Focus on Acoustics, Speakers, and More in audioXpress August 2019!

The August 2019 edition of audioXpress focuses once again on the topic of acoustics. Since we refreshed audioXpress’ contents in 2013, we have made acoustics an integral part of our mission, together with every other critical discipline in audio development and product design.

This edition includes the latest Acoustical Solutions product round-up. As in previous years, audioXpress highlights the newest products and solutions that help improve acoustics and deal with unwanted problems - from “first-approach” acoustic solutions to materials and even measurement software. This year, we noticed that acoustic panel and material manufacturers are introducing new eco-friendly and sustainable solutions, as well as exploring using recycled post-consumer waste to create new innovative acoustic treatment products. Certainly a welcome trend!

In our Sound Control column, Richard Honeycutt discusses Variable Acoustics and how acousticians have developed modern systems that are acoustically friendly to a variety of program materials. The article explores approaches from variable-volume, to variable acoustical absorption, and even electroacoustic reverberation-enhancement (active acoustics) systems.

The edition also includes several contributed articles on acoustic-related topics. John Calder tackles the broad topic of acoustics and attempts to explain some of the issues that contribute to the confusion in acoustics education, including the difference between frequency response and frequency timing. And Norman Varney experiments with vibrations and discusses the basic principles of unwanted vibrations in audio playback environments. Two great R&D Stories on essential acoustics knowledge.

Next up, in "Why Doesn’t My Stereo Sound Like a Live Concert?" our friend Ethan Winer explains why acoustics matter and why the fidelity of your audio devices and speakers is not the reason your hi-fi doesn’t make your living room sound like you’re hearing a concert in a concert hall.

And from acoustics to electroacoustics and loudspeaker design, Stuart Yaniger offers his review of the Kali Audio LP-6 Powered Studio Monitors. These are speakers with a plain, business-like appearance, using a 6.5" woofer-midrange, a 1” tweeter, and a front-firing port that we would easily be misled to think are just another run-of-the-mill home studio affordable offering. If it wasn't for the fact that Kali Audio is a new California-based company formed by a group of (now former) JBL employees, and that the company's lead engineer is Charles Sprinkle, who is best known for the fabulous JBL M2 loudspeakers, as well as the popular LS305 and LS308 monitors. In his review, Yaniger explains why the Kali LP-6s are serious contenders in the studio space, and can be also formidable affordable options on any other environment.

And, we also include a different kind of review. This time, our speaker-builder enthusiast and regular audioXpress DIY contributor, Ken Bird, assembled and reviews one of the latest speaker kits in the market. The Swans Speakers DIY Kits are part of a new catalog created by HiVi Acoustics and Swan Speakers (HiVi's consumer brand), and so far include two kits: a two-way bookshelf design, the DIY 2.2A, and the slightly larger three-way design, the DIY 3.1A, which audioXpress addresses in this edition. Both models incorporate HiVi drivers.

This edition also includes Oliver A. Masciarotte's always well-tuned report on AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) 2019, which took place April 12-14 at The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center and Hotel. Masciarotte spent three days traversing multiple hotel floors packed with listening rooms, which this year included 50 new exhibitors, and writes about all the product highlights in most categories, from speakers to headphones, electronics and the traditional oddities.

All this and much more, now available online, immediately, and on its way to those who subscribe to print. 

To read all these great articles, you will need to subscribe to audioXpress. Print and/or Digital subscriptions are available. Subscribe to the digital online version and get immediate access at: www.audioxpress.com/page/audioXpress-Subscription-Services.html

If you wish to buy a single printed issue or the complete audioXpress archive on USB, from 2000 to 2019 (yes, including the latest issue), just visit our online shop at www.cc-webshop.com.

Don't miss out, get your copy of audioXpress right now at www.gotomyxpress.com.