types, with 38mm transducers and a noise suppressing muting function that automatically cuts harsh transmission noises. The headphones can be powered with the included rechargeable battery (30 hours on 24 hour charge) or an alkaline AA battery (up to 100 hours). The transmitter has an effective range of 7m and an auto power ON/OFF. Available in silver at the retail price of 6,000 Yen.

  

• Sennheiser's new MX300, MX400 and MX500 earbuds replace the MX3, MX4 and MX5 and improve on their predecessors with lower pricing, higher performance and trendier aesthetics. The MX300 comes in a black finish with silver print and is optimized for rock and pop with a strong, bass-driven sound. The MX400 is black with chrome accents and boasts increased bass response, higher efficiency, and a cord-windup carrying box. The blue metallic MX500 includes an inline volume control. Specs: 32 ohms impedance, 116-119dB max. SPL. The new MX earbuds retail for $9.95, $14.95 and $19.95 respectively.

  

• Right on the heels of its DT231, Beyerdynamic has spawned a snazzier version of the headphone called the DT231 Galactic. The contemporary design features a transparent blue ear cap to put the listener in "a good mood" and to tempt the listener "to listen to the music or play (maybe sometimes work) at the computer for hours and hours." Pricing for the DT231 Galactic will be about 10% more than for the standard DT231.

  

• The Sony MDR-CD2000 is an closed-front/open-back headphone that can create a wide and open sound stage. The "Aura-nomic" drivers face the eardrums for enhanced sound with 50mm Vectran-combined bio-cellulose diaphragms for deep bass (down to 5Hz) and wide dynamic range. The 25mm-thick circumaural urethane earpads (replaceable and washable) distribute pressure evenly around the ear for exceptional comfort. The cord is detachable. Specs: 32 ohms impedance, 106dB/mW sensitivity, 1500mW max. power handling. The MDR-CD2000 retails for $700.

• The Sony MDR-G82LP is the first closed-back behind-the-neck headphone in its StreetStyle line. The headband folds for convenient carrying. The 30mm drivers have a wide frequency range and a deep bass response due to the "Acoustic Twin Turbo" circuit in the earcups. Specs: 24 ohms impedance, 102dB/mW sensitivity, 1000mW max. power handling. The MDR-G82LP lists for $49.99.

  

  The Sony MDR-Q33SL is an over-the-ear type with supra-aural transducers and changeable ear caps. Each MDR-Q33SL comes with 2 sets of caps, each set having a different color and/or design. There are 5 retail versions: black/clear rainbow, silver/orange, metallic gray/clear blue, metallic blue/clear white and white/blue lame. An additional 8 color cap sets can be purchased separately. Specs: 24 ohms impedance, 30mm drivers, 104dB/mW sensitivity, 100mW max. power handling. The MDR-Q33SL retails for 3,300 Yen.

  

• JVC's HA-DX3 and HA-DX1 are its new audiophile headphones. Both models have 50mm transducers, mounted in a resonance dampening housing with a metal cap and use a 4-conductor cord to reduce crosstalk between channels. A three-position Accu-Fit system provides superior comfort. Specs: 120mW (HA-DX3) and 100mW (HA-DX1) max. power handling. The HA-DX3 and HA-DX1 retail for $249 and $149 respectively.

  The JVC HA-E9BU "Attitude Headset" is an over-the-ear design with supra-aural transducers and interchangeable design discs. Additional designs can be downloaded from the JVC website, and JVC sells pre-cut blank discs for those who want to create their own designs. The HA-E9BU drivers have 30mm diaphragms. The earpieces are also imprinted with Braille-type L/R identifications. Specs: 32 ohms impedance, 98dB/mW sensitivity, 50mW max. power handling. The HA-E9BU lists for $34.

  

• The Stax SRM-717 Solid State amplifier is designed to drive Stax Earspeakers with a stable output voltage of more than 400V up to 10kHz to ensure compatibility with new audio formats such as DVD Audio and SACD. The SRM-717 uses a balanced, DC-coupled topology, with dual FETS in first stage and rugged emitter followers for superb reliability and extremely low impedance. The unit is built on a non-magnetic chassis, with a precision 4-gang volume control that can be bypassed from a switch on the front panel. Specs: DC - 100 kHz freq. response, 450Vr.m.s. 20-10kHz max. output voltage, 100mV/100V gain, 50K ohms input impedance and 580V bias voltage. The SRM-717 measures (W)195×(H)103×(D)420mm and retails for $2,825.

  

• Amity Hi-Fi's new HPA4 and HPA5 are the latest additions to its growing line of headphone amplifiers. The HPA5 has the same circuitry as the HPA4, but the power supply for the HPA5 is housed separately and uses a higher capacity toroid transformer for improved clarity and dynamics. Both amplifiers are built with high-end Burr-Brown ICs and can drive headphones from 30 to 300 ohms. When compared with their popular HPA2 class A headphone amplifiers, the HPA4/HPA5 provide "a gain in special placement and music information. Music listening is even more fun." Specs: 42K ohm input impedance, 98dB separation, > 95dB S/N (105dB for HPA5), >1V/uS slew rate (5V/uS for HPA5). The HPA4 measures 110mm x 62mm x 200mm (HPA5 220mm x 62mm x 200mm). The HPA4 and HPA5 retail for $318 and $570 respectively and can be ordered directly from Amity. (Thanks to Reticuli in the forums for posting price info.)

  

• The Wheatfield Audio HA-1 is a high quality, low-cost tube headphone amplifier. The circuit employs an ECC82 voltage gain stage and a pair of 7044 triodes in the output stage. The output impedance of the HA-1 is around 35 ohms can drive even low-impedance headphones, like the Grados, with ease. The amplifier is built with high quality parts throughout such as polypropylene capacitors and a toroidal power transformer. The HA-1 also provides a line-level output for use as a single-source preamp to drive a power amplifier. It retails for $525.

  The original HA-2 headphone amplifier has gone up in price to $849. Wheatfield is also selling a deluxe version of the HA-2 with upgraded tubes for $899. Current owners of the HA-2 may want to contact Wheatfield to get the latest tube information.

  

• Clou Cable's 212 Jaspis Earphone is an audiophile replacement cable for the Sennheiser HD600 headphone cord. The cable is made from high purity silver-plated copper-conductors insulated with Teflon. The conductors are twined Clou-style and shielded with two shields (Blue Jaspis) or three shields (Red Jaspis), made of different alloys to absorb different frequencies of interference. With two or three shields and twined in its special way the cable is next to impervious to interference such as radio transmissions, electrical fields etc. Clou Cable says that this supplies "deep and dynamic bass, a comfortable resolution in the middle range and an airy and energetic treble with high resolution. The excellent speed contributes to a large, airy and sharp three-dimensional imaging." The 212 Jaspis Earphone cable can be ordered directly from Clou Cable. The Blue version retails for 795 SEK or about $90 US; the red version is 1095 SEK.

