AudioReputation - Your Audio Electronics Guide

Sep132020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Sound Signatures – The Beginner’s Guide

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 Longman9 Comments

Bluetooth Multipoint Pairing Explained

Blog

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

Blog

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)?

Blog

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

Jul92020 by James LongmanNo Comments

IPX Ratings Explained

Blog

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

Blog

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

Blog

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

Blog

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

Sep282020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Top 10 Headphone Extension Cords In 2020

Headphones

Top 10 Headphone Extension Cords in 2020 is a short and handy user guide written with the sole purpose to help all of you in pursuit of a quality inexpensive extension cable that will give you more freedom and make your leisure time or job easier. We are living in the era of wireless connection and it must seem a bit strange to some of you that anyone wants more cables. Well, if you think twice, you may realize that many people actually are professional musicians, or that some people record videos and reviews for a living, or that their job is related to audio equipment in some way. Also, there is the rest of us – ordinary people who like to lay comfortably in their bed or on their sofas with our headphones safely connected to our computer, TV, or some other source device. Ye

Sep282020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best Audio Interfaces For Mac In 2020

Audio Interfaces

An audio interface is one of the essential pieces of audio equipment for every recording studio (home or professional). The interface is absolutely necessary if you're trying to record your voice through a professional microphone or if you want to record any other external source (guitar, bass, synth, etc.). Our article about 6 best audio interfaces for Mac in 2020 is here to introduce you to the confusing world of audio interfaces. We will discuss the purpose of an audio interface, talk about different types of interfaces, give you a few tips on what to pay attention to when looking for an audio interface, and answer some of the most common questions about interfaces. Finally, if you're looking for a new or for your first interface, we have prepared a nice selection of audio interface...

Sep242020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Burson Audio Conductor 3 Reference Review

Single Reviews

Burson Audio is a reputable Australian audio manufacturer with almost 25 years of experience in making high-end headphone amps, preamps, DACs, and power amps. What’s common for all the Burson audio products is that they all have high-quality construction, very precise discrete circuit design, and they all deliver performance that surpasses the price tag. Today, we are taking a closer look at one of their latest units – it’s Burson Audio Conductor 3 Reference – headphone amp, DAC, and preamp. We’ve spent the last three weeks testing this unit and enjoying its impressive musical performance. During this testing period, we’ve managed to get a good idea of what this combo unit is capable of and we were pleasantly surprised by its sound delivery and the entire set of features it of

Sep222020 by James LongmanNo Comments

6 Best MP3 Players For Audiobooks In 2020

Audio Players

If you’re an audiobook enthusiast and you wonder what would be the best MP3 player for audiobooks in 2020, you’ve come to the right place. Our article is about to reveal to you 6 amazing models, most of which also come at surprisingly low prices. Audiobooks were invented during the previous century and, at the time, they were available on CDs. Thanks to the rapid technology development, everything has become available in smaller formats. The devices are getting smaller and smaller, their storage space is getting larger and larger, and it really seems that there’s no part of our lives that we can’t store on a single tiny gadget. We do that with correspondence, photos, videos, so why would audiobooks be an exception. Today we can store hundreds (or even thousands) of audiobooks

Sep222020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Dynamic Drivers vs Balanced Armature Drivers

Blog, Comparisons

The main reason why we decided to write about dynamic and balanced armature drivers is to make people aware of small units hidden inside pretty earbud and headphone enclosures. We have noticed that more and more people make their choices based on a device’s design. Of course, we don’t want to insinuate that those buyers don’t pay any attention to the device’s specs but if they aren’t really familiar with all those abbreviations, numbers and units of measure, they are definitely more comfortable to make their decisions based on the looks and price tags. Headphones and speakers, as well as all the audio equipment and hearing aids, consist of many small parts that work together to deliver the best possible sound and satisfy their users’ needs. We don’t want to say that the performance

Sep222020 by James LongmanNo Comments

8 Best Cheap Surround Sound Systems In 2020

Speakers

Looking for a surround sound system that won’t break the bank? You’ve come to the right place. Our article about 8 best cheap surround sound systems in 2020 is here to help you with your search. We will discuss the advantages of surround sound systems over stereo speakers, soundbars, and your TV speakers, give you some tips on what to pay attention to, analyze the prices, and present to you our selection of the best cheap and affordable surround sound and home theater speaker systems. Why Should You Buy a Surround Sound System? Well, isn't it obvious? Because it brings the movie-watching experience to a much higher level. You may think that adding a soundbar or a pair of powered stereo speakers to your TV improves the listening experience, but that’s nothing compared to a ful

Sep192020 by James LongmanNo Comments

5 Best Portable Voice Amplifiers For Teachers In 2020

Amplifiers

Believe it or not, many teachers face more or less serious vocal problems during their careers. When you think about it, it's actually quite understandable – the voice is their main instrument, they use it every day, and they have to be loud (or even yell) most of the time, especially when there’s too much ambient noise. So, is there a way to protect your vocal apparatus and avoid talking loudly if there’s no preinstalled PA system? Well, you can bring your own PA system with you. Portable voice amplifiers are simple and affordable devices that can help you avoid vocal problems. In this article, we will give you a few tips on what to look for when buying portable voice amplifiers, discuss their advantages, and present to you our selection of 5 best portable voice amplifiers for teac

Sep172020 by James LongmanNo Comments

8 Best CD Lens Cleaners In 2020

Miscellaneous

Moving on with our series of articles related to CD players, we are happy to publish our list of 8 best CD lens cleaners in 2020. So far, we’ve presented to you some great CD players and some CD cassette player/boomboxes. For today's article, we've prepared some interesting information about how to keep your players and CDs in good shape and extend their lifetime. What Are CD Lens Cleaners? CD lens cleaners are cleaning products shaped like regular CDs. The only difference is that these discs have small brushes on the “playing” side that actually clean the inside of your player. Some of them are made only for CD players, while the others are meant for mixed usage and can be used to clean different DVD players, Blu-ray players, game consoles, etc. Depending on the brand and product’

Sep162020 by James LongmanNo Comments

Totaldac D1-Direct DAC Review

Single Reviews

R2R DACs used to be the only kind of DAC back in the 80s. They used a ladder network made of a series of precision resistors turned on by the precision switches (current source) to convert a digital signal to analog. After the introduction of Delta-Sigma chips, the majority of manufacturers switched to Delta-Sigma DACs, mostly due to the lower costs of manufacturing and lower power requirements. Today, R2R DACs are produced by a very small number of manufacturers. Some of the most reputable are MSB (US), LessLoss (Lithuania), Lab and Wagner (Russia), Rockna Audio (Romania), and a great company from France called the Totaldac. One of the latest Totaldac’s units is the subject of our today’s review – it’s the Totaldac d1-direct DAC. D1-direct DAC is meant to be the best-sounding

Sep142020 by James LongmanNo Comments

5 Best High-End AV Receivers In 2020

TV & Audio

Having a set of high-end home theater speakers calls for a high-end AV receiver. If you are looking for one, this is the right place to start your search. Our article about 5 best high-end AV receivers in 2020 is here to help you find the perfect receiver for your setup. We will discuss the most important characteristics to look for in a high-end AV receiver, analyze all kinds of extra features high-end receivers have, and present to you our selection of the best high-end AV receivers in 2020. What’s the Purpose of an AV Receiver? AV receiver is the hub of your home theater or surround sound system. It receives audio and video signals from all your source devices (cable boxes, gaming consoles, DVD players, Blu-ray players, Roku stick, etc.), and then sends the video signal to your