Everything That's Audio in audioXpress December 2023

audioXpress December 2023 includes a market overview of multiroom audio, Brent Butterworth writes about new ways to measure ANC earbuds, and Stuart Yaniger measured the new Axign and GaN Systems Class-D audio amplifier board. Richard Honeycutt writes about tubes, BJTs, JFETs, MOSFETs, and ICs, and Dimitri Danyuk, discusses JFETs in audio circuits. Douglas Self explains how to optimize variable-frequency tone controls, and Jan Didden shares his eDD direct-drive amplifier project.

Universal Audio surprised everyone with the introduction of a completely new range of USB-C audio interfaces. With five different models and a stylish design, the new Volt audio interfaces are said to offer best-in-class sound quality, including a Vintage Mic Preamp mode, built-in 76 Compressor in the 76 models, and are bundled with a suite of audio software for use with Macs, PCs, iPads, and even iPhones.

Eplex7 DSP, a music software company from Europe specializing in emulations of classic synthesizers and analog processors, introduced a software plug-in that basically explores all the creative possibilities of a tube stage. The VD76 recreates the full audio path, based on Eplex7's analog emulation technology, combining the emulation of actual analog circuits and effects of individual components, in this case, pentodes and triodes. The result, enables adding the typical warmth and coloration effects of vintage tubes.

Audio Media Research (AMR), the company originally founded by Hartley Peavey as a research and development branch of Peavey Electronics, announced the acquisition of the ReValver guitar amplifier modeling software line from Peavey Electronics. AMR is now a stand-alone entity focused on audio software and digital signal processing for the music creation market, specializing in sound emulation with tube, circuit and component level modeling.

Crane Song announced the introduction of the Interstellar, the company's latest stereo ADC. Interstellar is a stereo analog to digital converter using Crane Song's acclaimed Quantum, sub Pico second clocking technology. Interstellar features DSP emulations for Triode and Pentode tubes, Tape emulation, dithering to 16 bits and World Clock outputs, which allow Interstellar to function as a master clock. When used as an USB interface, the SPDIF output can be used to connect to a DAC, making Interstellar a USB bidirectional interface.