If you have been using computers for more than a few years it is likely that you have seen plenty of sound cards.  If someone were to ask you about a USB sound card, would you think of a less than ideal dongle with little to no features with entry level sound quality?

Well, that was then and times sure have changed with feature packed external soundcards that are of good quality on the market.  There are even ones out there that will be good with gaming and allowing the user to experience 3D surround sound while wearing headphones to help pinpoint the action.  The Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB soundcard is a shining example of what an external sound card these days should be.

Specifications

• Model: Sound Blaster Omni #70SB156000000
• Channels: 5.1
• Interface: USB

System Requirements

On PC platform

• Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD equivalent processor at 2.2 GHzMicrosoft Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Windows Vista
• 1GB RAM600MB free hard disk space
• 600MB free hard disk space
• CDROM / DVDROM driveUSB 2.0 port
• USB 2.0 port

On Mac Platform

• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz
• Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8GHz
• Mac OS 10.6 & above1GB RAM
• 1GB RAM
• 600MB free hard disk spaceInternet connection
• Internet connection
• USB 2.0 portFeatures

Features

• USB simplicity and portabilityBuilt-in dual microphones with CrystalVoice technology
• Built-in dual microphones with CrystalVoice technology
• Sound Blaster Omni Control Panel
• Dolby Digital Live600-ohm headphone amplifier
• 600-ohm headphone amplifier
• Scout mode
• Comprehensive connectivity for all your PC and Mac audio needs

The post You Need a USB Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1 USB Reviewed appeared first on VR World.

Koss Headphones had a 2014 full of flagship products launched this year, with its sights aimed at an optimistic future. The NFC enabled BT540i simplified Bluetooth listening on mobile devices, then their ergonomic SP330 & SP540 delivered comfortable music enjoyment for all. Finally, Koss will end the year on a high note with its new Pro4S stereophones, geared toward studio and music monitoring.

But what are “studio” headphones, and what makes them different from other models? Most headphones may have a compensated or enhanced EQ to tailor towards certain listener preferences — i.e. more bass. Reference or studio monitoring needs to be free of any tuning, for those who need to listen to an accurate representation of their content, like audio engineers and music producers.

So, we put the Pro4S to the test all month — at home, at a Hollywood recording studio, and on a TV production. Here’s what we found:

The design

The Pro4S is a full-sized, circumaural studio headphone that is a fine blend of transparent sound, comfortable durability, and practical design. Weighing a hair under 7 oz (195 g), even as an over-ear model, it’s compact and light enough for use in any environment.

Its tough, aluminum internal frame is encased by both metal and plastic molding, and outfitted with soft, breathable materials for the best strength and comfort. The headband is supported with memory foam and mesh cloth that feels weightless, even after many hours of wear. The ear cup hinges are also metallic and soft-locking, for added durability without creating temporal pressure.

Comfort and weight are vital for studio applications, where engineers can log many more hours of use than home listeners. That’s why the Pro4S also features the same “D-profile” ear cups first featured on Koss’ classic Pro4AAA, and its recent SP series headphones. Because of this shape, you’ll get great passive isolation that’s evenly distributed more naturally around your ear.  These cast aluminum ear cups have a high quality feel, and are fashioned with a shaved silver trim that may scratch easily, which isn’t a deal breaker for us, but still worth mentioning.

The cups lay flat for storage inside an included soft clamshell case, and the hinges can fold the ear cups towards the headband for further portability. This especially helps for location audio work, where space is limited and mobility is key. The headband is adjustable at discreet steps, and even at full extension, there doesn’t seem to be any signs of stress when bending or tweaking the phones.

Another key feature on the Pro4S is its dual-entry detachable cord. The circuitry automatically routes a stereo signal to both drivers, regardless of which side you plug into. Plus, the remaining open end becomes a pass-through output, so you could daisy chain another Pro4S alongside it.

The included 4.5 ft. (1.4 m) cable is coiled in the middle, in between two long straight sections. This distributes the cable’s weight more evenly, and helps clear up obstructions when plugging into any source. This is also half the length and weight of Sony’s MDR-7506 coiled cable, which is almost 10 ft. long.

