Audio

The Sena SMH10 Bluetooth headset we reviewed in December was absolutely fantastic – but it's certainly a bulky unit to have on the side of your helmet. If that's a concern for you, Sena has just released the SMH10R, a similar unit designed for "sports riding" with a much slimmer profile to aid with "aerodynamics." And when I say "aerodynamics," I mean "looks." But while the SMH10R is certainly nicer to look at, and works well, it suffers in comparison to the chunky SMH10, which is functionally superior in almost every way.  Read More

Due mainly to the influence of the iPhone and iPod, a good many headphones have a playback/call control unit of some sort bulging out from the audio cable. Though undeniably useful, this can add some unwelcome weight (particularly with earbuds), but more often the housing just gets in the way or adds its own thump to the music as it bangs against your upturned collar. California-based Accidentally Extraordinary is looking to change all that, with a pair of elegant studio headphones featuring a capacitive touch control interface on the surface of the cable itself.  Read More

Cruising around in a classic car is awesome, but you are forced to give up some of today's luxuries ... especially when it comes to the stereo. RetroSound's Model Two head unit is designed to keep the classic look, without sacrificing the modern touches.  Read More

California's Wi Digital Systems has launched a new Sure-Ears series of in-ear monitors (IEM) geared toward musicians, including a Micro-In-Ears model that features a smaller driver design for a claimed fuller sound with deep bass and crisp highs.  Read More

For optimal sound from a home theater system, a true surround sound set of speakers is the way to go, but for many people they are impractical. That's where soundbars come into play. They offer a simulated surround sound experience, without all the wires and speakers. SONOS, the company best known for its Zoneplayer line, is getting into the soundbar game with its new 9-speaker PLAYBAR.  Read More

While the name smartLav may conjure up images of a robotic toilet assistant, it is in fact a new professional-grade lapel microphone developed for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Designed for use by film, television and broadcast professionals, RØDE's discreet condenser mic is claimed capable of capturing 360 degrees of premium quality sound.  Read More

If you've ever seen a professional DJ at work, you've probably seen them holding a pair of headphones to one ear to monitor the audio and cue up tracks. That's part of the reason professional headphones can swivel one cup outward, but it's not the most comfortable way to quickly check on the music. Numark may have a solution to this with the Redphone, a professional DJ stick that has one headphone mounted on a cushioned, ergonomic handle.  Read More

eXtream Software Development, maker of the music multi-tracking app Audio Evolution for the Android and Windows platforms, has released a stand-alone app for Android devices titled USB Audio Recorder PRO. It’s a simple record and playback application that is the first to allow devices running Android 3.1 or higher to talk to a USB 1.0 or 2.0 compliant audio card, and vice-versa.  Read More

IK Multimedia has announced two new portable speakers that combine live instrument and music playback in packages that fit in your backpack but, according to the company, are “2-3 times louder than comparable sized speakers.” The series is made up of the 40W RMS iLoud and its slightly smaller sibling, the 15W RMS iLoud MINI. Both models are powered by rechargeable Li-Ion batteries and support Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music from handheld devices as well as a stereo 1/8" mini-jack input and a 1/4” guitar/bass input.  Read More