AudioReputation - Your Audio Electronics Guide

Oct122020 by James LongmanNo Comments

IPX8 Waterproof Rating Explained

Whenever looking for waterproof or water-resistant equipment, whether it's audio equipment (headphones, speakers) or any kind of electrical/electronic equipment, the most important thing to look for and the thing that can actually tell you the level of water resistance is the IPX rating. In our previous articles, we dealt with IPX ratings in general as well as IPX4 (splash-proof) and IPX7 (waterproof). Today we’re going to discuss the meaning and importance of an IPX8 waterproof rating. IP/IPX Ratings – The Basics IP stands for Ingress Protection (also referred to as International Protection). It is an internationally standardized rating that describes the level of protection against the ingress of solid particles, dust, and water. An IP rating has a general form that you can see

Sep132020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Sound Signatures – The Beginner’s Guide

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What are Sound Signatures? Whenever buying an audio device, we are not only hoping that it will last long but also that it will sound just the way we like it. No matter if we are buying headphones or speakers, if they are expensive or cheap, our hopes remain the same. We are constantly buying new devices different from the previous ones trying to find the one that will suit our needs and taste perfectly. Unfortunately, there’s one “small” problem – we don’t always know what we are searching for and this makes our search even more difficult. The perfect sound that we are trying to find is actually a specific sound signature and every pair of headphones and every speaker have their own. Whether we are going to like it or not depends on our subjective feeling. The headphones and speakers

Sep42020 by James Longman12 Comments

Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing Explained

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Bluetooth technology has been present for so many years and it has become an integral part of our lives. We are constantly using it without even thinking about the way it works or how much it makes our lives easier. The youngest generations were born after the introduction of Bluetooth and this is the reason why they think of it as of something completely natural. Bluetooth is a very interesting technology and it hasn’t stopped developing during all these years and decades, so let’s say a few words about its working principle. Bluetooth technology can be described as one of the technologies enabling wireless communication within a relatively short range, as the connection remains stable within the 30-40 feet range on average. Bluetooth technology development enabled us to establish wire

Aug142020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Understanding Headphone Driver Units

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Headphone driver units are the integral parts of every headphone advertisement, presentation or purchase. Drivers are mentioned every single time someone wants to point out the advantages of a certain headphone/earbud model. This leads us to the conclusion that driver units must be very important elements of every pair of headphones, regardless of their type or purpose. However, if you ask a random person in the street about driver units, they won’t be able to give you the exact explanation because most people don’t really understand how these devices work. This is why we want to ask you a simple question. Have you ever wondered how your headphones work and how they produce the sound you love so much? If you have and you are looking for the right answer, you’ve come to the right pl

Aug72020 by James Longman2 Comments

What is True Wireless Stereo Technology (TWS)?

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When you look at the audio department of any store, you can’t help yourself but think that there is nothing else to invent, that we have seen it all. However, the real fans of audio equipment are looking forward to the full development of the newest wireless technology that takes the entire listening experience to the next level. We say “the entire listening experience” because it’s not only about the performance and sound quality of your headphones and wireless speakers but also about the entire experience including the comfort at all levels. The technology is called “true wireless technology” (or TWS) and, in this article, we are going to try to introduce it to you and show you the world of untangled and uncluttered satisfaction filled with nothing but pure music. This technology hasn

Oct22020 by James LongmanNo Comments

IPX Ratings Explained

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If you are looking to buy an outdoor speaker or sports headphones/earbuds and you did your research, you have probably seen some IPX rating in the specification list or on the box of the device you want to buy. Most of today’s outdoor speakers and sports headphones/earbuds have at least IPX4 rating and some even have IPX7 or IP67 ratings. In case you are not sure what those ratings actually mean, this short article will help you understand the purpose and meaning of each IP/IPX rating. What is IPX Rating and Why is it important? IP stands for International Protection or, in some cases, Ingress Protection. IP (or IPX) rating is the marking that describes the level of protection (provided by the enclosure of the device) against dust, water, and ingress of other particles or fluids. You