While a longer cable could be more accommodating, Koss hit the right mark in length versus obstructiveness, with the added convenience of simply unplugging oneself from the cord entirely. The only downside is if this cable is misplaced, users will have a hard time finding a replacement other than what’s provided by Koss, because of the recessed ports on the Pro4S.

Made with rugged materials, comfortable cushioning, and lined with a simple silver trim, the Koss Pro4S is dressed to impress and made with comfort in mind. Aesthetics and features are great, but does it have the sound signature to match?

The sound

Studio or reference headphones are usually advertised to have a flat frequency response, where, ideally, all signals are reproduced uniformly across all frequencies without bias (example above). The Pro4S is driven by Koss’ new SLX40 elements that are tuned for reference, delivering what they advertise as “incredibly accurate and unbiased sound”.

Its specs seem to be on-par with other studio models, with a few differences:

• Response: 10 Hz – 25 kHz
• Sensitivity: 99 dB SPL
• Impedance: 35 Ohms
• THD: <0.3% average (@400 Hz – 1 kHz, 95 dB SPL)
• Max Load: 500 mW

While response and sensitivity are where they need to be, its has a lower impedance and load rating than most models. This is probably to accommodate a wide range of home studio setups and listening, but may have less gain headroom for some professional board outputs.

We lent these stereophones to several engineers in the music and film audio worlds, and their feedback was consistent. The Pro4S, in general, has the soundscape of a studio headphone, but seems to have a character of its own, with additional warmth in the mid range, and clarity in higher registers. However, no frequency bands seem exaggerated, and it retrieves enough detail in all ranges to gauge how tracks sit in a mix.

There are moments when this perceived slight emphasis can sit on the harsh side, when it comes to certain instrumentation. One of the music engineers who tested our Pro4S had difficulty assessing if the twang of an overdriven Telecaster was distorting. Upon switching back to his usual pair, this wasn’t the case.

Despite its accented soundscape, the Pro4S at least provides listeners with a pleasurable experience. For what it’s worth, casually listening to finished music with this pair is actually not as thin or lacking as other studio models. It may not perform like a true “reference” model, but it can at least produce a more neutral sound to a variety of subjective preferences.

The industry

This isn’t to discount the clarity of the Pro4S, which is especially beneficial for tracking vocals. We tested out this pair at a Hollywood dubbing stage, and could properly judge tonal differences between the originally recorded dialogue and the replacement voice-overs. These sessions can last for many hours a day, but there were no complaints of discomfort from the recording team. They especially enjoyed the detachable cord, so they could quickly leave the board for a coffee, without having to take off the headphones entirely.

We also lent the Pro4S to a couple production sound mixers, who primarily record on-set dialogue. Even on an upcoming reality TV series, where there are many mic sources and inputs involved, and characters unpredictably speaking to one other, the Pro4S could retrieve enough detail from all sources to properly EQ and mix. While on location, these headphones are great for long listening sessions, but its materials may heat up considerably on a warm day outside.

Let’s take a moment to compare the Pro4S to two current favorites in the biz — Sony’s workhorse MDR-7506, considered an industry standard, and Sennheiser’s more compact HD25-1, another widely compatible reference pair. All three of these headphones are geared towards professional markets, and the Pro4S seems to be the middle ground that addresses issues with current models.

The 7506’s are considered the standard and used in a variety of applications. It’s also circumaural, with minimal pressure around the ear, and a neutral soundscape that is uniform from production to post. The earcups fold inward towards the headband, but because it has a much longer cable, the 7506 can easily become a tangled mess during storage.

The on-ear HD25’s are more compact and also great for many situations, especially while on location. They have great isolation, and seem to distribute pressure evenly across the adjustable headband. However, the on-ear style can become fatiguing during long sessions, especially if the listener is wearing glasses.

Take the isolation and compactness of the HD25’s, with the sound and comfort of the 7506, add a detachable cable, and the Pro4S is a nice marriage between the two.

