There are many audio recordings of important and historical events stored at the Library of Congress in Washington DC.  However, many of these recording are becoming damaged and lost due to being stored on deteriorating formats and in conditions not suited for the fragile medium in which they are recorded.  As a result, the Library has announced the National Recording Preservation Plan, in an attempt to preserve these recordings for generations to come.

Among the plans, is a recommendation to create an archive of the recordings that will be accessible to everyone.  As the plan sits now, you will still have to take a trip to the Library of Congress to actually hear these recordings, but there are future plans to hopefully work out the necessary licensing agreements to allow the recordings to be streamed online for all.

In total, there are 32 recommendations in the plan, which also includes a university degree program for audio archiving, to prevent these problems from happening in the future.  It is very important that this work is finally being recognized as necessary because once these files are lost, they will never be recovered.

[ source ]

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While having a reliable source inside Apple is a good way to learn about the company’s plans for the future, another simpler way is following their patent applications. According to an application published by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, Apple appears to have plans to add a surround sound audio system into MacBook-like devices, and this system might help them to make even thinner products.

To enable surround sound configurations, the system will include audio transducers along with multiple speakers. And from the looks of things, Apple is planning to improve audio quality while decreasing the sizes of speakers so that they fit into smaller and thinner form factors. When this detail is combined with the info about thinner keyboards, it’s safe to believe that the future Apple machines will be the thinnest ever.

So, how does this system work? The system includes a few speakers and an audio transducer below the device’s keyboard. The configuration would allow speakers on either side of the screen to handle high range frequencies, while mid-range frequencies will come out through the lower speakers and the audio transducer would handle the low-range. According to Apple, the transducer could provide low and mid-range frequencies.

“…the transducer may output both low and mid-range frequencies, essentially performing as a “subtweeter.” In such embodiments, the speaker may output not only bass range frequencies (e.g., about 20-500 Hz), but also mid-frequencies (e.g., about 500-1500 Hz or higher)… The audio transducer may be combined with other speakers in an electronic device such as a laptop, tablet or handheld computing device 10. For example, in one embodiment, two tweeters and one woofer may be combined with the audio transducer. The transducer may output the bass channel and, optionally, the middle ranges, while the tweeters handle high frequency outputs. The woofer may output its standard range of frequencies. Through the combination of the woofer and the audio transducer, more decibels per watt may be outputted, especially in bass frequencies”.

They are also saying that the transducer, which could be a gel speaker or surface transducer, can be placed inside a chair, keyboard, or a touch-based input device to provide tactile feedback for a better “home theater experience”.

So, what do you think about this?

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If you have been a regular reader of Mobile Magazine for some time, then you’ll know that I’ve had the opportunity to try out more than my fair share of premium earbuds. I liked the V-Moda Vibe Modaphones and I appreciated the more affordable price point of the Radius Atomic Bass. These are all great for listening to music on the road, but what if you want a more quality experience at home. What if you want deejay-style “cans” rather than the in-ear style earphones?

Well, you’re in luck. Today, I’m taking a look at the Ultrasone DJ1 S-Logic Headphones. As its name implies, the DJ1 is meant to be a DJ-quality set of headphones that will work with just about any genre of music. The heavy padding and over-the-ear style should ensure a more comfortable fit, right?

In terms of features, you get a foldable, closed-back style design with S-Logic Natural Surround Sound technology and MU Metal shielding. The S-Logic technology is meant to provide you with an “out of your head” experience. With most headphones, you feel as if the music is “in your head” rather than coming from an outside source.

The frequency range is 10Hz-22kHz, the impedance is 32 Ohm, and the sound pressure level is 104 dB. You get a pair of 50mm Mylar drivers, a 3-meter coiled cable length, and a 6.3mm screwable gold-plated plug that fits over the standard 3.5mm stereo mini plug. Also included in the box are an instruction manual, velvet-like carrying bag, and a demo CD.

My initial impressions are quite positive. You can tell that Ultrasone has paid a lot of attention in creating a well-built product. There is a lot of padding on the headband and the ear muffs are large enough to fully encompass my ears. The plentiful padding on the ear muffs make for a comfortable experience as well. The simple black and silver color scheme makes for a more professional look too.

Since these do completely block your ears from the outside the world, they are great for providing passive noise isolation. When I had them on with music playing at a reasonable volume, I really couldn’t hear anything else. With utter isolation does lead to sweaty ears syndrome after even a short period of use. It would have been nice to see some sort of venting to alleviate this concern.

For ease of transport, the Ultrasone DJ1 headphones can be folded up as depicted here. I found it a little awkward to do this, however, since the ear muffs have to flipped to face the other direction after you fold them in. I’ll probably grow more accustomed to this over time.

