“We have wanted to launch an HDtracks streaming service for some time. In Lenbrook we have a partner with global reach to help us launch a service ensuring quality and consumer choice,“ says HDtracks co-founder David Chesky, who has been a leader in high-resolution audio alongside his brother Norman. “Fans will get to choose their format – either PCM/FLAC or MQA – in a service that will ensure high-resolution audio streaming whether you are in your home or on-the-go.”

AIRIA By MQA Labs

This unnamed service will be the first to incorporate a new wireless hi-res CODEC developed by MQA Labs. It promises a data-efficient solution to lossless streaming from the cloud or wirelessly from a device. You can expect low latency and a format-agnostic CODEC, with reliable audio quality and scalability.

“Our industry has been built by providing discerning music enthusiasts with choices while using innovation to advance digital music delivery,” explains Lenbrook’s Chief Strategy Officer, John Banks. “As audiophiles ourselves, it’s an exciting prospect to bring a service to life for the millions of global audiophiles that care so passionately about the quality of the music they listen to.”

Mike Jbara, VP and GM of Lenbrook Media Group adds, “Norman and David are the perfect partners for Lenbrook. Their experience and understanding of the high-end audio fan is unique and their history with quality and innovation speaks for itself. We are ready to embark on this journey with them and think music fans are going to love it.”

The service will be available across platforms. In addition to its own applications for mobile, the service will find its way into many of the world’s leading high-end audio ecosystems, apps, and brands, that count on service providers for their content.

For more information, you can check out Lenbrook Media Group’s website here.

The post A New Hi-Res Music Streaming Service Is On The Way From HDTracks & Lenbrook Media Group appeared first on Major HiFi.

The original MV7 microphone was meant to be a less expensive option for their famous SM7B. Now that model is getting an upgrade, with a sleeker design and new features thanks to software upgrades. Some of these upgrades include voice isolation technology and a new Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engine that supplies even more helpful recording tools.

Innovative Onboard DSP Engine

The Auto-Level mode has been improved to adapt the microphone’s gain based on the distance, volume, and room dynamics. This adds a great way to ensure your levels are balanced without constantly needing to make adjustments. In addition to that, there’s a Digital Popper Stopper that automatically removes plosives. It also helps shrink the mic’s pop filter’s size for a better camera look. Lastly, the DSP allows you to cycle through a few onboard reverb settings and adds a Real-Time Denoiser that helps reduce background noise. If you don’t have other noise-reduction tools like the Izotope RX suite available, then the MX7+ could be a great alternative.

MOTIV MIX Deskeop App

Downloading the free MOTIV Mixdesktop app is a must for configuring the MV7+. In it, you will find the latest MOTIV software interface, where you’ll be able to control multi-track recording and routing. Using the MOTIV desktop app with the MV7+ will help you take more control over your recordings and streams. The MV7+ also lets you customize the LED panels through the app.

You can purchase the Shure MV7+ in black now for $279. There will also be a white version coming this summer. At the same time, a bundle will be made available that will include the microphone and a Gator mic stand for $299. Look for the MV7+ on Shure’s website here.

The post The Shure MV7+ Is The Newest Tool For Content Creators appeared first on Major HiFi.

Desktop Equipment

Eversolo DMP-A8

Eversolo burst onto the scene in 2023 in a big way. Their DACs Z6 and Z8 came first and now the DMP-A6 and DMP-A8 have arrived. The DMP-A8 is a streaming DAC that supports direct audio passthrough so it’s not bottlenecked by Android OS’ audio limitations. With a large LCD touchscreen, Dual AKM DAC chips, and direct support for streaming services, the Eversolo DMP-A8 looks to be a huge hit at Can Jam. 

Fiio R9

Fiio is probably best known for their DAPs, so it was definitely a happy surprise when they released their Desktop streamer, the R7, last year. Now they’re back with the R9. The R9 offers a few technological upgrades over the R7, including HDMI ARC compatibility, 8-channel DACS and amp stages, and a 5-stage audio architecture. As all-in-one devices become more popular, Fiio is a player to keep an eye on. 

Hifiman EF499 and EF500

In early February, Hifiman announced that they’d be expanding their output of DAC/Amps with the EF499 and EF500. Using the company’s popular Hymalaya R2R DAC tech, the EF500 is the higher end offering of the two DAC/Amps, though the EF499 is no slouch, also taking advantage of R2R tech. With sleek designs that ensure small footprints, the EF499 and EF500 should definitely be on your list for this year’s Can Jam.

