Loewe, the audio-visual pioneer founded in 1923, has announced a commercial partnership with Select Tech Group to stock the prestigious brand’s We.HEAR range and klang mr series of high-quality speakers. With 28 stores across UK and Ireland, Loewe’s premium audio products are now available both in-store and online at the region’s largest reseller of Apple products.
Expanding Loewe’s platform in the region, the partnership continues the heritage AV brand’s growth after re-entering the UK market in 2021. The Loewe product range has similarly increased, introducing the We by Loewe range and additional bild and klang products as well as the high-end Loewe iconic TV, set for sale later in 2023.
The partnership connects two reputable organisations whose values of innovation and long-lasting quality are closely aligned. Select aims to inspire a wider community to discover the power of Apple products by working closely with customers, educational institutions and businesses to reach the most cost-effective solutions.
Alan Whyte, Managing Director at Loewe UK, commented: “Apple is synonymous with aspirational luxury, and high performance. As the biggest Apple Premium Reseller in Western Europe with 28 stores across UK and Ireland, we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Select Tech Group.“
“They are providing Loewe with a unique platform to get our brand in front of a huge group of discerning consumers. At store level, their teams are extremely knowledgeable, and focus on giving exemplary customer service. Couple that with beautiful store environments in keeping with the Apple brand, our audio products are given the best possible chance to shine.”
Dedicated to providing an unparalleled in-store and online customer experience, Select invests over 10,000 training hours per year.
Jason Smith, Group Retail Director at Select Tech Group, added: “I have always held luxury heritage brands in high regard. With 100 years of history, their handmade in Germany ethos, and emphasis on sustainable, high-quality materials, Loewe hits all the markers of the ideal companion brand for the Select customer.
The We.Hear speaker range, in particular, makes Loewe more accessible than ever, and reflects the true essence of the curated audio line up at Select; innovative, unparalleled and unique. We look forward to continued growth in this exciting partnership.”
Loewe We.HEAR 1 is currently available at Select in-store and online for £99 while the We.HEAR 2 is priced at £159. The Loewe klang mr1 is on sale for £349 while the mr3 and mr5 are listed for £549 and £649.
Sennheiser’s updated HD 660S2 expands the capabilities of the 600-series family, the longstanding benchmark for high-performance audiophile headphones. Sennheiser responded to the hi-fi community’s feedback, crafting a headphone that skillfully balances reference-level detail with engaging frequency response. The headphones features a more dramatic listen with greater intensity from enhanced sub-bass tuning, extracting dynamic impact and emotion from audio enthusiasts’ favourite recordings. The updated acoustics offer a delightful new way to experience music all over again.
“Our new Sennheiser HD 660S2 offers listeners what they requested most from the headphones’ predecessor,” says Jermo Koehnke, Sennheiser Audiophile Product Manager. “With precision and power like no other and new sensitivity across all frequencies, listeners will hear details they’ve never heard before, especially at the lower end of the spectrum.”
The depth and drama audiophiles crave
Improving on a beloved classic while retaining its best traits was a challenging task, starting with the lowest end of the frequency plot. The HD 660S2’s warm bass characteristics pair perfectly with its silky-smooth treble performance and trademark vocal presence, allowing the timbre and uniqueness of any instrument part to stand out.
Across the entire frequency spectrum, the HD 660S2 delivers a refined listening experience thanks to improved transducer airflow and a refined voice coil. From thunderous timpani crescendos to pulsating EDM rises, even the most discerning audiophiles will notice the depth and nuance of low-frequency passages, adding dramatic flair to any type of music. Ultimately, listeners are treated to deeper, clearer bass without sacrificing the expansive detail the series is known for. By reducing the voice coil’s weight, impulse response improves, bringing hyper-realistic textures to the forefront of any performance reproduction. The overall experience is smoother and warmer than the original HD 660S, thanks to that reduces the distances between select peaks and troughs. The overall impedance matches that of the HD 600 and HD 650, at an audiophile-friendly 300 ohms, for punchy dynamics and impressively low distortion.
