Cover art: Headphones Custom One Pro PlusPhoto credit: beyerdynamic
This month, learn more on how Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) end-to-end technology is redefining the source for music. We interview Electro-Harmonix tube engineer Alan Otto, and Eminence’s Rob Gault and include a report on the CanJam SoCal 2016 show. We also discuss acoustic metamaterials, how audio cables affect the sound we hear, review the Dayton Audio OmniMic V2 acoustic measurement system, and feature a DIY project of an ecological power supply for power amplifiers.
Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) is a revolutionary end-to-end technology that captures and delivers master quality audio in a file that’s small enough to stream or download. And because its source is fully authenticated (by the use of embedded metadata), listeners can be sure they are hearing exactly what the artist recorded and approved in the studio — the same digital music source.
After attending several presentations on MQA by Bob Stuart (Meridian Audio and MQA’s founder), we knew we needed to dedicate one of our Standards Review articles to the technology and not wait for further developments—which are happening practically every week. In our June 2016 issue of audioXpress, we feature a complete article on “Master Quality Authenticated (MQA): Redefining the Source for Music.” The article summarizes the scope of Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) technology—the Music Origami—as Stuart calls it. More than describing the technical foundations, the key objective is to describe why MQA is important and what it can do for music, helping refocus the debate around quality in music distribution and the technology we currently have available.
Another highlight in this June 2016 issue is the Hollow-State Electronics’ article, featuring an interview with Electro-Harmonix tube engineer Alan Otto, discussing vacuum-tube production. Electro-Harmonix was founded in 1968 by Mike Matthews. Initially, the company manufactured and sold effects pedals and electronic accessories for musicians, including models using tubes. Its move into vacuum tube manufacturing has proven successful and has benefited users worldwide by providing a predictable source of high-quality tubes for manufacturing, DIY, and replacement use. As Richard Honeycutt explains, today, there are only a few tube factories worldwide and Electro-Harmonix sells tubes produced in its own factory in Saratov, Russia.
Also important to highlight, since Eminence is celebrating its 50th anniversary, we interview Eminence’s Rob Gault, a company started by his father Bob Gault in 1966. Rob Gault offers an interesting insight on the evolution of this leading loudspeaker company, which has grown to more than 10,000 speakers per day, employing nearly 200 people.
The June 2016 issue also includes a report on the CanJam SoCal 2016 show that took place March 19-20, 2016, at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. Produced by Head-Fi.org, this is the largest headphone and personal audio expo in North America, and Rob Baum (Pacific Audio Consulting) reports on what impressed him the most. CanJam SoCal 2016 showcased more than 60 exhibitors and featured new product introductions and increased attendance, including headphone amplifiers and accessories.
In our Sound Control article, Richard Honeycutt writes about “The Difficult and the Impossible in Acoustics,” where he re-examines the challenges historically faced in controlling sound and discusses the strides made in this field using acoustic metamaterials (AMs). As Honeycutt writes, “As audio enthusiasts know, many things one might want to accomplish in acoustics have long been considered difficult or impossible, primarily because of material limitations. Fortunately, some of those functions can now be performed using acoustical metamaterials (AMs), which have become a subject of intensive research.”
Another article that we are certain will generate significant interest discusses cables and how they affect the sound we hear. The topic is discussed in the perspective of Wireworld Cable Technology, a company founded by David Salz and a respected manufacturer of high-performance audio and video cables. As Oliver A. Masciarotte writes, his interest was motivated by a presentation of Wireworld’s Cable Polygraph concept introduced at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2015. On, “Making Experiential Observations Count,” Masciarotte discusses some of the company’s findings and how they inspired Wireworld’s unique approach to cables.
In Fresh From the Bench, we review the Dayton Audio OmniMic V2, an omnidirectional acoustic measurement system designed to provide fast, comprehensive, and accurate audio measurements. One of the more popular “easy-to-use” acoustic measurement systems, this system from Dayton Audio and Parts Express was designed by Bill Waslo, whose IMP project pioneered the DIY home-speaker measurement revolution more than 20 years ago. And, as Stuart Yaniger declares, after spending a considerable amount of time using it in practical applications, “it should be part of every audio DIYer’s toolkit.”
For our DIYers, we have a very interesting project, describing “An Ecological Power Supply for Power Amplifiers.” As the author, Vincent Thiernesse, describes, this is a power supply dedicated to audio power amplifiers that exhibits ecological and economical qualities that are ideal for audio enthusiasts. The improved design of a power supply for audio amplifiers behaves like a resistive load with respect to the mains network. Thus, the current drawn from the mains has the same shape as the voltage delivered by the mains and has the same phase, so that the power factor is very close to 1. Consequently the RMS value of the current drawn is as low as possible and that offers several audio benefits. This article focuses on a practical realization of the power supply, while the design, development, technical, and theoretical background will be explained in a more extensive article in Jan Didden’s Linear Audio Volume 12.
The June 2016 issue is available for download at www.gotomyxpress.com
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