Headphones

Final Audio D7000

If you’ve been keeping up with Major Hifi, you know that we loved Finals new headphone, the D7000. Now you can check it out for yourself at this year’s Can Jam. As a refresher, the D7000 is Final’s new top of the line headphone that uses a Pinna Align Diffuser to bring a unique new sound to the table. You can check it out at Final Audio’s booth and well as Audio46’s. 

Meze Liric II

The Liric II is Meze’s update to the original Liric. Going this time for a neutral-warm tonality, the Liric II is an impressive headphone clocking in at $2,000. Now sporting wood ear cups and utilizing a Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask (QWRM), the Liric II is back to impress with its holographic soundstage, relaxing sonic presentation, and premium feel. I’ve had a chance to hear the Liric II and I encourage everyone reading to check it out for themselves at Can Jam.

Fiio FT5

Like I said earlier, Fiio is probably best known for their DAPs and amps, but last year Fiio made a commitment to releasing headphones. The FT5 is Fiio’s flagship planar-magnetic headphone and I couldn’t be more excited to try it. Featuring a large 90mm driver, switchable terminations on the cable, and a neutral-leaning frequency response, the FT5 should be a high performer at this year’s Can Jam. 

IEMS

Campfire Audio Fathom

Campfire Audio has been churning out new products as of late, and their newest offering looks to be one of their most exciting yet. Using six custom-made BA drivers, the Fathom goes for a detailed presentation while offering a mid-forward sound experience. But I won’t lie, one of the most exciting elements of the Fathom is its design. Encased in a machined aluminum body and anodized in black, bright-dip, the Fathom uses Rainbow PVD fasteners to create a colorful effect. To put it more simply, this is a beautiful looking IEM from Campfire Audio and I can’t wait to see it, and listen to it, in person. 

Astell & Kern / Empire Ears Novus

Astell & Kern and Empire Ears have collaborated in the past to great results, and now they join forces again for the Novus. The successor to the Odyssey, A&K and Empire Ears look to improve on the Odyssey’s technological capabilities. Aiming for the sound produced by Astell & Kern’s SP3000T, the Novus goes for an ultra-high-resolution vacuum tube sound. The IEM is crafted from extremely high grade materials to set a new standard for what flagships can be. I’m really looking forward to giving these a listen. 

Hifiman Svanar Wireless

Not to be confused with Hifiman’s high-end Svanar IEM, this earbud is the headphone company’s entry into the TWS field. The Svanar wireless is super interesting in that they use Hifiman’s Hymalaya R2R DAC and headphone amp technology to drive the earbuds. With support for LDAC and other high-quality Bluetooth codecs, the Svanar Wireless may turn out to be a top contender in the TWS ring. I’m excited to see how they compare to offerings from Sony, Sennheiser, and others. 

The post What to Look Forward to at Can Jam NYC 2024 appeared first on Major HiFi.

Potential Features

TikTok is already a vast social media app, with tons of music-related content to enjoy. Many people that use TikTok like they can discover new music through viral trends. This is what TikTok Music is planning to focus on as a major advantage over other streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music. With TikTok Music, users can sync their existing TikTok accounts, making songs you save through videos into a playlist. Other features like ad-free and offline listening. There was an attempt by TikTok to develop a music streaming service in the past with Resso, which has also been available internationally until now.

Lossless Streaming?

With a new music streaming platform entering the market, one of the imprtant questions for the audiophile world to consider is if TikTok Music will offer CD-quality streaming. With most services offering lossless and hi-res music streaming, including Spotify who announced that they were moving their library to lossless later this year, you might assume that TikTok Music would offer it as well to keep up with trends. Music discovery seems to be TikTok Music’s focus, so lossless audio might not be in the cards, but we will see once it releases in America. TikTok Music doesn’t seem like it’s trying to appeal to an audiophile market, but lossless streaming is still the norm right now. Whether or not TikTok Music has lossless streaming might not matter to the people that will be most interested in it, but it’s still important to condsider.

The post Is TikTok Launching Their Own Music Streaming Service? appeared first on Major HiFi.

Every pair of headphones out there is trying to recreate that experience. And some of them are pretty good at it. Premium over-ear headphones by Bose, Sennheiser, and B&O can transport you to a new world of sound as soon as you press play.

