Fresh From the Bench: Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Powered Speakers

Stuart Yaniger reviews the Vanatoo Transparent One Encore speakers, the company’s second successful design since the Vanatoo’s Transparent Zero, which our author discovered and reviewed a few years ago. The new Transparent One Encore speakers clearly benefited from this Transparent Zero development effort to create a much improved model, retailing for just $599 per pair. This article was originally published in audioXpress, February 2020.

Oliver Masciarotte and Stuart Yaniger tested Cambridge Audio’s Edge series power amplifier, the Edge W, which the British manufacturer introduced in 2018 as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. audioXpress submitted this design, which claimed to be the culmination of the brand’s audio engineering expertise, to extensive listening and measurement sessions. This article was originally published in audioXpress, January 2020.

The April 2020 edition of audioXpress is now available and features two essential Market Updates, one focusing on the industry transition to active headphone and earphone designs, and another on how to leverage the latest voice capture and processing technologies. The issue also explains how to evaluate listening effort, and Stuart Yaniger puts the Linear Audio Autoranger Mk II Interface to the test, while Ed Simon writes about AC Power Rectification. Another issue to read and use as reference.

Stuart Yaniger offers his review of the latest Audio Precision APx555 B Series audio analyzer, and the corresponding new updated V5 software for the APx series. The APx B series now features a new High Performance Sine Generator and a High Performance Sine Analyzer, which Audio Precision claims reduces THD+N to better than -120 dB, with a 1 MHz bandwidth and Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) of up to 1.2 million points. This article was published in audioXpress, December 2019.

The February 2020 edition of audioXpress features a Market Update on Microphones, addressing the latest technology and application trends in this expanding product segment, including an article explaining how Nureva created a groundbreaking approach to gain control that cuts conference call annoyance. And Richard Honeycutt explains how to choose and position Choir Microphones, while Michael Steffes discusses interfacing measurement mics to Delta-Sigma ADCs. Get the new edition now!

audioXpress January 2020 is now available in print and download! To start 2020 in the best possible way, this edition includes a Market Update about Speakers and Transducers, followed by a report of the COMSOL Boston Conference where the latest Multiphysics 5.5 Release was unveiled, a great review of the Cambridge Audio Edge W amplifier, and an in-depth article in which Steve Temme discusses tools and techniques to accurately measure voice-controlled and connected devices. Plus many more great theory articles and practical knowledge shared by audioXpress experts.

Stuart Yaniger reviews the DPA d:vice MMA-A Digital Audio Interface, a two-channel microphone preamp and A/D converter that allows the use of the renowned DPA microphones with any iOS device, a Mac or a PC. Apart from being an audio measurement expert, Yaniger is also an enthusiastic music recordist and this device not only fit in his pocket but he also found it to be "a slick piece of engineering and industrial design." Originally published in audioXpress, October 2019.

audioXpress December 2019 dives into the latest wireless audio and DSP platforms and solutions in a dedicated Market Update, followed by a review of the latest Audio Precision APx555 B Series audio analyzer. David Logvin shares his experience with the xCORE VocalFusion development platform by XMOS, while Michael Steffes re-confirms a theory that cascaded amplifier + ADC harmonic distortion combine as voltage swings. Christopher Paul explores alternative approaches to the design of a linear current regulator for audio tube amplifiers, Menno van der Veen details an 18 W single-ended valve amplifier using Trans technology, and Richard Honeycutt investigates whether or not swapping out comparable tubes makes any audible difference in a guitar amplifier’s sound. Download your own copy now!

In the March 2019 edition of audioXpress, focusing on Test and Measurement, Stuart Yaniger explored the new Earphone Audio Response System or EARS, which miniDSP introduced as an affordable test jig for headphone measurements. Basically, this is a plug & play USB audio streaming device, featuring dual low noise calibrated mics with interchangeable silicon ears. But is it really the answer to bring "headphone measurements to the masses," as the manufacturer intended?

The October 2019 edition of audioXpress closely reflects the highly diverse and exciting areas of innovation in the audio industry. There’s a Market Update on Audio Installation, one of the highest growth and most innovative segments in the audio industry, and our report of the 2019 Midwest Audiofest Speaker Design Competition, followed by a review of Bob Cordell’s 2nd Edition book on Designing Audio Power Amplifiers, and an important insight on modern Class-D amplification. We also review the DPA d:vice MMA-A Digital Audio Interface, explain the potential of true 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) audio experiences, how Auralization allows building virtual acoustic models, and so much more!