  

• Given the pervasiveness of PC-based music, it was just a matter of time before audio engineers tackled the weak link: the PC soundcard. Both the Yamaha @PET RP-U100 and the Stereo-Link SL-1200 bypass the DAC on the soundcard by retrieving the digital stream through the PC's USB port. The Yamaha RP-U100 is designed like an audio "reciever" with multiple source input jacks, a built-in stereo tuner, a headphone jack and a 30W stereo amplifier for driving loudspeakers. It also features Yamaha's Silent Cinema 3D sound processing for headphone listening as well as a host of other DSP options in the accompanying software. The RP-U100 retails for $500.

  Unlike the Yamaha RP-U100, the Stereo-Link SL-1200 aims only to provide a high quality line-level audio signal (2V rms) from the digital stream. Internally, the SL-1200 uses 20-bit DACs to achieve CD quality output. An included PC application provides control of volume, balance, mute, bass and treble. The SL-1200 has a 3.5mm headphone jack (75mW into 16 ohms) on the front panel for private listening. The minimum platform is a PC with Windows 98/2000 or Mac OS 9.0.4 or higher. The SL-1200 lists for $200. Thanks to Rick and Thomas in the forums for the notice on these products.

3D SOUND TECHNOLOGIES AND PC APPLICATIONS

• QSound has released iQfx 2.0, a 3D sound simulation plug-in for RealPlayer and RealJukebox that works with headphones and loudspeakers. iQfx 2.0 comes in 2 versions: Basic and Plus. The Basic version is free and provides 3D sound processing and bass extension for audio streams. A depth control customizes the spatial enviroment. The Plus version adds midrange and treble processing, improved bass processing, will operate on mono streams and can be optimized for voice and music. For more information about iQfx2, see the description of the iQfx2 beta in the May announcements. Since its release, iQfx2 has become the number 1 accessory download from the real.com site. It is also the number 3 seller on real.com. iQfx 2.0 Plus retails for $14.95. It can be downloaded at real.com Accessories.

  

• Lake Technology has developed a plug-in for RealJukebox called "Lake Personal Listening Space (PLS) with Dolby Headphone". PLS uses Dolby Headphone algorithms originally developed by Lake to create a 3D listening environment in headphones. The plugin has 3 different room settings. The minimum platform requirement is a Pentium 266MHz CPU, 32M RAM and 4M hard disk space. PLS is available from Real.com Accessories as a download for $19.99. A free, time-limited evaluation version is also available.

  

• Microsoft Corporation's new Windows Media Player 7 (a fully integrated, all-in-one player that can copy CDs, receive Internet radio, play videos, and more) features SRS Lab's WOW 3D sound processing for headphones and loudspeakers. SRS WOW technology adds deep bass and dynamic range, and offers a higher quality and fully immersive experience. WMP7 marks the first inclusion of SRS Labs' technologies by Microsoft as part of a strategic technology alliance they formed in March. Microsoft made an equity investment in SRS Labs and the companies entered into a strategic technology and marketing alliance that gives Microsoft access to SRS Labs' full complement of advanced audio and voice technologies, such as WOW audio enhancement. WMP7 will run only on Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Windows CE 2.11 or higher. The minimum hardware is a Pentium 266MHz CPU and 64M of free hard disk space. It can be downloaded at the Windows Media Homepage.

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

• On p. 184 of the June 2000 issue of the Robb Report, Ken Kessler reviewed the Stax Omega II headphones. He said: "the Stax Omega II is the ticket to bliss. The Stax flagship headphones simply have no competition because they reproduce music with the detail and transparency matched by no other headphone or speaker. As a result, using the Omega II is probably the ultimate way for users to listen to their systems when they want total concentration with no distractions."

• Patrick Fraser in the June issue of Gramophone surveys these headphone amplifiers: Creek OBH-11, EarMax Pro, HeadRoom Little with the HeadRoom More Power power supply, Musical Fidelity X-Cans v2 and the Naim HeadLine with Naim PSC power supply. He concludes: "There isn't a bad amp here, even the HeadRoom making a highly enjoyable companion, while those on a tight budget or simply looking to add a headphone output to their system, can buy the Creek with confidance.... the Naim proves a precise and highly enjoyable performer, having superb bass and a rare ability to put the performance first ... and if it's partnered with quality headphones it won't disappoint. The EarMax Pro sounds big without the bluster, satisfyingly smooth but never lacking in bite, and with grip and presence to die for, this amp is the best-sounding unit in the group.... But for sheer value for money, the Musical Fidelity really stands out. It is tight, airy and offers greater insight into the music then the Creek, yet it costs only 20 pounds more." Thanks to Arik in the forums for this information.

NOTABLE SALES AND PROMOTIONS

• Sennheiser is offering a free eh-1430 Evolution headphone with every purchase of an e-845 Evolution vocal microphone.

• Citibank Singapore will give new applicants for its MasterCard or Visa credit cards a free Sony MDR-Q33SL headphone. Details can be found at hidden-money.com. Offer is good until August 31, 2000.

The next update is scheduled for October 2000.

5/1/00: As I write this update, HeadWize is just weeks away from its second anniversary. For the month of April, the site statistics summary boasts that HeadWize received over 100,000 requests for pages (more than 700,000 hits), which is very gratifying indeed. Especially popular have been the forums, which account for the individual pages most requested.

There have been alot of duplicate postings in the forums of late. Please, before you post a question in the forums, run a search to see if the question has already been asked and answered. In the coming months, I hope to further refine the forum search engine program and to compile an annual "Selected Messages" archive for the Headphone Reviews, Headphone Accessories and possibly the DIY Workshop forums.

Beginning this month, all new images appearing in HeadWize announcements and articles will render in colors beyond those in the "web-safe" palette. Although web-safe images display correctly in the widest range of computer monitors, they can manifest a "graininess" and a loss in resolution. Since the color monitors sold with computers now support true color, and since many owners of older color monitors are upgrading, this policy change will hopefully make HeadWize more enjoyable and useful. The new images will still be in gif format to download quickly, but will assume that PC monitors can able to display in "true" color.

A few comments: This month's editorial was actually scheduled for later in the year. Recent events have impelled me to move it forward. It is a bit long-winded, but on a subject near and dear to me (and, no doubt, to many HeadWize users, as well).