But no pair of true wireless headphones has been up to the task of recreating the studio experience. Until now. 

Mobi earbuds combine hybrid ANC for full-frequency noise cancellation and huge 12mm drivers for the most dynamic audio range ever from true wireless headphones. The result is an over-ear headphone experience from compact earbuds. 

Below, we’ll give you the details on these next-generation hybrid earbuds. If you like what you hear, you can get a pair for yourself for over 60% off. This price is only available for pre-orders, so check Mobi out soon.

What is Next-Gen Hyrbrid ANC?

Hybrid ANC is considered the best ANC for any type of headphones.

Hybrid combines both types of ANC, feedforward and feedback, to cancel a broader range of noise. 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Hybrid ANC uses a feedforward mic to listen to exterior sounds (in your environment) and a feedback mic to listen to the audio as you hear it coming from the speaker. With all of this info, the ANC program is able to cancel exterior noise and block additional noise based on what it hears from the feedback mic. 

In the end, you hear fewer distractions and enjoy a more immersive audio experience. 

Now, back to Mobi.

Mobi’s next-gen hybrid takes the original hybrid idea and adds two new elements: An additional feedforward mic, and an AI algorithm. 

With Mobi’s additional feedforward mic, there are a total of three ANC mics on each earbud. This creates a 360˚ noise capture field that can detect audio from all audible frequencies coming from any direction. 

The AI algorithm is an advanced program that calibrates the ANC based on what you’re hearing. It listens to the info from the mics before you do. Then, it targets new frequencies and calibrates the ANC power in real-time to cancel them. This ensures that you only use the ANC power that you need, thus conserving battery power. 

Mobi’s next-gen hybrid ANC is able to capture more noise and recognize those noises for more effective noise canceling. When you put them on, you feel like you’re instantly teleported to a sound-proof studio.

AI Keeps You Aware

Heading out for a jog or walking to work through the city? Turn on Mobi’s ANC Transparency Mode and the AI will keep you aware of your surroundings without letting in unnecessary noise. 

In Transparency Mode, Mobi’s AI will categorize all external noise into critical and non-critical categories. Any critical noises, such as sirens, alarms, voices speaking to you, or your digital assistant (Alexa, Google, etc.) will be allowed to pass through the ANC barrier and reach your ears. 

Non-critical noises will remain canceled.

This mode is especially useful for people who live in busy places or enjoy outdoor sports. Now, you can stay safe and aware of your surroundings while staying totally immersed in your music.

Another perk is that you won’t need to interrupt your music just to walk through traffic or buy a coffee. The volume of your music will automatically lower when a critical sound passes through, so you can have a conversation or cross the street without needing to fiddle with your phone or take out your earbuds. 

Bigger Drivers, Better Sound

Mobi’s full-frequency ANC is only half of the in-studio effect. The other half is the oversized drivers. 

The average driver diameter in true wireless headphones is around 4-8mm. Mobi’s drivers are 12mm, meaning they produce bigger sound at louder volumes.

Driver size correlates directly to sound quality in headphones. Bigger drivers can reverberate more air molecules. This produces more immersive, “bigger” sound. This is why little satellite speakers don’t sound as good as large wall speakers even when they’re at the same volume.

Mobi’s huge drivers channel sound directly into your ear canal so you feel like your music is all around you. This is enhanced by the full-frequency ANC, which makes everything sound crisper and cleaner. 

Go Anywhere with IPX6 Waterproofing

Mobi were made to recreate studio sound no matter where you go—and you can go just about anywhere. 

Mobi are tough enough to handle intense workouts and lots of movement. And with an IPX6 waterproofing rating, they can survive any weather.

IPX6 means the earbuds can endure sustained, strong jets of water. It doesn’t matter how heavy the rain or snow is falling (or how much you sweat), Mobi will not be affected.

100-hour Battery Life

Even if you’re not a fan of ANC, you may still want to grab a pair of Mobi for their unrivaled battery power. Mobi earbuds will last 10 hours on a single charge, and there are another 90 hours in the carrying case. 

That blows most of the competition out of the water. Mobi’s AI conserves battery life, so you can still expect 8 hours of playback even with the Hybrid ANC Mode active.

Mobi’s pre-order price is just $65. So even if you don’t need all the perks, a 100-hour battery life is worth the price alone, in our opinion. 