A fit for the long haul
Designed in Germany and manufactured at Sennheiser’s state-of-the-art Ireland production facility, the HD 660S2 continues the series’ emphasis on quality, functional design using materials that contribute to the hi-fi experience. Plush earpads and cushy headband padding place the revised 300-ohm transducers at the optimal distance from the ear resulting in a spacious soundstage with an abundance of detail – even for extended musical exploration. The transducer surround drops the resonant frequency from 110 Hz (original HD 660S) down to 70 Hz for hefty kick drums that move with ease. Even the outer mesh grilles are crafted to manage airflow at the ideal impedance for exquisite open-back listening sessions.
Versatile enough to connect to vintage classics and modern solutions alike, the HD 660S2 ships with two 1.8 meter (5.8 ft) user-detachable cables that terminate to 6.3 mm (1/4-inch) single-ended stereo and 4.4 mm balanced stereo jack plugs, respectively. A 6.3 mm to 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) adapter is also included, for use with popular hi-fi gear from DAC-amps, DAPs, and dedicated amplifiers such as the Sennheiser HDV 820. Distinguishing bronze accents complement the elegant jet-black finish, all of which is protected by a storage pouch.
Pricing and availability
The Sennheiser HD 660S2 will be available for pre-order globally from 8th February 2023 and will go on sale 21st February 2023, with an RRP of £499 / €599.
In time for this Valentine’s Day, HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, shares new research[1] revealing that food and tech are the items we are most willing to share with a romantic partner, with food topping the list at 58% (Joey Tribbiani should take notes) followed by a phone charger at 48%.
It comes as no surprise that the majority of people (65%) are more likely to share essential and everyday items with loved ones due to the cost-of-living crisis. This rises to 74% for millennials who are the most likely to share overall and drops to 45% for baby boomers who are the least likely to share. Even 9% of millennials would share their toothbrush. Baby boomers would also sooner share with their family, with 60% saying so.
It looks like hogging the covers is a bigger bugbear between couples than taking a charger, as people are more willing to share a phone charger than their duvet, at 48% and 35% respectively. Interestingly, tablets enter the top three items people are most willing to share with their children (26%), before sharing a tablet with family (25%) and a romantic partner (22%).
Adam Ferguson, Head of Product Marketing at HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, said: “It’s unsurprising that tech such as phones chargers are commonly shared items given their everyday use. Tablets in particular are made with shareability in mind, just like the Nokia T21, ideal for the whole family – whether it’s for work, learning or play, it’s made to adapt. Multiple years of software upgrades on smart devices also means that they can be shared for longer or passed down when you are looking to upgrade.”
A new name is aiming to shake up the video conferencing sector with plans to enter the UK market as part of a major global expansion programme.
Boom Collaboration was born in 2020 by founders Fredrik Hörnkvist and Holli Hulett, in a bid to disrupt the sector and stand out from the crowd – creating high performance, high value advanced products.
The ambitious Texas-based business has quickly developed an extensive conferencing portfolio and operates in 20 countries, with plans to extend to 30 more, as well as the UK. Many new product innovations are in the pipeline too, along with the development of a Boom training academy.
“Through these interesting, challenging and evolving times, from lockdowns to hybrid working, conferencing has been at the fulcrum of dramatic changes in daily and working life; how people interact and communicate, almost from anywhere,” Hörnkvist explained.
“We might still be a relatively new kid on the block but we’ve already made big strides forward with much more to come. Over the last few years we’ve been laying strong foundations for sustained growth so that Boom can really start to boom in the UK and beyond!”
Missing piece of the puzzle
Boom Collaboration aims to help plug a knowledge gap in certain areas of the market, from audio and video technology to meeting etiquette.
“We work across all sectors of the industry from AV integrators to traditional telephony resellers and accredited partners such as Zoom and Barco. We’re completely agnostic though and sales continue to rise by around 45% year-on-year.
“There’s definitely a knowledge gap due to the fast transition of people working from home and an explosion in software-based solutions such as Teams and Zoom. We aim to be the piece that’s missing in the sector.”
Hörnkvist added: “Our goal is to emphasise the vital role hardware plays to improve the meeting experience. We are a trusted advisor about the best end points to drive the end user experience. It’s about matching the right equipment to the right rooms and helping organisations to transition at whatever stage of the journey they are on.
“Many resellers used to sell traditional telephone systems then IP handsets but now cloud-based full unified comms systems are taking over with video at their heart. So resellers have to adapt to maintain their revenue streams and that’s where we come in with our knowledge and expertise.