There are several new DIY projects in the works including opamp-based headphone amplifiers, an electrostatic headphone design, a portable electrostatic headphone amplifier, a binaural dummy head. Look for them and others to appear in the Library in the coming weeks and months. As always, HeadWize welcomes headphone-related contributions. Please don't hesitate to contact me regarding publication on HeadWize.

EDITORIAL: The Care and Feeding of the Electronics Hobbyist

In a letter to the editors in the April 2000 issue of Poptronics, Ron N. Friesen asks for a Special Year 2000 Commemorative Edition "featuring the most unique or novel projects" published over the years. "What an education it would be for your younger readers. In addition, it would be wonderful for the long-time readers who remember [the thrill] of their first electronic project." Among those memorable articles, he cites such venerable projects as the "Flame Speaker" and "Lava Lamp" and goes on to suggest today's readers might find similar inspiration in a "frequency-sensitive kaleidoscope" based on a circuit published in the magazine over a decade ago. There is a subtle undertone of disappointment in Friesen's otherwise nostalgic and complimentary letter, perhaps hinting that recent issues have not met the standards established in the past. Surely, modern-day DIYers deserve to experience the same thrill of discovery and wonder that their Golden Age counterparts did.

Worldwide, DIY electronics seems to have lost much of the enthusiasm that once motivated hobbyists to innovate with the same vigor as patent-happy engineers. Over the years, DIY electronic magazines have reflected this decline with lackluster projects and indirection. In January 2000, Gernsback Publishing gave in to a disturbing trend in DIY electronic journals when it merged "Popular Electronics" with its sister magazine "Electronics Now" to form "Poptronics." In doing so, it followed in the footsteps of other illustrious DIY electronics publications such as Wireless World/Electronics World and Electronics Australia/Professional Electronics. Although no specific reason was given for the Poptronics consolidation, it is a fair conjecture that falling circulation was a factor. In the March 2000 issue, Konstantinos Karagiannis, editor-in-chief of Poptronics, writes:

Seriously, consumer electronics are easy to use, nice to look at, and in some cases awe-inspiring. In the midst of my elation, I can't help but think where modern advances leave the hobbyist. Once we built things that were too expensive to buy - now the cost of parts for a typical project far exceeds the price of a finished consumer version. Once we built things that we couldn't find in stores - now we shake our heads at how many great ideas are vying for shelf space....

How can we compete? We can't, that's obvious.... Why not put the digital beasts to work and interface them with something you build? Regardless of what you do with your creations, make them reflect the age we live in. A good first step toward adding some modern glitz to your projects is found in this issue... ("How's a Hobbyist to Compete," Poptronics, March 2000, p. 3).

To say that the hobbyist cannot compete is to sound a surrender in the struggle of a golden age under siege. Shall DIYers just go out quietly in style, covering our good works with "modern glitz"? Karagiannis is not alone in his defeatism, though others are more subtle in how they express it. For example, the publishers of Audio Amateur recently changed the name of that great and classic DIY magazine to Audio Electronics, a move that de-emphasizes the "home-brew" nature of its forebear. And the last 20 years have witnessed the slow passing of electronics supply outlets; perhaps the largest of them, Radio Shack, now puts less-requested parts on special order only.

The decline of DIY electronics has consequences beyond the mere loss of an activity for idle hands. Many of history's great electrical engineers had their humble beginnings in the building of radios, audio amplifiers and other homebrew projects taken from the pages of DIY magazines like Poptronics. Are future engineers to be lured into the profession solely by the prospect of fabulous salaries? While it is hard to dismiss the importance of capitalist incentives, the profession, as a result, is likely to suffer the absence of inventive spirit in the ranks.

Karagiannis rightly puts a portion of the blame for the flagging interest in DIY electronics on the complexity, value and finish of modern consumer electronic products, which are difficult for DIYers to match. Certainly, the home-built one-tube or one-transistor radios that could once be called "the best available" are today little more than curiosities. However, while it is true that commercial electronic products contain complex designs, so do integrated circuits, which DIYers can connect like building blocks into vast assemblies. As commercial products tend to host numerous features of questionable utility, DIY projects that are carefully planned and executed can still command the respect and admiration of hobbyists.

Moreover, DIY electronics magazines must also vye for readership with their online cousins. Many of these do not charge a fee for access and offer the advantage that all project articles are archived online and instantly available - unlike articles in print which disappear from public view once the next monthly installment comes out. But some publishers are responding to that challenge by starting magazine-related websites that offer "special" content separate from the print version. And most of the online DIY sites are actually owned by hobbyists and do not possess the resources of even modest publishing houses and do not publish articles that have the same degree of polish.

As commercial ventures in the how-to genre, DIY electronics magazines are analogous to food and crafts magazines, which have managed to thrive in the face of similar and perhaps more severe pressures. Indeed, there are thousands and thousands of cookbooks in print, and muffin recipes from the 1900s are not much different from muffin recipes of today. Further, the availability of convenience meals in supermarkets and fast-food restaurants have, according to some pundits, obviated the need to cook at all. Yet, every year, cookbooks with muffin recipes continue to become bestsellers and Bon Appetit magazine maintains a large circulation despite the onslaught of new food magazines on the newstands.

How-to gurus sell and resell to their audiences the same ideas over and over, but each time in a slightly different incarnation and always with the personal touch. Martha Stewart may have devised 100 different ways to fold napkins for dinner parties, but her followers still eagerly await the 101st method, because what is old is new again, if only seen from a different perspective. This approach is equally applicable to DIY electronics magazines. Such strategies must begin with the editorial staff and the writers - who must conjure interesting projects that attact the readership. It is that level of imagination which Poptronics editors and writers (as well as those of other DIY electronics magazines) have had difficulty achieving in recent times.

For example, the DIY projects in the April 2000 issue of Poptronics, which Karagiannis calls the "Audio Special," consists of an audio cable tester, an audio signal generator and a PC microphone swapper. Although audio professionals will find these projects invaluable at one time or another, how often does the average audio hobbyist use a cable tester or an audio signal generator? Are these the projects that will convert the uninitiated masses into die-hard audiophiles? Where are the projects which are essential to, and enhance the reproduction of, audio? Where are the amplifier projects? How about home-theater loudspeakers? How about an effects processor to acoustically customize the listening environment? How about a hand-crafted MP3 player (which, by the way, already exists online - see the Jan. 2000 Announcements)?

DIY electronics magazines play an important role in fostering the development of talented engineers, so their demise must be prevented. Their ability to compete in the modern world of cheap and disposable consumer products must be founded on the creativity and skills of its editors and writers. As with amateur cooks and crafters in their domains, electronics DIYers are capable of building projects that are an excellent value, if the DIY articles concentrate on craftsmanship and providing features that are truly useful and/or uncommon. Editors and writers of DIY electronics magazines should take a lesson from their brethren at crafts and other how-to magazines. They must work together to shape ideas into unique creations. Then hobbyists can complete by being different, and legitimately show pride in their handiwork.

PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Koss Corporation has added models to existing lines of headphones and created a new headphone line. The i50 is the latest of the colorful iphones - available in red, green, blue and purple. It has a dual-sided cord and the Clear Voice Technology (CVT) noise cancellation microphone for hands-free communication with a personal computer. The MSRP is $19.99.

  The UR/20 and UR/30 belong to Koss' new line of headphones designed to withstand the rigors of "street" use. They are both closed-back types and feature powerful sound, deep bass and durability. The UR/20's flexible headband with nylon sling allows for easy single-sided listening - perfect for dee jay and recording use. The transducers of the UR/30 incorporate an anisotropic ferrite magnet and oxygen-free copper voice coils for accurate sound and has a collapsible headband for comfort, easy storage and protection on the go. The UR/20 lists for $24.99 and the UR/30 for $34.99.

  The QZ/5 is Koss' newest model of passive noise reduction headphones. They provide acoustic isolation from all types of outside noise (high and mid frequency) and are suited for use in noisy environments such as aviation, commercial, industrial and racing environments. The highly adjustable, lightweight nylon/velcro headband incorporates a metal band behind the head to secure the earcups in place for proper isolation. A dual volume control on the ear cup provides for convenient level adjustment. The QZ/5 is efficient enough to be driven from portable stereos. It retails for $59.95.

  

• Yamaha introduces three computer headphones for voice recognition, telephony, gaming and audio playback: CH10, CMH100, and MH500. The CH10 and CMH100 are supra-aural headphones in white plastic. The CMH100 incorporates a dynamic microphone boom. Otherwise, both the CH10 and CMH100 have similar specs: 91 dB SPL/mW sensitivity, 32 ohms impedance (mike impedance is 600 ohms). The MH500 is a closed-back design in black plastic with a noise-canceling condenser boom for voice recognition or telephony applications in noisy environments. Its specs are: 103dB/mW sensitivity, 60 ohms impedance.

  

• The beyerdynamic DT231 is budget-priced closed-back headphone. It has a 32 ohm impedance, wide frequency response and can attain sound pressure levels of 112dB (for 50mW input). This headphone is particularly suited for audio monitoring in home recording or the project studio. The DT231 lists for $99 and is available now.

  

• Bose Corporation is following on the success of its noise-cancelling Aviation X Headset for pilots with the Acoustic Noise-Cancellation Headset for passengers. The new headsets use the same noise-cancellation technology of the Aviation X product and are available to passengers on select First Class and Business Class flights of American Airlines. The headsets will be available on additional airlines this summer.

  

• The Aiwa HP-CN5 noise cancellation headphones can reduce ambient noise by up to 70%. The supra-aural type headphones of the system have 38mm transducers and are foldable for storage in the included carrying case. They have both a gold plated stereo mini plug and an aircraft-style plug for use on most commercial airplanes. A single AA battery can power the system for about 60 hours. The HP-CN5 retails for $60 US.

  

• The HeadMaster from Sugden is a pure class A headphone amplifier with preamp outputs and a selector switch for three input sources. It is designed and optimised as a headphone amplifier, and the preamp outputs are deactivated whenever it is driving headphones. The HeadMaster measures 230mm x 265mm x 82mm (9" x 10.5" x 3.25") and weighs 3.5kg (8 lbs). The suggested retail price is $749.

  

• Precide premiered its ERGO Amp 1 headphone amplifier at the CES 2000. It has a Hirschmann socket in the back for the ERGO AMT headphones and a 6.3mm socket for dynamic headphones with an impedance of 4-600 ohms. The circuit uses an IC and consists of a frequency adjustment, independent input volume controls and one output volume control. The amplifier can output up to 4W per channel. It measures 200 x 160 x 60 mm. The list price for the amplifier in Switzerland is SFR 450.

• HeadRoom Corporation has added a new model AirHead portable headphone amplifier. The current model AirHead is being renamed the Ordinary AirHead. The new Total AirHead uses the same circuit but is built with premium parts. The Ordinary AirHead will sell for $129; the Total AirHead $199.

  Note: The current model AirHead amplifiers have suffered from power supply noise which is audible with low impedance headphones such as the Etymotic 4P and the Grados. HeadRoom is correcting the problem in new units by using opamps that are more compatible with the power supply. The new opamps draw more current, so the battery life will decrease slightly - but still remain within the 15-hour specification. Current Ordinary AirHead owners can get a new unit with the upgraded opamps for $69 or a Total AirHead for $99. Owners can keep their current units.

3D SOUND TECHNOLOGIES

• Wave Arts, Inc. announces WaveSurround DX, a stereo enhancement and reverb plug-in for DirectX applications. WaveSurround DX brings the acoustic simulation functionality of the WaveSurround plug-in for Winamp players to DirectX audio applications. [See the Jan. 2000 announcements for a description of the WaveSurround plug-in for Winamp.] WaveSurround DX costs $89.95 and requires a minimum Pentium 266MHz CPU on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000.

  

• The Yamaha RX-V1 is an 8-channel receiver with Yamaha's Dolby Digital/Matrix 6.1 for decoding the latest Dolby Surround technologies and the DTS-ES 6.1-channel surround format. It also has Yamaha's Silent Cinema feature for listening to surround sound recordings through headphones. Silent Cinema is an acoustic simulation technology based on Head-Related Transfer Functions ("HRTF") and the Yamaha YSS-910 44-bit digital processor, which was originally developed for the Yamaha PM1D digital recording console.

• Dolby Headphone:
  In the Random Play column of the February/March 2000 issue of Sound and Vision, Brian Fenton briefly comments on the effectiveness of the Dolby Headphone acoustic simulation technology. He says "The demo we heard impressively removed the 'in the head' effect of headphone listening."

  The first consumer hardware product to feature Dolby Headphone will be the Hitachi Prius DECK 610N all-in-one desktop computer. It includes a DVD-ROM drive, built-in TV tuner and hard disk recorder, and a 15-inch Super In Plane Switching TFT color LCD display. In addition to providing Dolby Headphone functionality, the Prius DECK 610N can record TV programs to its 30G hard drive (up to 7 hrs of video). The Prius DECK 610N is currently available in Japan.

  

  MGI Software is preparing to release version 3.6 of SoftDVD Max (its software-based DVD player) with Dolby Headphone. SoftDVD was originally created by Zoran Corporation. Then the two companies entered a partnership in June 1999 to develop DVD hardware and software, and the responsibility for SoftDVD went to MGI. SoftDVD Max with Dolby Headphone requires a PC with minimum Pentium II 400MHz CPU running Windows 98 or Windows 2000, a DVD-ROM drive, and AGP graphics adapter. SoftDVD Max sells for $39.95 and can be purchased online from MGI Software. Current owners of SoftDVD will be able to upgrade for $19.95.