The verdict

Not only is the Pro4S quite possibly the most comfortable pair of headphones of its class, it has class too. It may have a sound signature that slightly deviates from a promise of “incredibly accurate and unbiased sound”, but as always, Koss’ functional design and build quality places the listening experience as a whole first and foremost. At $149 USD, the Pro4S is worth experiencing, no matter where your studio happens to be.

The post Koss Headphones Pro4S: Monitoring With Class appeared first on VR World.

Gigabyte (TPE: 2376)  offered online gamers a new toy on Dec. 1 as it introduced the Force H1 wireless gaming headphones, which was designed for mobile gaming and entertainment.

With Bluetooth 3.0 technology, Force H1 provides hassle-free, wireless mobility for gaming enthusiasts who long for experiencing high-fidelity sound quality while playing their favorite games.

Today’s mobile gamers acquired much enhanced audio performances for their headsets, now that the mobile game content is rapidly getting more sophisticated, Gigabyte said. The Force H1 is specifically tuned to offer a comprehensive mobile gaming experience and delivering the optimized multi-dimensional comfort in sound, wear and control for mobile gamers.

The new headphones’ on-ear design padded with ultra-soft ear cushions would block all outside noise, while the built-in 40mm gold-plated driver creates rich and clear all-around stereo quality, allowing gamers to get immersed in their favorite games anytime and anywhere, Gigabyte said.

The new headphones’ lightweight design with the unique hexagonal structure evenly distributes contact pressure to ensure wearing comfort, especially for long gaming or jam sessions. The swiveling ear pad with memory foam wrapped in breathable leather offers superior ergonomic fit to add extra comfort, while the stainless steel reinforcement provides both durability and flexibility for the optimized fit.

Gigabyte said that the new headset is also good for listening to music, watching videos or movies or communicating on mobile devices. The integrated volume, call answering and playlist controls on the ear cup bring users with easy and intuitive control navigated by touch. Meanwhile, its battery is good for 10-hour of uninterrupted wireless playtime and up to 300 hours in standby with micro USB charging on the side.

Force H1 can be folded and stored in the supplied durable case, which was also designed for commuting or long-distance travels, Gigabyte said.

The post Gigabyte Introduces Force H1 Gaming Headphones appeared first on VR World.

Mainboard manufacturers always push the latest and greatest integrated devices, but onboard audio is often left behind. The generic “HD Audio Device” chip is king, supplying the very basic multi-channel options and sample rates — disregarding the infrastructure, component quality, and connectivity that makes a true audio device.

For consumers that don’t want to settle for lacking audio quality, finding a value product without making compromises is difficult.

Enter the ASUS Xonar U7

Luckily, ASUS’ Xonar U7 USB sound card is an on-point choice for sound performance, features, and simplicity, all for a under $100. As a 7.1-channel sound card, headphone amplifier, and DAC in one, the U7 is an integral member of the Xonar family. Everything fits into a compact chassis, great for computing on the go, or even as a low profile desktop unit.

Besides the golden color trim, the U7 is unassuming at first. But what lies inside the U7 is what really makes it shine. Let’s take a look:

A single dial on top controls the volume of all “Headphone”, “Speaker”, and “SPDIF” outputs, which are toggled through by pressing down on the dial. The same knob controls volume on every source independently, so switching from Speakers to Headphones doesn’t blow out your ears. The U7 can even detect when headphones are plugged in or unplugged, and immediately switch between outputs.

On the front sits a 3.5 mm Headphone port, bridged to an integrated amp suited for 32-150 Ohm impedance. This is crucial for headphones that require more power, to deliver accurate reproduction at higher volumes. It may not be able to properly drive, say, Sennheiser’s HD 600 and above (300 ohm impedance), but can still accommodate a wide variety of music, reference, and studio models.

Some enthusiasts would complain that the Xonar U7 does not have a dedicated, full-size 1/4″ port. But due to its compact size, there was most likely no space to comfortably fit the component. It may be a deal breaker for some, but this is easily solved by using a proper adapter.

Next door is a Mic/Line input jack, which supports any 3.5 mm computer microphone, and is useful for your gaming headphones’ mic too. There is a dedicated microphone volume control alongside the port, for easy adjustments without having to dive into Windows settings.