“Our forthcoming Boom Academy will teach not just how to connect multiple cameras and different systems but showcase our domain overarching knowledge. It’s about giving something back. We recognise some resellers will have to learn quickly or they are out of the game. This is where we can help a lot who have come from the traditional ‘voice’ space. Live demos, meeting room design overviews and how to embrace the latest trends, for example.”
Disruptive force
Co-founder Hulett agrees with the importance of building long term relationships. “We are young and fresh with new ideas, backed by years of personal experience that already makes us experts in this field. We are not afraid to stand out, be bold, brave and loud and do things a little differently.
A disrupter to take on the field.” Hulett concluded: “The Boom support team offers both pre and post sales support, available for the life of a product. All Boom products come with a standard three-year warranty with an optional five-year Boom care plan for complete peace of mind.
“We recognise quality makes a huge difference. It really matters. That’s why we went straight into 4K picture resolution for example. 4K is the future. It’s about continually raising the game and raising the bar.
“Equally we want to show personality, fun and passion. It’s not just about making money but helping our customers, building a good organisation and enjoying what we do. We are continually learning and evolving.
“We are young with lots of ambition to grow. We have agility, like to be different and the future is bright. We want to bring in dedicated in-house R&D and product teams and continue to build our distribution network all over the world. I’d say we are at a tipping point to accelerate much further forward, based on sustained, controlled growth. 2023 will be a big and exciting year for us in the UK and around the world.”
11 February 2023 marks Global Movie Day, which was established to celebrate our favourite films, and sits alongside the Oscars. With smartphones driving the digital world, the film industry is also taking notice of how phones can capture award-winning videos.
As early as 2011, movies like “Olive” which was created on a Nokia N8 smartphone were Oscar contenders; while BAFTA recognised a short film Missed Call shot on iPhone X. More recently oscar-winning filmmaker, Charlie Kaufman shot a short film called Jackals and Fireflies, using Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone.
Every year on the second Saturday of February, people share their excitement over movies with the hashtag #GlobalMovieDay and you can join in too, with inspiration from gimbal and lighting manufacturer Zhiyun. The firm recently launched its Make It Real short film collection and here outlines 10 must-try tips on taking better smartphone films.
Bring subject and scene to life with natural lighting
Lighting the subject and the scene is everything. This does several things, like drawing the viewer’s attention, establishing the mood, and also ensuring the audience can see what you want them to see. You can do that either using natural light or by creating a basic lighting setup that illuminates your subject sufficiently. Take a test shot after your frame is set to determine how it looks on camera.
The easiest lighting option is to use the sun; both powerful and free. Letting the sun illuminate your subjects provides a beautiful, even light that helps hide blemishes and brings out the colours in their eyes. However, the sun isn’t always available, whether hidden behind a cloud or shooting in the dark, so film makers should use whatever light is accessible to capture the most flattering shots. Shooting on cloudy days or in the shade or using a very sheer white curtain can help soften sunlight if it’s too harsh.
Use LED lighting in indoor and low light set ups
There are key lighting don’ts to avoid if you want the best possible shot of subject and backdrop. While the sun is an awesome tool to illuminate your subject, it can cause unwanted shadows. Ensure your back is to the sun to avoid your subject ending up as a silhouette. On the topic of lighting your subject, avoid heavily backlit-settings. Smartphone cameras without advanced HDR capabilities usually can’t see the same detail that the naked eye can and in playback, will output footage with a bright light haloing a dark figure with often no discernable features. To avoid this situation, try configuring a basic light setup.
If you don’t have access to natural light, it may be tempting to use bright LED flash from a phone. However, this can result in overexposed images and washed-out colours and should be avoided. As an alternative, use some fill lights that are designed to render colours faithfully.
Finally, avoid mixing all your light sources. When setting up video lighting, fight the urge to use everything you have. Using competing colour temperatures (think: warm light from a lamp combined with cool sunlight) isn’t ideal as your camera will try to adjust to the new white balances. As a solution, daylight colour bulbs (5,000-6,000K) are available but when in doubt, stick with natural lighting.
Focus on the detail
Think about your story telling. What do you want to portray and how could that be done through imagery that adds interest and depth to your narrative?
For instance, as well as light, our eyes are drawn to reflections. Look for opportunities to play with them in videos such as puddles, larger bodies of water, mirrors, sunglasses, drinking glasses, and metallic surfaces are just a few. Elsewhere, close-up images that capture small, intricate, and delicate details can add interest to scenes. Explore textures and patterns like peeling paint, rough tree bark, a serrated rooftop or a dirt road.