Mobi features Type-C fast charging when it’s time to plug in. Or, you can charge wirelessly with a Qi charging station. In the carrying case, the earbuds will gain up to 6 hours of playback on just a 15-minute charge. 

Bring the Studio With You with Mobi

Mobi represents the beginning of a new era in true wireless audio. This is the moment when wireless earbuds begin to produce sound that rivals many over-ear headphones. 

Bigger drivers and 360˚ ANC make you feel like your music is all around you. You feel like you’re in your own world even if you’re actually in a crowded subway.

And at a lower price than any other premium earbud on the market, there’s no reason not to add Mobi to your collection. If you pre-order Mobi on Kickstarter, you can get a pair for just $65. Yes, you read that right.

Head to mobiearbuds.com now to learn more about hybrid ANC and to secure your pre-order. 

The post MOBI: Next Gen Hybrid ANC Earbuds Bring Studio-Quality Sound to True Wireless Audio appeared first on Major HiFi.

The answer may lie in your cables. 

The folks over at Chord Company seem to think so, and for good reason. They have just released a user’s guide, Chord Company DIN Connections, for, you guessed it – the wacky world of DIN cables. Meaning, if you are experiencing issues with your system, or you are simply looking to upgrade, this free downloadable booklet is a good thing to get. 

Here they compare six of their DIN cables. Each of these are different from one another, and in this literature they explain these differences in a very easy-to-understand way, bringing a new light of understanding to us listeners. They also describe suitable applications for each.

For all the Naim users out there especially, you are in luck, for this booklet also includes a combination chart for countless products from them. This way you know what to look for, and if you don’t know at all, well then that’s okay too. If you were lost in the world of DIN, the Chord Company seeks to find you. 

They also introduce some new products to the stage –

The very high quality ChordBurndy cables, which are made to order

The Chord Company Bridge, for enhanced audio streamer performance.

You can download this Free Guide Here

The post Chord Releases Free DIN Guide appeared first on Major HiFi.

Design 

Coming in colors Onyx Black or Ghost White, they are wired headphones with exchangeable ear pads. The goal of the company was simple: make the best all-round gaming headphone for a great price. They seem to have done it. With a light frame, it makes wearing the headphones effortless. Let’s look into what you get with the EPOS H3. 

Clear and Concise Sound 

What color you choose is up to you – either way, you’ll get nothing but the high quality sound from the H3 thanks to their closed backs. What these backs also offer is a volume wheel, along with passive attenuation. This means that whatever you may be doing, you will be fully immersed in that experience, with the ability to control how deep you go. The frequency response calls for crisp highs and strong lows, both with such clarity, that one’s experience is taken to new heights. You are transported into your game.

Crisp & Accurate Mic Response

You won’t experience clearer communication anywhere else. They opted to use a studio-quality bidirectional analog microphone, which in comparison to their digital unidirectional counterparts, are easily superior. This means that it will only pick up what you put into it, without any extra unwanted noise spilling in, making for more effective multiplayer experiences. The lift-to-mute boom arm of the mic makes it easy to switch between talking and listening. 

Compatibility

One can use these headphones on just about every device under the sun – PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Switch, and both generations of Xbox – thanks to the 3.5 mm jack input. Literally plug and play. The analog wiring of the headphones makes it fit for everything with that input, and multi platform capability just adds to the list of things you can do with these. 

Comfort 

I know gamers, and I know they go hard. That is why when you’re gaming, you want a headset that you won’t want to rip off your head after a long sesh. The H3 boasts supreme comfort with their high standard of materials, calling for a comfortable head strap, and ergonomic earpads, to keep you gaming for as long as you want. 

Price

At $119, it will be hard to beat the EPOS H3 gaming headphones. They say they have the best all-round headphone, and at a relatively lower price, it makes this a steal for customers. For that much, you won’t have to experience those pesky headset issues again. Seems like a fair trade. 

The EPOS H3 Gaming Headphones are available now

The post EPOS Releases the H3 Gaming Headphones appeared first on Major HiFi.

MEZE Audio is launching a special promo campaign where you can get the Rai Penta with a free 2.5 or 4.4 cable upgrade.

You can find this deal at Audio 46.

Multiple custom and universal IEMs from 64 Audio are now on sale. You can find the U12t, tia Trio, U18 Tzar, and tia Fourte all at reduced prices from Audio 46.