The same input can also detect line-level sources (192 kHz/24-bit) like music players or instruments, for recording and even for listening. Enable the “Listen” functionality for the Xonar U7 Line device, under Windows’ Sound Properties, and you can route your favorite music player directly to speakers.

Finally, the important I/O panel on the back. Starting from the left, R and L outputs (RCA), Side Surround (7.1), Center/LFE, and Rear Surround outputs. Because this is a USB device, these are not amplified outputs, so you’ll need powered speakers (more about that later).

Next is the SPDIF port, for both coaxial and optical connections, with an included TOSLINK adapter. The controller supplies PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS standards to AV receivers and home theater systems, for up to 7.1 channels.

Finally, there is a Type-B USB 2.0 connector that plugs into your system. There is also switch on the bottom with a selector between “USB 1.0″ and “USB 2.0″. This should be already set to 2.0, and your system needs to provide a fully powered port for full functionality and performance. Why there is even a choice is anybody’s guess, but ASUS claims this backwards compatibility can still supply 7.1-channel playback up to 48 kHz/16 bit sampling.

A Quick look inside

The Xonar U7 uses the popular Cirrus Logic CS4398 stereo DAC for headphone output (120 dB SNR), a CS5361 chip for A/D input handling, and a CS4362 multi-channel DAC (114 dB SNR) for all other outputs — pretty impressive for its overall size. At 0.0006%, total harmonic distortion/noise (THD+N) is also kept to a minimum, keeping outputs as clean as possible.

Controlling it all is a C-Media 6632A Audio Processor, a Class 2 USB audio chip fueled by its own dedicated DSP and drivers. Combine these chips with all Japanese solid-state capacitors on top of a 4-layer grounded PCB, and you have a device that’s built to last.

All outputs are capable of sample rates up to 192 kHz/24 bit depth, expected from a current HD audio device. However, when it comes to sampling, keep in mind that there is very little 192 kHz content out there to appreciate (or even notice the difference). For ASUS Xonar, this is more about numbers marketing than actual benefits. Higher sampling is useful for capturing music, but even mastering-quality “true vinyl” rips are encoded at 96 kHz / 24-bit.

For a product that only runs on 5V / 500 mW of USB power, the U7 packs a bigger punch than most discreet audio solutions, while also removed from the EMI-noisy environment inside a computer. The components inside aren’t the best in the market, but definitely a bargain for the U7’s price point.

Getting the Xonar U7 up and running is simple…

…but there may be a few bumps on the road.

After connecting it to your system, you need to install drivers from an included CD. Those who don’t have an optical drive need to download it from the ASUS support site. Instead of a standard .ZIP file, ASUS provides a .RAR archive for download, which isn’t native to Windows, and needs third-party software to access.

The U7 is compatible with Windows 8.1 64-bit down to XP. While there are no official drivers for Mac, it can still run off generic USB Audio protocol on OSX 10.6+, at least as a headphone DAC/amp up with full sampling.

From there, you have a variety of output connectivity to choose from. Stereo headphones, 5.1 headphones, 2 channel analog speakers, 4-7.1 channel surround — the choice is yours. However, keep in mind that all of the rear-panel analog outputs are passive, and you may also need RCA adapters to plug in the L & R speakers.

So if you have an existing system for your desktop, like a Logitech surround set, you’ll still need to use its power control and therefore, gain stage two different knobs to set your levels. The same is true for reference studio monitors, which need to be powered and tuned properly for accurate mixing. I recommend playing a song, setting the U7 volume to ~90%, then slowly increase the speaker control to its highest comfortable volume without distortion, then only adjust the U7 from then on.

This is probably the only downside of the Xonar U7, but only because of USB power limitations. As a mobile DAC and headphone amplifier, there are less potential headaches.

Packaged with the drivers two different DSP suites – Xonar and Dolby. The “U7 Suite” controls settings for every source individually, including speaker setup, sample rates, and your usually unnecessary “environmental effects”. While in Headphone mode, you can adjust the U7’s built-in amp gain from -12 to 0 dB, depending on your headphone impedance.