4. Change up how you frame each shot
Placement of your subject in a film is important. Completely fill the frame with your subject or for added interest film them slightly off-centre to create a more visually interesting scene. Play around and see what looks best. Let’s look at one of the most basic principles of film composition; the rule of thirds.
Picture a 3-by-3 grid laid over the field you’re filming. Instead of placing your subject right in the middle of the shot, you should place your subject along one of the lines of the grid. The points where the lines cross are particularly strong areas of visual focus, so if you can, do place important elements of the video there.
5. Unleash creativity with smart editing
You can edit footage directly on your phone if it already has editing software built in or by downloading an editing app. For those of you using a gimbal, there are plenty of apps with a bunch of clever effects that come with them.
The ZY Cami app for example can provide an intuitive solution for the creation and editing of video content. Why not let your imagination run wild with a 4K video recording at 60 frames per second? Alternatively, explore panorama mode to capture the beauty of landscapes. Timelapse, hyperlapse, and motion lapse modes add dimensions and perspectives to your movie.
6. Accessorise with add-on lenses
There are so many great accessories available now in smartphone video kits which can enhance your footage with new effects.
Add-on lenses are a great place to start. A filtered lens will give a tint to the scene, and incite a certain emotional response from your audience. Certain add-on lenses can bring cinematic depth of field to your shooting, others can create a fishbowl effect, which is often used in action sport filming like skateboard videos.
7. Stabilise your shots
A gimbal is essential for smartphone filmmaking and essential to avoiding shaky footage that looks amateurish and disorienting and will take hours to correct in post-production.
The gimbal head is an accessory you can purchase to add to your tripod, giving you the ability to move the camera around the scene while maintaining that necessary stability. The grip rig is slightly different as it is a handheld accessory with a similar purpose—stabilise the image. This type of device may be better suited for videos that require a lot of movement or action.
For example the SMOOTH 5S gimbal has helped filmmakers simplify their shooting and unleash their creativity, especially for small teams with limited budget. You can also find more film inspiration to help you create here.
8. Create cinematic sound
Sound is crucial if you want to keep your audience engaged. There are many options allowing you to capture quality audio externally for your smartphone footage. The simple addition of an audio recorder, boom mic, and even wireless microphones can make a huge difference to sound quality.
Audio recording devices can pick up every little sound, even an air conditioning unit or a train in the distance. With this in mind, as well as audio enhancing tools, pay attention to the locations where you are shooting. Locations with high background noise such as train stations will mean you have to deal with train and announcements noise. When indoors, check for echo and reverberation from the hard surfaces or other distracting sounds.
9. Bring extra charging power
Be aware that your smartphone battery is not going to last for a full feature film– especially if you’re spending hours shooting footage. The last thing that you want is your phone dying in the middle of a crucial scene.
Before filming, ensure that your phone is fully charged. Pack a backup charger, preferably a wireless one to allow yourself to continue filming even if your battery starts to get low.
10. Back it up
Always back up your footage onto an external device just in case you lose the movie saved to your smartphone. Simply use an external memory card or upload your film to your computer and create a copy of everything for extra assurance. An external memory card will also give you extra storage space if your phone is short on it.
The contest was hosted by Zhiyun, with Nikon as the title sponsor and partners including RØDE, Aputure, YC onion, Desview, SmallRig, iFootage, and Lexar, among others. The 2022 version attracted 1,429 entries, and 25 groups of entries awarded prizes and now we are excited to see what 2023 will bring.
A report launched today at the Next Generation Construction event hosted by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and EY highlighted that the construction industry in Ireland is at a critical juncture. The report, entitled, A Detailed Description of Needs for the Irish Construction/Built Environment Sector finds that the industry needs to prioritise innovation and digital technology to provide the social, economic and productive infrastructure required to sustain economic growth, and to attract foreign direct investment in Ireland.
The report identifies that the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) approach to building has the potential to increase the speed of new homes through the adoption of innovation by 30%, reduce costs by a potential 25% and advance improvements in quality and energy efficiency.
The report found that 40% of firms in the construction industry are not using any automated technologies, while just 38% stated that there was a ‘great’ or ‘very great extent’ to which their firm was likely to engage in innovation.
