June 2015 is – we have to say it – undoubtedly one of the most diverse and interesting issues we have put together. The magazine has something for everyone and lots of great content we are certain will be greatly appreciated.We begin with our cover R&D Story, dedicated to the incredible Genelec 8351 Acoustically Coaxial SAM System. On “Rethinking a Three-Way Monitor,” our readers will find the most complete article about the new Genelec 8351A monitor introduced during the 137th Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention in Los Angeles, CA. Enough to say that this is a tri-amplified studio near-field monitor with an ingenious design that introduces enhanced directivity control at lower frequencies in a relatively small speaker. Our article explains the “outside-the-box” thinking that resulted in one of the most interesting loudspeaker designs in recent times, as explained by the authors – Aki Mäkivirta, Jussi Väisänen, and Ilpo Martikainen.
Next, we invite our readers on a magical journey – which is not for the faint-of-heart – with “The Right Filter” by French author Vincent Thiernesse. This is the first article in a three- part series where Vincent will explain how he envisioned a “tunable near-linear phase analog crossover” design. As he describes, “despite the fact that digital filters are more commonly used because they allow linear phase performance, I built my device using analog components because many people still prefer analog systems.”
Another first for this month’s issue, our Practical T&M column returns with a great series by Stuart Yaniger on “Sound Cards for Data Acquisition in Audio Measurements.” As Stuart explains, “In this column, I will look at some of the available options and methods to create a low-cost system (emphasis on “low-cost”) for lab-grade audio electronics measurements and provide some examples. I will skip the superb but expensive systems to concentrate on solutions within easy reach of budget-conscience hobbyists. The goal is to demonstrate how you can generate useful data, similar to the graphs and charts in the audio review magazines, but without the expense.”
And moving from audio electronics to transducers, in their Headsets column, Mike Klasco and Steve Tatarunis review the current state of electrostatic headphone technology and provide a bit of electrostatic history.
Next, Ron Tipton shares his “Classical Binaural Experiences,” the seventh article in our multi-part series that takes readers on a continuing quest for realistic recorded sound. The series, which began in the December 2014 issue with mono, then stereo, and ambisonic sound, focuses this month on binaural sound.
Our Sound Control column by Richard Honeycutt looks in-depth at the Gold Line TEF Measurement System, after first reviewing the history of the time-delay spectrometry (TDS) measurement concept and the time-energy frequency (TEF) analyzer.
In this month’s Questions & Answers, Shannon Becker talks to HearNotes CEO Patrick Donohue about his recently founded startup, which attempts to offer truly WireFree earbuds. Its concept for superior mobile audio was successfully introduced at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV, and uses Kleer wireless technology for audio transmission — meeting a long-standing market demand for such an evolution in the headphone industry.
HearNotes is currently running a campaign on Kickstarter and you can still help.
Finally, our June issue also features two great DIY projects.
First, Larry Cicchinelli explains how to construct a PIC-based audio direct digital synthesis (DDS) device with several useful features. And for a little extra fun, Costas Sarris shares his Single-Ended Guitar Tube Amplifier, a simple, low-wattage, but extremely musical design that we have no doubt will be built all over the world.
And in our Hollow-State Electronics column, Richard Honeycutt explains how to find information on vacuum tubes and some of the challenges associated with finding what the data actually means. As Richard explains, “even with the vast resources of the Internet, finding useful data can still be difficult.”
As usual, your new issue of audioXpress is now available at www.gotomyxpress.com
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