  Sanyo Electronics Corporation and Texas Instruments have obtained implementation licenses from Lake Technologies to produce Dolby Headphone chips for consumer electronics OEMs. NEC Corporation has licensed Lake's software implementation of Dolby Headphone for use in NEC's PC-based DVD playback application.

• QSound, a 3D sound technology company based in Canada, has been developing 3D sound products mostly for loudspeakers. On April 5 at Spring Internet World in Los Angeles, QSound unveiled a beta version of iQfx2, an add-on for RealPlayer (G2+) and RealJukebox (V 2.0+). iQfx2 creates 3D stereo sound from streaming Internet broadcasts and MP3 files through both headphones and PC speakers. iQfx2 includes QVerb, a reverb feature with 3 different listening environments; QBass, a bass boost feature; QXciter, an adjustable treble feature; and Maximize MP3, which automatically adjusts to deliver the best possible MP3 listening experience.

• Diamond Multimedia's new MX400 sound card offers the complete set of 3D audio technology from Sensaura including MultiDrive (which can generate 3D sound in headphones, or 2, 4 or 6 loudspeakers), EnvironmentFX, MacroFX, ZoomFX and full support for the Microsoft DirectSound3D API.

• Keith Howard in the April 2000 issue of Hi-Fi News and Record Review takes a look at Sensaura Virtual Ear 3D sound technology for headphones ("Sensaura’s Virtual Ear 'out of your head'on phones", HFNRR, p. 64).

EQUIPMENT REVIEWS

• The Audio Ideas Guide (Vol. 19, No. 2 - Winter 1999) contains a review of the Audio-Technica ATH910 Pro headphones. The reviewer noted the accurate presentation, clear bass with slightly more midrange energy than from Grado SR125 and not as "speaker-like" as Grados.

• The March 2000 issue of WIRED magazine (p. 269) has a survey of in-ear headphones. One model was selected for each of three price/quality categories - First Class, Business Class and Coach Class:
  First Class: Stax SR001 MkII
  "Soft-tipped pads extend the bass into your ear canal while the remarkably thin transducing diaphragms translate every detail. You hear each breath, each fingernail brushing a string dissected and spread out with clinical precision against a background of absolute silence."

  Business Class: Sennheiser MX5
  "[F]eatures crispness and broad frequency range that lift these phones close to pro audio realism.... They bathe your head in sound without going muddy. They even beat Sony's competitive Fontopia buds thanks to stronger bass and less hiss."

  Coach class: Aiwa HPV165
  "[A]re among the most bass capable in any class but their high frequencies are wonderful as well."

• Paul Cervantes reviews the Wheatfield tube headphone amplifier in the Feb. 2000 issue of Audiophile Audition (Wheatfield HA-2 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amp). He noted that the amplifier is sensitive to noisy tubes and has a subtle midband hum. "On more dynamic and heavily produced fare, the HA-2 hits its stride." The HA-2 is "a superbly musical headphone amp" that is "slightly lacking a sense of speed."

• In the January 2000 issue of Audiophile Audition, John Sunier evaluates the HeadRoom Max headphone amplifier (The Max Headphone Amplifier/Processor) and finds that they give a "rich, deep and full sonic picture... On a couple of CDs my reference amp seemed to have just a tad more muscle in the extreme bass foundation frequencies...."

  Sunier did not comment on the HeadRoom crossfeed processor in the Max review, but he did discuss the merits of the circuit in his review of the HeadRoom AirHead in the December 1999 issue of Audiophile Audition (HeadRoom AirHead and AirBag). "[S]ome people swear by the HeadRoom processor and others swear at it. I'm afraid I'm one of the latter, finding it muddied the sound on many CDs...." Compared with the Boostaroo, the AirHead really shines when reproducing low bass such as pipe organ and percussion.

  

• Dan Schwartz in the March 2000 issue of The Absolute Sound reviews these headphone amplifiers: Audio Valve RKV Mk II, Esoteric Audio Research EAR, Grado RA-1, HeadRoom Max, Holmes-Powell, McCormack Micro Headphone Drive and the Moth s2A3. In summary, the tube amplifiers all received high marks with the prototype EAR amplifier getting top honors. The Grado RA-1 is the only solid-state amplifier to receive a recommendation. The following list in order of Schwartz' preference:
  • Esoteric Audio Research EAR: "closest accuracy in [bass] region...gradually became my reference."
    
  • Holmes-Powell DCT-1: "most pleasurable of the amps reviewed... capable of enhancing the details of a recording to a degree of apparent intimacy that is both an education and a sensual delight"
    
  • Audio Valve RKV Mk II: good value for the money
    
  • Moth Audio s2A3: similar to RKV, but tends to emphasize hiss
    
  • Grado RA-1: "compared to larger more expensive units, the Grado sounds coarse, but on its own turf, it holds its own ground respectably"
    
  • McCormack Headphone Drive: Grado has slightly better sound, but McCormack wins on practicality grounds (AC power, larger size)
    
  • HeadRoom Max: "sounds dark and closed-in"

  Many thanks to Templeboy (HeadWize forums) for submitting this information.

• Issue 58 of Ultra High Fidelity magazine has a review of 4 headphone amplifiers: Creek OBH-11, Antique Sound Lab MG-Head, NVA AP-10 and Audio Valve RKV Mk II. Overall, the Audio Valve RKV Mk II is the best in the group; the NVA AP10 wins in the budget category.
  • Creek OBH-11: "excellent space, no screechiness," "didn't hear all of the detail we hear through our reference speakers, and the singers were less present", the midrange less than smooth, "there are lots of highs and bottom end-the string bass is terrific".

  • Antique Sound Lab MG-Head: "spatial image perturbed somewhat, the bass somewhat heavy, voices a bit rough, praised the clarity of the voices, the sound lacked punch,esp. string bass."

  • NVA AP10: "the stereo image had much higher resolution than with the previous two, the rhythm was clean and involving, more fun too, the sound as gracious." "Best Bang for the buck."

  • Audio Valve RKV Mk II: "a large notch above the others, the cymbal was excellent, bottom end was solid, but without the boom heard with other amplifiers, smoother texture... be in a class with its two German compatriots, Mercedez and BMW."

  Thanks to Templeboy (HeadWize forums) for submitting this information.