Evidence from the survey also found that key barriers preventing firms from implementing new technologies in Ireland include the day-to-day running of the business (59%), a lack of time (51%) and lack of financial incentives to do so (47%).
Produced following research and consultation with firms and stakeholders across the construction industry, the aim of the report was to inform the design of a bespoke Construction Technology Centre to empower industry ownership of the research, development, and innovation processes required to deliver a more sustainable and competitive construction sector.
Speaking at the Next Generation Construction event at EY today, Annette Hughes, Director of EY Ireland Economic Advisory Services and author of the report said, “This report focuses on ‘future proofing’ the construction industry in Ireland by formulating a strategy for the next decade with innovation, digital technology and sustainability at the core.
There are challenges ahead, however, adopting smart construction and digital technology has the potential to transform the construction industry and significantly increase the production of quality, energy efficient new homes.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
While 62% of firms believe that modular construction will be of ‘great importance’ or of ‘very great importance’ in the next 10 years, the EY report found that utilisation of MMC in Ireland remained low with just 7.4% of firms regarding Off-Site Manufacturing/Modern Methods of Construction (OSM/MMC) as being their main activity. Key challenges cited around the adoption of MMC included capital and financing and specialised labour requirements.
Simon MacAllister, EY Partner added, “The advancements in construction technologies are reshaping the future of the construction industry globally. We need to create opportunities for the industry in Ireland to bring these technologies into Irish projects. Project Ireland 2040, and the various housing initiatives require an effective construction sector which is central to the overall development of our society and economy.”
Technology and Innovation
The use of ‘smart construction’ and digital technology has been proven to increase productivity and the efficiencies of the construction sector by from 10%- 20%, with up to a fivefold to tenfold increase in some circumstances. While 75% of firms said a technology sandbox – a place to explore the latest technologies without having to purchase them – would benefit them, 52% of firms were not interested in Robotics/Automation while 50% were not interested in Materials Prototyping.
Ross O’ Colmain, Department Manager, High Tech Construction and Housing, Enterprise Ireland said, “To fully transform construction enterprises by enabling the adoption of digital technology, it must be noted that true digital business transformation is an ongoing process that requires cultural change. As highlighted in the report, for this Centre to enable Digital Transformation and Innovation across the construction and built environment sector in Ireland, it must focus on developing capability in three core areas – each of equal importance: People, Process and Technology.
Recommendations and Sustainability
The report outlines a total of 11 key recommendations for the Construction Technology Centre and urges it to establish a Sustainability Action Plan within the first 90 days. The Sustainability Action Plan will keep the Centre focused and accountable, by ensuring that every action undertaken is concerned with building a sustainable environment within the industry. This also aligns with survey findings that 80% of firms believe that sustainability and energy will be of ‘great’ or ‘very great’ importance over the next ten years.
Based on the experience in centres across other jurisdictions, and the funding typically allocated to same, the funding for the Centre should comprise a mix of Government, industry, and other sources over time. Centres of this nature will likely require cumulative funding of €10 to €15 million in their initial years.
Sean Downey, Director of Specialist Contracting, Construction Industry Federation, concluded by saying “Post the Covid-19 pandemic, Irish construction stands at a crossroads. We cannot afford to stand still. We have to move to a new level of performance driven by both productivity and sustainability. Some leaders in the construction industry have adopted new technological processes and more advanced construction systems to deliver value to their clients and our vision is for this transformation to be adopted by all players in the industry.”
An international consortium of impact investors led by new shareholders Invest-NL, the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund and existing shareholder Quadia with its Regenero Impact Fund, joined forces with other existing shareholders DALHAP, DOEN Participaties and PDENH to invest €49 million in Fairphone, the Dutch sustainable smartphone company.
The investment enables Fairphone to accelerate growth and scale impact while pursuing its impact-driven mission towards fairer electronics. Furthermore it is used for the settlement of existing loans and partial exit of current shareholders, including PYMWYMIC and over 1000 crowdfunders.
Eva Gouwens, Fairphone CEO, comments: “Over the past years, Fairphone has been able to transform from a social movement to an impactful mission-driven company. I would like to thank all shareholders who have supported us over the years. With a growing base of mission-aligned investors, we will further raise awareness for fairer electronics and accelerate the growth of our company and impact.”
