audioXpress May 2025 Brings the Best in DIY Audio with Tubes
This year’s special Glass Audio issue of audioXpress includes interesting explorations such as the Ultra-Linear Power Amplifier by Rudolf Moers, Micro Details in Push-Pull Output Transformers by Hans Polak, Getting Less Gain From Tubes by Merlin Blencowe, and the Type 3 Mu Stage Breakthrough by Alan Kimmel. This issue also includes two speaker designs from Ben (Wolf) Shaffer and Ken Bird, an article about the intriguing return of 78 rpm records, and Paul Marchese’s Part 2 of his insightful Primer on Class-D Amplifiers. Richard Honeycutt shares how he learned to DIY with Tubes.
NAB 2025: A Look at the Future of Content Production
The 2025 NAB Show took place from April 5-9 (exhibits opened April 6) in Las Vegas, NV. The traditional gathering of content, media, and broadcast production hosted annually by the National Association of Broadcasters was once again a reenergizing showcase for all the professionals working on these always-evolving industries that traditionally have helped uphold the highest standards in quality of audio and image. But NAB 2025 was not business as usual.
Audeze Announces LCD-S20 Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones Featuring SLAM Technology
Audeze announced the new LCD-S20 closed-back headphones, the first planar model from the Californian company featuring their patent-pending SLAM technology for powerful bass response and improved spatial imaging, along with a new magnetic earpad attachment system. At $499, LCD-S20 becomes Audeze’s most affordable LCD headphones, appealing to a whole new group of content producers, musicians, and music enthusiasts that always admired the planar magnetic products from the manufacturer.
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ATC Launches SCM20ASL 2-Way Active Stand-Mount Loudspeakers
Scheduled for its premiere at AXPONA 2025, the new SCM20ASL compact active speakers, are the main attraction from Acoustic Transducer Company (ATC), and are based on its 50th anniversary ‘Limited Edition’ design. Described as an ideal choice for modestly sized rooms where outstanding musical reproduction is the goal, the new ATC SCM20ASL are 2-way stand-mounts that expand on ATC’s philosophy of combining the best in-house drivers with matched on-board amplification.
Waves Audio Introduces Curves AQ Generative AI Equalizer Plugin
Following the success of Waves’ Curves Equator, the resonance suppression plugin, and the first in the “Curves” series presenting an evolution in EQ technology, Waves Audio is now shipping Curves AQ, the world’s first autonomous EQ plugin. Unlike other “smart EQ” offerings which rely on a rigid “take-it-or-leave-it” preset curve with extremely limited adjustment and control options, Curves AQ uses generative AI Spectral Targeting Technology.
Rotel Expands Personal Audio Series with DX-5 Stereo Integrated Amplifier
Rotel announced availability of its DX-5 Stereo Integrated Amplifier, a compact Class AB powerhouse delivering 33 watts per channel into 4 ohms (25W/channel at 8 ohms) in its new modern style, compact chassis. Powered by an in-house toroidal transformer and high-current transistors, it also incorporates a 768kHz-capable ESS ES9039Q2M Sabre DAC, with specifications promising ultra-low noise (100 dB SNR) and superior reproduction characteristics - as typical of products from the Japanese brand.
Test Bench: Faital Pro HF110 1" Neodymium Motor Compression Driver
This Test Bench characterizes a 1" conical exit compression driver from Faital Pro that was measured along with the brand's STH100 elliptical Tractrix flare horn (80° × 70°). Driven by a voice coil wound with aluminum wire on a high Qm non-conducting Kapton former, and powered by a neodymium ring magnet, the HF110 compression driver targets applications such as stage monitors and PA speakers with a 2kHz recommended crossover frequency (second-order or higher high-pass filter).
Modern Op-Amp Distortion Tests: Part 1 - BJT-Input Devices
Douglas Self has been using a tried-and-true palette of op-amps in his designs. Because many new types have appeared in the last decade, he thought it was high time to evaluate those for distortion performance. In Part 1 of this article, he examines BJT-input devices using a similar protocol for five different loads and testing for basic op-amp distortion in favorable circumstances. FET input op-amps are investigated in Part 2.
Celestion Expands Truvox Series with New 0820 Midbass Loudspeaker
Celestion continues to expand its Truvox product family, relaunched in 2024, drawing on Celestion’s long tradition of producing high-performing general-purpose speakers. Celestion announced the availability of the new Truvox 0820 8-inch ferrite magnet midbass driver, designed as a drop-in replacement and upgrade solution for a wide range of 8-inch midbass applications, including automotive aftermarket.
Point Source Audio Debuts Newly Engineered Earmounted Lavalier Microphone for Content Creators
Renowned for professional-grade microphones, Point Source Audio (PSA) unveiled a creator-friendly new over-ear lavalier microphone. The new Embrace Model EO-7, unveiled at NAB 2025, expands on PSA's catalog of broadcast and live performance solutions, offering the same patented earmounted design that ensures pickup stability, color-changeable skins, with a standard 3.5mm termination to connect to leading 2.4 GHz wireless systems used by streamers and content creators.