One of the best wireless noise-canceling headphones currently available, the Shure Aonic 50 was originally $399 and is now $299 at Audio 46.

Here at MajorHiFi we marked the AWA 101 as one of the best IEMs for Hip-hop music. They will now be apart of a Black Friday special at Audio 46. Originally $49.95, you can get these earphones for only $19.95.

Noble Encore and Noble Katana

Both of these high-end IEMs from Noble will receive the same discount for Black Friday, with the former $1850 price point reduced to $925.

MEE Audio Pinnacle

The inexpensive IEM just got even more affordable. This $99.95 earphone is now $49.95 on Black Friday at Audio 46.

iFi Nano iDSD Black Label

This easily portable DAC/amp from one of the best to do it will also have a special Black Friday deal from $199.99 down to $139.

Strauss and Wagner

The high-class headphone manufacturer is featuring multiple Black Friday deals. Their over-ear wireless noise-canceling headphone, the BT501, will be on sale for $99.95(originally $129.95). If you’re looking for more of a sports earbud then the SPW301 will also have a special from $49.95 down to $39.95. Lastly, the lightning connector attached earbuds, the SI201 is also down to only $39.95.

RHA True Connect

These popular true wireless buds are usually $169 and will be down to $99.95 on Black Friday at Audio 46.

Empire Ears

The prestigious IEM manufacturer is having some great deals for Black Friday as well, like the acclaimed Odin which is down to $3,059. The Phantom($1,499), Hero($1,214), and Legend X($1,839) also have big money-saving deals happening.

JH Audio

Another high-end IEM brand is getting in on the Black Friday savings as well. JH Audio is having promotions on the JIMI AION($1,039), Layla($1,649), JH16v2 Pro custom IEMs($1,199), JH10X3 Pro custom IEMs($764), and Angie($1,119).

Keep checking back to MajorHiFi and Audio46 for more Holiday headphone deals 2020.

MAJORHIFI may get a commission from retail offers.

The post [UPDATED] A Guide To Black Friday Headphone Deals 2020 appeared first on Major HiFi.

The SPL headphone amplifier Phonitor One allows high-quality monitoring of analog sources. Thanks to the Phonitor Matrix with Crossfeed control, you can create mixes that sound as if they were mixed on speakers. An analog volume controller, an aluminum front panel, and a high-end metal housing show that no compromises have been made in terms of quality.

The Phonitor One d also features an internal DA converter with top specifications. PCM signals up to 768 kHz/32Bit and Direct Stream Digital up to DSD4 playback leaves nothing to be desired. A balanced stereo line output predestines the Phonitor One d to use it as a stand-alone DAC.

The Phonitor One will cost you $339 while the One d will cost $475

The Phonitor One and One D will be available at Audio 46

MAJORHIFI may get a commission from retail offers.

The post SPL Announces Phonitor One And One d appeared first on Major HiFi.

The LS50 Meta is a bookshelf loudspeaker that is highly precise, emotionally engaging, and built on revolutionary acoustic technology. Designed around the Uni-Q 12th Generation with Metamaterial Absorption Technology driver array, this solid, compact loudspeaker is capable of delivering detailed sound anywhere in the room.

KEF wants you to be immersed in the sounds you hear, and the Metamaterial Aborption Technology builds on that. Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) is a highly complex maze-like structure that absorbs 99% of the unwanted sound from the rear of the driver, eliminating the resulting distortion and providing purer, more natural sound.

The Wireless II looks to be the perfect all-in-one speaker system, streaming from any source thanks to wireless compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and more, plus wired connections for your TV, games console and turntable. Great sound, no strings attached.

LS50 Wireless II has audiophiles covered with support for streaming music files up to 24bit/384kHz, as well as MQA, DSD256, and Roon Ready (coming soon). These features mean that even the experienced hifi enthusiast will marvel at this exceptional loudspeaker’s ability.

Every aspect of LS50 Wireless II has been considered for acoustic benefits and from a design perspective. The low-diffraction, curved baffle is precision modeled around the Uni-Q driver, while eye-catching heat sinks and color-matched ports are located on the well-equipped rear. The top-mounted control panel is designed to be stylish and functional.

The LS50 Meta will go for the price of $1,499.99, while the Wireless II will go for $2,499.99

MAJORHIFI may get a commission from retail offers.

The post KEF Announces LS50 Meta and Wireless II appeared first on Major HiFi.