Funding to accelerate growth, product development and impact Fairphone will use the growth capital to strengthen brand positioning and create further awareness around fairness and sustainability in the electronics industry. The funding will also be used to accelerate integration of fair and recycled materials in Fairphone’s full product portfolio, for example by extending its mining value chain programs in Africa & South America, and fair wage programs in Asia. Moreover, Fairphone will invest in product development and improved customer service to ensure users enjoy keeping their Fairphone in use longer.
“We are excited to support Fairphone’s growth ambitions, as a truly circular lighthouse case within the electronics industry. With its unparalleled approach to creating ethical products with both people and planet in mind, Fairphone sets new standards for the entire industry. Together, we are disrupting a short-term way of thinking that the world can no longer afford, creating a sustainable and fair future for all stakeholders,” said Elisabeth Storm de Grave, Principal at Invest-NL.
Hanna Zwietering from the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund says: “Fairphone is a frontrunner in the sustainable electronics industry. The company has proven it can develop high-quality modular and fair smartphones in most competitive markets. Consumers love the Fairphone for impact and quality alike, in line with a growing trend towards conscious consumer behavior. We are proud to support the company in their mission and accelerate Fairphone’s growth to further increase their impact in the industry.”
Towards a fairer electronics industry.
By establishing a market for ethical electronics, Fairphone inspires the entire electronics industry to act more responsibly. This means taking a holistic approach to fairness for people and planet. With every phone sold, Fairphone shows that there is demand for ethical electronics in combination with a profitable business model. Fairphone gains influence in the industry to motivate suppliers and manufacturers to continue to invest in improving working conditions, worker satisfaction and sustainable business practices, as well as providing better opportunities for the communities linked to its supply chain.
Josep Segarra, Senior Investment Manager from Quadia states: “We are very pleased to further support Fairphone through this significant investment alongside new mission-aligned co-investors. Fairphone perfectly fits in our vision of the sustainable electronics sector, in which we have already supported companies in the refurbished smartphones and home appliances segments. We look forward to continuing to strengthen the uniqueness of the company and aspire to accelerate Fairphone’s growth while creating value for all stakeholders and safeguarding its long-term mission”
Creative Technology today launches the Sound Blaster X5, its latest USB DAC and amplifier sound card that ticks all the boxes on a discerning audiophile’s gear wish list. Decked with class-leading components, breakthrough audio technologies, a comprehensive connectivity profile and sporting a premium look and feel in a sleek build, the X5 simply pulls out all the stops as a compelling audio solution like no other.
Sound Blaster X5 means the business in both looks and performance.
This is It for Pristine Audio
Sound Blaster X5 personifies the best of Creative’s audio engineering and design expertise, equipped with audiophile-grade components to achieve exceptional audio quality. It is the first Sound Blaster to feature a dual-DAC design – 2 Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs deliver high-resolution lossless playback in 32-bit / 384 kHz over PCM with ultra-high dynamic range of up to 130 dB DNR. These DACs can also decode audio formats in DoP128 and DSD256 for high-fidelity audio streaming. Audio distortion is practically non-existent with an oversampled multi-bit modulator for an incredibly low Total Harmonic Distortion rating of 0.00018%.
From studio-grade headphones with impedance of up to 600 ohms, including the most demanding planar-magnetic headphones, to sensitive in-ear monitors with 1 ohm output impedance, Sound Blaster X5 drives them all effortlessly. The award-winning Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplification technology, which is found in the high-end Sound Blaster AE series and Sound BlasterX G6, receives a design upgrade that, coupled with a dual-DAC and dual-Xamp configuration, delivers a fully-balanced headphone output and experience on the X5. A next-level design for audio fidelity makes its debut, using 2 dedicated Xamp circuits that amplify the left and right channels separately in isolation throughout the entire chain of amplification, effectively eliminating in-circuit interference, noise and cross-talk. What makes the X5 stand out even more is the fact that this type of audio design is a rare find in its price category (sub-US$300).
Audiophiles with a lean to customize their own audio signatures can do just that with the Sound Blaster X5. When connected to the Creative app, they can make adjustments with a 10-band equalization frequency graph, add on Acoustic Engine effects like Surround, Crystalizer, Bass or Dialog+, or use CrystalVoice to improve communication quality. When in the mood for gaming, Scout Mode enhances in-game audio cues to highlight details for a competitive edge.