Sep12020 by James Longman2 Comments

Understanding Speaker Frequency Response

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How do you decide which speaker is the right one? What are the key factors that make you choose some speaker or a speaker system? We have made a small research and concluded that many users base their decision on the specifications printed on the speaker box. After all, this is the easiest and the most convenient way, especially when you don’t know much about speakers and their performance. One of the characteristics that users find reliable is the frequency response. The problem is - the frequency response range itself doesn’t define the speaker’s audio quality. Also, most of the buyers don’t really understand the true meaning of frequency response. This is the reason and the opportunity to create this article and try to explain the term “frequency response” and help you realize what t

Sep12020 by James LongmanNo Comments

The History of Headphones

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What is, besides a wallet, phone, and keys, a "must-have" object in your bag or pocket? The answer is, in fact, quite simple – headphones. Even though the original headphone use wasn't related to listening to music at all, they’ve been present in our lives for almost 140 years and they have significantly evolved since the day they first appeared. Regardless of their purpose and way of use, headphones have been an extremely important part of our lives and our love for them has been growing for decades. It seems that no human can go outside without a pair of headphones. No matter if they are full-size headphones or earbuds, they are a mandatory accessory of every modern person. When they were first produced, there was only one model of headphones, while today, there is something for every

Jun12020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) Explained

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Noise is an omnipresent occupational hazard. So many workers, especially industry and construction workers all over the US, are exposed to excessive noise levels. Long-term exposure to these noise levels can cause hearing loss but can also affect human health in other ways. That’s why it’s so important to limit the exposure to excessive noise or, if that’s not possible, to use a hearing protection device (HPD). The market is flooded with all kinds of hearing protection earmuffs and earplugs, but which one should you choose? The most important characteristic you should be looking for when choosing a hearing protection device is the device’s noise reduction rating (NRR). In layman’s terms, noise reduction rating describes the ability of a certain HPD to attenuate noise. However, there’s

Nov182020 by James Longman485 Comments

18 Best Wireless Surround Sound Systems In 2020

Speakers

If you are tired of all the cables lying randomly all over your home and you are searching for a hassle-free surround sound system for your home theater, the best thing you can do is to go wireless. Our article on 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2020 is designed to help you understand all the important things you need to know about wireless surround sound systems and make the best possible choice based on your needs and your budget. We have also made a list of 18 best wireless surround sound systems in 2020 so you don’t even have to spend hours reading about different features of different products – you can read our reviews and find out everything you need to know to make a decision. We have tried to list all the upsides and downsides of these surround sound systems and make

Nov32020 by James LongmanNo Comments

What is High-Resolution Audio?

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Technological progress has brought new high-resolution video formats such as 4K into our lives, so there should be no reason why we wouldn’t enjoy high-resolution audio. However, it is not all so simple and this topic has been rising different kinds of discussions ever since it appeared. The problem with modern audio files is their size. An original soundtrack that is recorded in a professional music studio is made in the highest possible and available resolution but the recording is extremely large, which makes it impossible for storing on small portable devices with limited memory that we are using every day. In spite of the fact that our devices even use external memory, which is getting larger and larger every day, it is still impossible to store many high-resolution files on a sing

Nov22020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best Budget Stereo Amplifiers In 2020

Amplifiers

A great pair of speakers without proper amplification is like Bonnie without Clyde or Dr. Jekyll without Mr. Hide. Having a great stereo amplifier is just as important as having great speakers, and that’s a fact. But you can’t connect just any amplifier to any pair of speakers. It has to be the right kind of amp – it should be powerful enough to drive the speakers and should be capable of supplying clean power without introducing noise and artificial sounds. So, what to look for, what to pay attention to, what kind of amplifier should you buy, how much should you spend? You can find all the answers and some great suggestions in our article about the 6 best budget stereo amplifiers in 2020. Let’s find out more about stereo amps. The Purpose of a Stereo Amplifier The main purpose

Nov12020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best iPad Audio Interfaces In 2020

Audio Interfaces

A growing number of today’s audio interfaces are fairly flexible and can be used on the go with your iPhone or iPad. However, not all interfaces are compatible with iPads and we are here to help you find the right one. We will discuss the most important features of audio interfaces, talk about compatibility between iPads and audio interfaces, and present to you our selection of 6 best iPad audio interfaces in 2020. What is an Audio Interface? An audio interface is one of the crucial parts of any home or professional recording studio. It’s basically a middleman between your instrument/voice and your computer/iPad/iPhone. It receives all the analog signals coming from your gear, turns them into digital, and sends them to your recording device. Also, it allows you to monitor your reco