Regarding sound quality, I have to say that these headphones are incredibly balanced and they seem to be “intelligent” in determining what aspects of the song to enhance and which to minimize. When I was listening to bass-heavy hip hop music, the lower tones were played up to great effect, but switching to rock where bass is less important, the mid-tones were enhanced accordingly. It doesn’t matter what you throw at these headphones; it’ll cater to your tastes.

I’m not completely convinced about the S-Logic Natural Surround Sound Plus technology, however. While not quite as pronounced as some other headphones, the music still sounded like it was “inside my head” rather than being played from an exterior source. It’s an improvement, but it’s not quite as obvious as I had expected.

Retailing for close to $200, the Ultrasone DJ1 S-Logic Headphones are not going to be the cheapest offering on the shelf, but this product is of substantially higher quality than the sub-$100 headphones that you may be able to find at your local retailer. I’d place them on a higher level than the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Solo (also about $200), but I’m not sure if they outperform the “real” Monster Beats by Dr. Dre (about $320).

The range of response was truly impressive, as I was able to really enjoy any kind of music played through these headphones. From the subtle notes of classical music to the fast-paced electronica of the Prodigy, the DJ1 took it all in stride and accommodated them accordingly. The construction is great and there is more than enough padding to keep you comfortable.

If I had just one complaint, it’s that the ear muff isolation does lead to “sweaty ear” syndrome, so brace yourself for that scenario. I’m also guessing that prolonged and repeated use of the folding mechanism could lead to some significant wear and tear (and possible breakage) over time, but I can’t say for sure.

Overall Rating: 9.0/10

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It seems very easy to recommend the most expensive set of headphones that you can find, but that’s not really the point, especially in today’s economic climate. I want the most bang (and thump) for my buck. The official journey, for me, began with a set of V-Moda Vibe Modaphones. Up until that point, I had not owned a single pair of earphones that cost more than about thirty bucks. Now that I’ve had a taste of premium (the Modaphones retail for about $100), it’s hard to go back to cheap earphones.

Will the less expensive Maximo iM-590 Isolation Earphones stand up to the test?

The Objective Facts and Figures

As its namesake implies, the iMetal iM-590 Isolation Earphones are constructed with a couple of lightweight alloy metal earphones, as well as a gold-plated 3.5mm audio connector. Available in your choice of platinum white (as pictured) or graphic black, the iM-590 is said to offer “performance with style and comfort.” The proprietary eartip design “provides optimal noise isolation and extended comfort.”

Going through the specs and features, you’ll find a pair of 9mm neodymium earphone drivers. They have a frequency response rate of 12Hz to 22KHz, sensitivity of >100dB, and maximum SPL output of over 120dB.

So Many Accessories, So Little Time

The last time that I reviewed a set of Maximo iMetal earphones, the package contained little more than the earphones and a carrying pouch. Such is not the case today.

Listed at $59.99, the iMetal iM-590 comes loaded with way more accessories than you could possibly expect. In addition to the earphones themselves, you get four sizes of silicon eartips, a 2.5mm stereo plug adapter (great for my Nokia E71), airline dual-plug adapter, two-foot extension cable, shirt clip, carrying case, and user guide.

That’s quite a bit of additional gear, making the iM-590 quite a good value. With so many similar products, you’d have to buy the airline and 2.5mm adapters separately. The extension cable is also a nice inclusion, especially if you’re going to toss your iPod (or other music player) in a backpack or something.

Initial Reactions and Sound Quality

What good are a stylish design and a box full of accessories going to do you if the earphones themselves fail to impress? As instructed on the earphone cord, I let the iM-590 go through its usual “burn-in” process before giving it a real listen.

My initial response was one of being impressed. Considering that these earphones are about half the price of so many other “premium” earphones, I didn’t expect the world. They easily outperform the cheaper $30 earbuds from Griffin and they’re comparable to some sets of $100 or more.

I tried a variety of music, ranging from the bass-filled beats of Kanye West to the mellow ballads of Coldplay. I also tossed some Offspring, Howling Bells, and Paramore into the mix.

In going through my playlist, I found that the iMetal iM-590 didn’t offer the same heart-thumping bass response as the appropriately named Radius Atomic Bass Earphones. The bass was still quite good, but not nearly as overbearing or ear-splitting. With songs that hit the upper end of the register, particularly with high cymbals on drums, the sound got pretty harsh.

Conclusion

If your music tends to hit the higher end of the treble side quite often, the iM-590 might not be the best earphone solution for you. For just about everything else, I was quite pleased, especially at this price point. That said, I’m still not a fan of the “knit cables” used here, since the cloth-like texture lends itself to the transmission of sounds when the cord brushes up against clothing.

Even though these earphones don’t cost over $100 like some of its competitors, the iM-590 iMetal Isolation Earphones provide a comfortable and powerful aural experience. The eartips create a good seal, the audio range is good, the bass response is perfectly respectable, and the range of included accessories is a definite bonus.

Overall Rating: 8.0/10

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