Sound Blaster X5 also supports ASIO 2.2 for low-latency playback and recording, as well as easy access to multiple audio inputs and outputs.
Full Marks for Connectivity
Sound Blaster X5 is a competent audio hub in its own right; its versatility means it is also compatible with various devices, including gaming consoles, DVD players and other living room entertainment systems. There are two-way RCA and TOSLINK Optical connectors, a convenient USB-C audio and power port, as well as a 3.5 mm microphone-in port with an easy-to-access mic gain knob. There is also a 4.4 mm port for studio-grade balanced headphones, and a 3.5 mm port for regular headphones. All 3 ports use premium gold-plated connectors for better performance. It features a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver and a dedicated USB-A host audio port for connection to wireless audio transmitters, as well as external USB speakers, headsets and microphones.
With a set of controls designed for an intuitive user experience, Sound Blaster X5’s front-mounted buttons and switches are easy to access and right at the fingertips for the audiophile’s convenience.
Pricing and Availability
Sound Blaster X5 is priced at US$300, £269.99 and is available at the Creative online store.
Jabra, a leader in personal sound and office solutions, is unveiling the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System at ISE 2023 as part of Jabra’s PanaCast 50solution portfolio for small-medium sized meeting rooms. The Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is an integrated solution, that includes an Android based compute unit, as well as state-of-the-art SOCs, speakers, microphones, video camera, with network and display interfaces for easy deployment. The solution comes with a 10.1” touch controller to manage the room experience. The system natively and securely runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android or Zoom Rooms.
The complete portfolio delivers flexible deployment options to bring the best collaboration experience with either an integrated solution on Android, a modular on Windows through the PanaCast 50 Room Systems with Lenovo and Crestron or a BYOD solution with PanaCast 50.
The ultimate hybrid workplace meeting experience
The PanaCast 50 Video Bar System offers the same award-winning user experience as the two other solutions in the portfolio. It features full-room coverage with its unique 180° field of view Panoramic-4K multi-camera array, which uniquely delivers true-to-life representation of the people in the room. It also has eight professional-grade microphones with voice detection and intelligent algorithms that automatically identify and remove residual echoes and static noise, as well as an array of four powerful speakers in a zero-vibration stereo setup. Meanwhile, its Intelligent Meeting Room Experiences, which include the Virtual Director, Intelligent Zoom and Dynamic Composition, provide an engaging experience for remote participants.
The PanaCast 50 Video Bar System is designed to adapt to the evolving UC experiences and hybrid workplace needs with its AI-powered software-defined platform. Above all, it is easy to install, manage and use with everything needed for video meetings embedded in the PanaCast Control for a one-touch start/join without requiring any additional devices, allowing simple, secure, and scalable deployment and management in any small-medium sized rooms.
Aurangzeb Khan, SVP for Intelligent Vision Systems at Jabra said, “We have an urgent need to improve collaboration in today’s hybrid working era. Our research* found that meeting equity has a strong impact on an employee’s experience, well-being, and productivity levels. The addition of the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System as a room solution to the Jabra PanaCast portfolio – with the already-delivered BYOD and room system solutions – can vastly enhance the hybrid meeting experience. The Jabra PanaCast 50 solution portfolio addresses the spectrum of business needs for small-medium sized meeting rooms. We want to facilitate effortless discussions and encourage innovation amongst meeting attendees no matter their location.”
Key features of the PanaCast 50 Video Bar System:
Integrated video bar that runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android and supports your licensed Zoom Rooms natively without the need for external compute unit.
Full-room coverage with unique 180° field of view in Panoramic-4K with three 13-megapixel cameras that preserve human scale fidelity
8 beamforming microphones and 4 powerful speakers with echo cancellation, noise suppression, Full Duplex and Super Wideband audio
Cutting-edge intelligent meeting room experiences to support immersive hybrid meeting experiences
Simple Start/Join meeting with just a tap on the touch controller
HDMI-wired content sharing, proximity join and dual display support
Fast and Easy to install with minimal cabling
Environmental sensors to monitor air quality in the room in real time
Ultrasonic motion sensor that detects people in the room, so the system wakes up and is always ready to go
Real-time, anonymous people count data with full room coverage to monitor room usage
PanaCast 50 Video Bar System: Available from June 2023, MSRP: £3229