Oct302020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Cube Audio Bliss C Loudspeakers Review

Single Reviews

Since the introduction of the Voigt cone assembly with whizzers, many speaker and driver manufacturers have tried to perfect this design and make a great-sounding single-driver full-range speaker. 80 years after the introduction of the first Voigt cone driver, the debate on whether single-driver speakers (also known as wide-banders) are better or worse than the multi-way speakers, is ongoing. The most common arguments you can hear from the fans of single-driver speakers are that the absence of a crossover results in a more linear phase response and smoother polar response. They often swear by the coherence and beautiful midrange of wide-banders. On the other hand, some of the known downsides of the single-driver designs are the inability of one driver to perform all the tasks (reproduce al...

Nov32020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best Low-Latency Audio Interfaces In 2020

Audio Interfaces

High latency can make the process of recording significantly less enjoyable than it’s supposed to be. That’s why you need to choose your recording equipment carefully and we are here to help you with that. Today, we are here to talk about audio interfaces. We will discuss the factors that affect the latency and present to you our selection of the 6 best low-latency audio interfaces in 2020. Let’s start. What is Latency? Although it sometimes looks like the recordings are done instantaneously, that’s never the case. It takes some time for the analog audio signal to travel from the instrument or microphone, through the audio interface, to your computer. This process includes converting the analog audio signal to digital, communication between the audio interface and your computer, an

Oct262020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best Onkyo CD Players In 2020

Audio Players

Looking for a great CD player? Welcome to our page! This is the right place for you because today we are reviewing 6 best Onkyo CD players in 2020. Onkyo is a Japanese company that isn't so popular on our market but it really deserves more attention than it currently gets. They make some great audio equipment and today we’ll be talking about their CD players. So, why do we need CD players in the era of the Internet, gadgets, and other modern devices that save space, time, and money? The answer is quite simple, actually – because of the audio quality. No matter how forgotten CD players and CDs generally are, we mustn’t forget that they are still the only relatively affordable devices that can offer us some Hi-Res music. All the gadgets you use every day, no matter how expensive

Oct242020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Lumin X1 Network Music Player Review

Single Reviews

Lumin is a Hong Kong-based audio manufacturer. It was founded only 8 years ago but it’s already one of the fastest-growing high-end audio companies and it has already gained such an impressive reputation. In 2012, Lumin released the world’s first DSD-compatible music streamer and it was a huge success. Since then, Lumin expanded its product range, but its main area of expertise are still network music players and, according to numerous positive reviews written by fellow audiophiles, Lumin is one of the best in the industry when it comes to music streamers. Today, we’re taking a closer look at Lumin’s X1 flagship network music player. Priced slightly under $14,000, X1 is supposed to be one of the most capable and best-performing streamers on the market. Let’s see what’s so special about it.

Nov142020 by James Longman172 Comments

8 Loudest Bluetooth Speakers In 2020

Speakers

Certain events, like parties and other group gatherings (both indoor and outdoor), require and depend heavily on the speaker quality and loudness. You can’t throw a large party without a big and powerful speaker (or speakers). That is simply unacceptable. Today, we are here to help you get a better understanding of all the specs related to speaker loudness and to present to you our selection of the biggest, most powerful, and loudest Bluetooth speakers in 2020. We may also give you a few tips on what to look for and what to pay attention to when looking for a loud Bluetooth speaker. Ready? Let’s go. Fun Facts About the Human Perception of Sound Fact 1: The human ear is a very complex and very sensitive organ. The smallest change in loudness (aka SPL or Sound Pressure Level) an

Oct192020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Top 6 Loudest Wireless Earbuds In 2020

Earbuds

If you are the kind of person who loves to turn the volume all the way up, you’ve come to the right place. Our article about the top 6 loudest wireless earbuds in 2020 is here to present to you 6 great pairs of earbuds that don’t only deliver loud and clear sound output but also are wireless. Why Do We Need Loud Wireless Music? Even though wireless music doesn't offer the same quality as wired music, we are all witnesses of how wireless devices have become a true necessity over the years. People are rushing into the cordless future and we really can't blame them for that. The world is getting busier and so are we, so why would we lose so much time on untangling long cables or getting through a busy day with no music at all? We need wireless music to get us through our daily acti