• Charles Hollander in the Winter 2000 issue of Positive Feedback calls the Grado RA-1 "an excellent little honey of an amp" (The Grado RA-1 Reference Headphone Amp: Dudely Product of the Year?). When used with the Grado RS-1 headphones, it "sounds crystal clear: clean, clean, clean... gets closer to microphone feed kind of sound (highly detailed, with that sense of live music) than any other combination I’ve tried."

• The May/June issue of Listener magazine takes a look at several headphones (AKG K501, Etymotic 4S, Grado SR325, Koss Pro 4AA, Sennheiser HD600) and headphone amplifiers (Grado RA-1, HeadRoom AirHead, HeadRoom Max, Naim HeadLine). The top-rated headphones were the AKG K501 (little warm, a little coloration, realistic), Sennheiser HD600 (sometimes better than AKG K501, but too analytical and cold), Grado SR325 (best low-end resolution, but too bright). The top-rated headphone amplifiers were: Naim HeadLine, Grado RA-1 and HeadRoom AirHead.

  Thanks to Elvis (HeadWize forums) for submitting this information.

The next update will be in July but may be delayed. For interim announcements and updates, please check the HeadWize Forums.

1/28/00: Happy New Year! The main headphone event this month was the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The big news for headphone fans was the prevalence of acoustic simulation technologies for headphone listening. Several semiconductor manufacturers have announced that they are producing audio processor chips with acoustic simulation features. It will hopefully not be a long wait before consumer products containing these chips appear on the market.

Not surprisingly, some of the major product presentations at the CES were MP3-related. Although HeadWize does not focus on MP3 devices per se, it is interested in MP3 developments that are connected with the quality of headphone sound. There are already several acoustic simulation plug-ins for PC-based MP3 players, but MP3.com reports that Creative Labs introduced at the CES the Nomad Jukebox, one of the first hardware MP3 players to have a virtualizer for headphone listening. Indeed, Creative Labs already recommends that the current owners of its Nomad players and SBLive sound cards could reprocess MP3 files with SBLive 3D sound algorithms for an improved listening experience.

Headphone News:

• Panasonic's RP-HS900M Shockwave series headphones (a.k.a. "Brain-Shaker Extreme") use the Panasonic VMSS tactile transducers to physically transmit "the emotional energy of ... music" to the listener. The VMSS system consists of a built-in amplifier that boosts the bass signal around the 50Hz range. The VMSS tactile transducer, which sits on the back of the listener's neck, transforms these signals into actual vibrations, so that the listener can "feel" the bass. The RP-HS900 is equipped with control buttons (Play, Track Skip, Volume) for use with personal audio components. The MSRP is $44.95. Brain-Shaker Extreme headphones are also included with Panasonic Shockwave series CD and cassette players such as the SL-SW870K, RQ-SW99V and SL-SW870S.

  

• Sennheiser's new evolution line of professional headphones is tailored to the needs and requirements of musicians, studios and sound designers. The eH 1430 is lightweight with a supra-aural style-of-wear. The eH 2200 is lightweight (140 gr), closed-back design with up to 25dB of passive noise reduction and is especially suitable for monitoring in the studio or during live performance. The top-of-the-line eH 2270 has Sennheiser's "BioNetic" circumaural earcup design for ultra comfort and up to 30dB of passive noise reduction. The transducer diaphragms are damped for the most accurate and spatial sound.

  

• Jensen Audio (a division of Recoton) has added two wireless models to its headphone line. The JW160 debuted at the CES 2000 earlier this month. It is a 900MHz RF system with new bold styling. No word yet on pricing, but Jensen says that the JW160 is "affordable." The JW120 is another a 900MHz system, but the receiver is installed in a belt pack which can drive most corded headphones (it comes with a set of earbuds). The low profile transmitter features a pivoting rod antenna just 3 1/2 inches tall and has a range of about 150 feet. Two AA batteries will power the belt-pack receiver for approximately 6 hours (depending on the headphones used). The JW120 retails for $79.95

  

• Labtec's new MP-340 and MP-350 headphones are the first in its Digital Audio Series headphones. They are Labtec's first high quality headphones designed specifically for the high fidelity demands of digital and MP3 Internet audio. The MP-340 is a supra-aural design with 34mm Mylar drivers. It retails for $19.99. The MP-350 is a circumaural headphone with 40mm Mylar drivers. Both have an-isotropic magnets for clarity and deep bass. The MP-340 retails for $19.99 and the MP-350 for $29.99.

  Labtec also sells replacement earpads that fit Labtec and other brand headphones. The AC-1F earpads are for most lightweight portable headphones with round earcups. The AC-2F earpads earbud types. AC-3F earpads fit mid-sized headphones with oval earcups. Each set comes with 4 earpads at the web-special price of $1.99. They are also available in bulk quantities for institutional use.

  

• Ultrasone has a new line of in-front imaging headphones, including a 4-channel surround headphones. The stereo headphone models are HFI-15G, HFI-50 (open- and closed-back versions) and the HFI-200 (also reduced magnetic field, different colors and custom binaural-tuned versions). They range in price from 149DM to 795DM. The surround headphone models are HFI-50 surround (open- and closed-back versions) and HFI-3D (low magnetic field, different colors and custom binaural-tuned versions). Ultrasone holds the patent for the in-front imaging technology that is also used by Vivanco. For more information about in-front imaging, see Technologies for Surround Sound Presentation in Headphones.

  

• The Zeus tube headphone amplifier by Fuchs Audio is in commercial production (a hand-built version of the Zeus has been on the market for about a year). The Zeus is a fully regulated, all tube OTL design, consisting of a high constant current differential amplifier driving a single ended push pull OTL output stage. It has 6EM7 tubes and premium passive parts Premium passive parts, such as MIT capacitors, throughout. The amplifier is fully adjustable with separate bias as well as AC+DC balance controls and will drive headphones down to 8 ohms impedance.

  The Zeus is available in a standard Chrome Finish, with a hardwood frame. Standard hardwoods are Oak, Walnut, Mahogany, or Cherry. Custom woods and/or metal finishes are available at additional cost. The list price is $1,995, but is on sale at least through the first quarter of next year for $1,595. The Zeus comes with a lifetime warranty (excluding tubes). There is a more affordable version of the Zeus that is scheduled for release in the spring of next year. The expected list price will be about $ 695, with an introductory price of around $495.

  

• The Micro-ZOTL is the first product from the David Berning Company to feature Berning's patented ZH OTL impedance conversion technology, which use MOSFETs and a small converter transformer to simulate an output transformer but without the frequency and distortion limitations of transformers. Like a transformer, the circuit is a two-way impedance converter, in which the impedance of the load (headphones or speakers) is reflected back to the output tube (multiplied by the conversion ratio), and the tube's plate curves are reflected to the speaker (also changed by the same ratio). For more information about the Berning converter, see the article by Charles Hansen, "New AMP With a Difference," in the current issue of Glass Audio (Vol. 12, Nos. 1 and 2, 2000, pp.22-30). The MSRP of the Micro-ZOTL is $680 and is available direct from the David Berning Company.

