High End Show 2014: The Most Impressive Ever

From 15 to 18 May 2014, visitors flocked to the Munich MOC and the 33rd High End Show confirmed its position as the world’s most important location for high-quality audio and consumer electronics with 452 exhibitors from 40 countries (+25%) and 17,855 visitors (+10%). The show, promoted by the High End Society is now more international than ever.

Samson Technologies has a new addition to their already impressively affordable and reliable line of monitor speakers. The MediaOne BT Active Studio Monitors with Bluetooth are available in three models, sold as packaged stereo pairs. The MediaOne BT3 ($99), MediaOne BT4 ($149) and MediaOne BT5 ($199) monitors are the latest products from Samson that feature the ability to wirelessly connect to music sources via Bluetooth. Samson is hosting a contest starting on July 18 giving away a pair to a lucky winner before they are available in stores. Read on.

PreSonus announced that it's now shipping free SL Room Control, which is an easy-to-use system-control and performance-monitoring software for StudioLive AI Active Integration loudspeakers. SL Room Control connects to the loudspeaker-management processor on each AI-series loudspeaker. It works wirelessly or over a wired (Ethernet) LAN. SL Room Control provides access to pro system-alignment controls for customizing each StudioLive AI-series speaker on the network. It compensates for room anomalies, eliminates feedback, and more.

Audiofile announced a major update to Spectre, the popular real-time audio analysis suite for OS X. The new version currently featured on the Mac App Store and named a “Best New App”, is available for 50% off the original price for a limited time. Ideal for any audio professional, Spectre is packed with 20 different multi-channel and multi-trace meters including Level, VU, Spectrograph, Oscilloscope, Spectrogram, LU and LU History.

Do you want to build your own speakers with little risk of them ending up as unsuccessful souvenirs? Do you want to familiarize yourself with a speaker’s electronics and building aspects but still have a nice sounding system? Then the Tang Band D52-1 is definitely a speaker kit we can recommend. We already tried it for you!

Looking for a circuit solution to the problem of measuring AC voltage and current using DC meters? Synchronous rectification solves a pesky problem caused by diodes.

This month we bring you a report on some of the highlights from the Prolight+Sound 2014 show in Frankfurt, Germany. The show provided several innovative proposals for the professional audio industry.

Looking to start a DIY tube amp project without shelling out big bucks? You can do it if you follow a few tips from Bruce Brown, who built a high-quality tube amp for less than $150. His biggest purchase was the “iron.” Here’s how he kept the cost down.

Like many technology companies in Silicon Valley, OPPO Digital is continuously working on bringing new ideas and new products to customers. Over the past 8 years, OPPO has developed and released a series of award-winning universal DVD and Blu-ray players. But just as video has entered the Ultra HD era, OPPO Digital acknowledges audio is evolving with the rise of high-resolution music and a renewed interest in personal audio. Aiming at demanding customers in the personal audio space OPPO has announced the new PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphone and HA-1 Headphone Amplifier. The PM-1's became available middle April and the HA-1 one month later.

audioXpress is deeply rooted in the R&D and DIY audio communities. So is Elektor, our sister publication that originated in Europe. Elektor International Media (EIM) group publishes Elektor, audioXpress, Voice Coil, the Loudspeaker Industry Sourcebook, and Circuit Cellar.