• Rega Research introduces its new Rega Ear Headphone Amplifier. It has a volume control and a line mute switch. The approximate UK retail price is 99UKP. In the U.S., the Rega Ear sells for $225 at Savant Audio.

  

• Musical Fidelity is releasing a new version of the X-Cans headphone amplifier called the X-Cans 2. Like the X-LP2, the X-Cans 2 features higher quality parts and some custom-built circuitry, but no major topology changes. Audio Advisor, the US distributor/retailer of Musical Fidelity products, has set the price for the X-Cans 2 at $269 and will continue to sell the original X-Cans at the original price. The X-Cans 2 should be available by the end of this month.

• Motorola demonstrated a custom version of the Dolby Headphone algorithm in its digital signal processor (DSP) DSP56362 chip at the CES 2000 in Las Vegas. A version that can be downloaded in RAM on the DSP56362 is scheduled to be available in first quarter 2000. Work also continues to combine audio decoders and Dolby Headphone on a single chip, the recently announced DSP56366.The DSP56362 is currently being used in a variety of consumer audio products, such as audio/video receivers, DVD, digital television and automotive applications. As a programmable architecture, the DSP56362 also supports MLP, MP3, AAC, and other decoding algorithms along with encoders such as the Dolby Digital Consumer Encoder.

  Zoran announces its Golden Gate reference design, the first complete Dolby Headphone solution, which uses Zoran's ZR38650 programmable digital audio processor IC. The reference design can be incorporated into any type of audio or video product featuring a headphone outlet. With the ZR38650's built in SPDIF receiver and transmitter interfaces, the Golden Gate is a complete, standalone Dolby Headphone product which can be directly connected to a DVD player or can serve as the Dolby Headphone processing engine built into a DVD player or television set. The ZR38650's low cost allows Dolby Headphone to be offered at popular price points. OEMs can obtain from Zoran a Golden Gate reference design board which gives them the ability to get high quality, low cost Dolby Headphone based products to market fast.

• Sharp Corporation will integrate Lake DSP's patented VZ Chip Technology into their own manufactured chips, geared for a range of Sharp consumer audio products. The deal will accelerate the roll out of Dolby Headphone into consumer electronics. The VZ chip technology results in smaller and more cost effective chips for DSP filters in Dolby Headphone.

  Analog Devices announces its new ADSST-MELODY-1000 audio processing chipset, which implements a 32-bit, floating-point version of the Dolby Headphone process. It uses the SHARC DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Digital audio sources include 5.1-channel Dolby Digital, MPEG2 AAC, MPEG2 Audio Layers 1 and 2, MLP or PCM from DVDs, computers, HDTV, game consoles, digital cable, digital satellite. The audio sources also include 4-channel Dolby Pro Logic from videotapes and laserdiscs, and two-channel stereo MP3 and MPEG1 Audio Layers 1 and 2 from CDs, the Internet, MP3 players and game consoles.

  Analog Devices also announces its new ADSST-MELODY-2000 audio processing chipset which incorporates the WaveArts WaveSurround 3D sound processing for both headphones and loudspeakers. It uses the SHARC DSP and will accept any 5.1-channel digital audio stream as well as stereo sources for WaveSurround enhancement. Like Dolby Headphone, WaveSurround realistically simulates the sound of a 5.1-speaker playback system in headphones. It will also generate a surround soundfield from stereo loudspeakers.

  Sensaura Ltd. unveils Sensaura Virtual Ear, which allows individual gamers to 'tweak' the synthesised 3D hearing cues of gaming environments to be as close as possible to the natural 3D listening cues that are created by their own ears. Sensaura will incorporate a user-friendly wizard for set-up purposes, together with both 'quick' and 'advanced' protocols. The quick option provides 25 pre-set HRTF types for the listener to choose from, while the advanced option provides total control of four different parameters, namely concha depth, concha openness, head size and ear size. Virtual Ear adds to the existing Sensaura feature set which already includes full DirectSound3D (DS3D) enhancement, exclusive Sensaura features such as MultiDrive, MacroFX and ZoomFX, and support for Creative's EAX 1.0 & 2.0 and Aureal's A3D 1.0.

  

• Spatializer Labs has made a version of its StreamFX plug-in for the Winamp players (previously only available for the XingMP3 players). StreamFx can create a 3D sound experience out of any pair of regular speakers or headphones. Features include Spatializer's 3-D Stereo technology (based on sum-difference processing), Vi.B.E. (a bass enhancement technology), and a high quality reverb. Simply clicking on the "Phones" button, generates the same equally immersive experience over headphones creating a dramatic 'out-of-head' audio experience. The reverb includes 3 different room models, a wet/dry mixer and simultaneous control over the brightness and decay. The recommended hardware is a 266MHz or higher Intel processor, 333MHz or higher AMD or Cyrix processor running Windows 95/98. The list price is $15 and can be downloaded from Beyond.com.

  

  Wave Arts has developed version 3 of its WaveSurround Plug-in for Winamp, which simulates 3D sound in stereo loudspeakers or headphones . The new version has two new features: an adjustable reverb and a bass tone control. The new reverb algorithm can simulate 5 acoustic environments: a chamber, club, room, hall and stadium. The WaveSurround Plug-in is shareware can be downloaded from Wave Arts or purchased online from Digital River. The registration fee is $9.95.

• The December 1999 issue of the german magazine Stereoplay has a large section devoted to headphones. In addition to a wide-ranging headphone survey, Stereoplay revealed that the ultra-high-end electronics manufacturer Burmester has produced a prototype amplifier (model 981) for the Sennheiser Orpheus electrostatic headphones. The 981 will have an on-board D/A converter and the estimated retail price is 22,000 DM.

  Here is a summary of the headphone survey:

  Electrostatic Headphones
  • Stax SR404/SRM 006T [Stereoplay Highlight] (53 points) - free and natural sound, extremely neutral, balanced and detailed.

    Dynamic Headphones

  • beyerdynamic DT831 [Stereoplay Highlight] - (40 points) - good balance apart from slight 5kHz peak, neutral sound, deep but sometimes sluggish bass, slightly fuller sound than DT931.
    
  • Sennheiser HD590 (36 points) - slight roughness in the upper treble, substantial controlled bass and detailed voices. HD565 has more authentic midrange.
    
  • Sennheiser HD 25SP [Stereoplay Highlight] - (34 points) - balanced sound, strong and stable bass, believable soundfield.
    
  • MB Quart QP 805HS (32 points) - solid build, balanced sound without midrange coloration, strong bass, round tone.
    
  • Philips SBC HP910 (31 points) - falling top end, crisp and temperamental, good drive and attack - similar to Vivanco SR950, but a slightly colored midrange compared with the Sennheiser HD565.
    
  • Vivanco SR950 (31 points) - warm bass, good dynamics, light midrange and bright highs.
    
  • Sennheiser HD495 (30 points) - gently falling treble response, explosively dynamic, yet quietly musical, fuller tone than HD475.
    
  • Sony MDR-CD570 (30 points) - tight sound; lively and dynamic; accurate bass, voices were a bit artificial compared with HD475.
    
  • beyerdynamic DT75 [Stereoplay Highlight] - (28 points) - neutral tone, voices sound fresh, but light compared to the Senneheiser HD475.
    
  • Technics RPF500 (28 points) - unspectacular, good balance, clean bass, convincing voices.
    
  • Ultrasone HFI15 (28 points) - full bass; noticeably reserved midbass; otherwise clean, balanced sound.
    
  • beyerdynamic DT231 (27 points) - lacking bass, slightly bright, colored voices.

    Wireless Headphones

  • AKG K888 Titan [Stereoplay Highlight] - very good in-front imaging; slightly lightweight sound; otherwise, very little coloration, low hiss.
    
  • beyerdynamic RS 533 - lacked midbass warmth, forward midrange, good dynamic properties, acceptable hiss, some pumping from auto-level system.
  • Philips SBC-HC450 - supercool product, lacked bass, recessed highs, auto-level system was slow - slight breathing effect.
  • Philips SBC-HC800 - good bass response, midrange like beyer RS533, overall sound was bright, auto-level suffered from pumping effect, acceptable hiss.
  • Sennheiser RS40 [Stereoplay Highlight] - warm and full sound, low hiss, may be a bit reserved for pop music, auto-level had slight pumping, but original dynamics preserved.
    
  • Sennheiser RS60 [Stereoplay Highlight] - slightly reserved midrange, detailed sound, very low hiss, SRS Headphone processing not as good as AKG IVA processing, a hit.
    
  • Sony MDR-RF450RK - weak bass, prominent midbass, good on voices, generally unspectacular, auto-level functioned better than the beyer RS533 and Philips HC800.
  • Vivanco FMH7780 - good bass, falling treble, slightly forward midrange - otherwise uncolored, gentle auto-level, minimal hiss.

    Acoustic Simulators

  • AKG K999 Audiosphere - realistic reproduction; natural left, right and rear localization; a genuine hit.

• The Grado SR60 is rated 5 stars and "Best Buy 1999" in the What Hi-Fi, Awards 1999 issue (p. 94). The SR60 review cites the Grado for its comfort; its "deeply pleasurable experience"; its natural, detailed and weighty sound. Other 5 star headphones are:
  • Grado SR80 - wonderful, special
  • Grado RS-1 - earthmovingly good
  • Audio Technica ATH-911 - dynamic, fresh, forward, open
  • Sennheiser HD470 - comfortable, balanced, neutral
  • Sennheiser HD565 - major on timing and timbre
  • Sennheiser HD600 - revealing, neutral and dynamic
  • Sennheiser Orpheus - gloriously clear

• Willie Gluckstern auditions the Grado RA-1 headphone amplifier with Grado SR80 headphones and describes the combination as "quite a turn-on." ("Grado Reference RA-1 Headphone Amplifier," Audio, Nov. 1999.) When comparing the RA-1 with the headphone output of an NAD 317 integrated amplifier, he notes a "better-than-lifelike presence" and sound that is more immediate, clearer, and more refined than from speaker listening. The preferred input cables are the Kimber Hero cables. Ordinary cables sound "lackluster" and "Dullsville" with the Grado amplifier.

• Dan Schwartz in the December 1999 issue of the Absolute Sound (p. 60) calls the Holmes Powell tube headphone amplifier "my first encounter with truly seductive sound," and "a real education." The Holmes-Powell amplifier is a single-ended design, constructed with very high quality parts. It retails for $4,500.

• Russ Novak tries the Fuchs Audio Zeus headphone amplifier driving Grado RS-1 headphones in the December 1999 issue of Stereo Times: The Big Combo. Of the Grado RS-1s alone, Novak says they are "masterpieces" with deep, full bass. He could "hear into the recesses of recordings in a way impossible with speakers." "The RS1 gets the sound outside your head, outside the headphone cups. Ambient information retrieval is huge." With the Zeus-Grado combination, "the smoothness, liquidity, and extension are phenomenal. The midrange is rich, neutral, and natural." "The audiophile becomes unified with the ambient space.... Mirages appear in your mind."

• Jason Toates in the November 1999 issue of PC Computing warns that the Sennheiser Surrounder sound collar looks "clunky" and may subject the wearer to the snickering of peers, but the collar does enhance PC games and home theater by "making you feel like a participant instead of a spectator." The one drawback: it could use a bit more power. Overall, the Surrounder rated 3 out of 5 stars.

• Jan Ozer reviews the WOW Thing plug-in for Winamp and hardware version acoustic simulators ("The Real WOW Thing", PC Magazine, October 12, 1999 - available on ZDNet). Unfortunately, the review focuses mostly on the surround simulation from stereo loudspeakers, not headphones, even though the WOW Thing has a specific output for headphones. Ozer noted that the "sound of each instrument seemed fuller and more vibrant, as though we had additional speakers around the room. The only negative was that vocals were slightly obscured on ballads and rock music, which we alleviated by lowering the levels of WOW Thing and TruBass effects."

  Speaking of the WOW Thing, this product was recognized by Innovations 2000 program of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month. The Innovations Award honors innovative product excellence in design and engineering in several categories including Accessories, Audio, Components, Computer Software, Computer Hardware, Home Appliances, Home Theater and Specialty Audio and Video. Product evaluations are based on value to user, aesthetics, contributions to the quality of life, as well as the product's innovative qualities.

  DIYer Alert:

  • The November and December 1999 issues of the on-line magazine TubeCAD have project plans for a hybrid electrostatic headphone amplifier.
  • ChaN's Electronic Lives Mfg has plans for a DIY MP3 player!

  Notable Publications:

  • Hartmann, William M., "How We Localize Sound," Physics Today, November 1999, p. 24.
  • Kuo, Senn M. and Morgan, Dennis R., "Active Noise Control: A Tutorial Review," Proceedings of the IEEE, June 1999, p. 943. (Thanks to Jan Meier for submitting this notice.)

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