The “Dolby Home Theater v4″ suite is loaded with profiles of different EQ curves, volume leveling, and surround visualizations. The “Volume Leveler” setting has a similar feeling to the “Crystalizer” effect heard on Creative audio cards. This compression/excitation effect could give your music and games an extra oomph, but when reference listening and mixing audio, all effects can be disabled by accessing the Dolby taskbar quick menu.

Music, gaming, studio monitoring, and more

The Xonar U7 has you covered.

Being able to at least hear clean, properly driven 24-bit sound is worth the price tag alone. Audiophiles may have more discerning requirements, but this could also make a great gift for friends who haven’t yet experienced the difference. Enthusiasts will pay hundreds, if not thousands on graphics and computing hardware – why leave audio behind?

Music, no matter which output you choose, sounds great on the U7. Without all the DSP effects, you can still enjoy clean, unbiased digital audio. It may not be able to properly drive audiophile-class headphones or passive monitors, but it can improve most consumer or prosumer setups. Even the Line-in passthrough has independent A/D conversion, so I can route content off of portable FLAC players, like the Astell&Kern AK100, with minimal information loss.

As mentioned before, you may need to experiment with speaker gain staging, because all rear analog outputs on the U7 are passive. Regardless, all genres of music shine with the U7, it just comes down to your headphone or speaker choice.

Gaming audio is also improved, especially if surround speakers are in play.  Surround channels are usually not provided as much power as other channels on discreet solutions, to discourage EMI. With an external device like the U7, there are much stronger signals to the surround L & R channels.

For headphones, the U7 can handle your favorite stereo pair, or even true hardware surround models, and provide a clean digital source. Most current games, especially FPS titles, already use upmix algorithms that provide virtual surround stages for stereo headphones. So using the C-Media Xear or Dolby effects in the included suites, which realistically only adds the “room” back into the mix, is unnecessary.

This product isn’t marketed for studio or reference accurate listening, but it’s still an option for those getting started. RCA connections (front left and right speakers) are unbalanced, but this is rarely an issue for short distance cabling. The U7 could properly send signal to a pair of Yamaha HS8 powered studio monitors, without distortion or a noticeable noise floor at comfortable volumes.

As a DAC, the U7 is also ASIO (Audio Stream I/O) compliant, providing low-latency interaction with sound/music editing applications. Users can choose between 16 and 24-bit, and as low as 4 ms latency.

Verdict

When we add up its rich audio processing, connectivity, features, and compact size, the Xonar U7 has exceeded our expectations, especially at a MSRP of $89.99. At a fraction of how much you would invest in quality graphics, there is practically no reason why you should settle for onboard audio today.

And for that, BSN* is awarding the Xonar U7 with our Editors Choice Award.

The post ASUS Xonar U7: An Audio Upgrade for All appeared first on VR World.

Earlier this June, one small concept was unveiled to the world that introduced a pair of unique and cute looking headphones. The name of that concept was Axent Wear, and today, it is now ready to turn into a project. In fact, this project looks like it is already highly successful before it even began.

Axent Wear was introduced by its developers as a ‘swag’ product that combines style, functionality and anime-inspired cuteness in one neat little package. The design is already pretty straightforward and self-explanatory, however being a concept at the time, no technical specs was actually released. Fast forward to October, and they have finally launched the idea as an Indiegogo project.

Axent Wear’s primary functions stay the same for the most part; it is still a standard headset that provides alternative sound output using its external speakers located at its cat-ears shaped part. The futuristic design is still there, though the developers have pointed out that it doesn’t operate as a single unit, and its other functions can be turned on or off independently.

Pre-order notifications are now open at the Axent Wear official page. People who have been looking forward to owning a pair the last time can now browse most of the other previously left out details, which are neatly laid out in its own Indiegogo page.

Axent Wear headphones will be available in four primary (LED) colors: blue, red, purple, and green. If you’re interested to purchase one, a minimum of at least $150 is required to get a pair of Axent Wear headphones with the color of your choice. A “value pack” price of $575 will be needed if you want all four colors, with the price jacking up even higher for better customization packages.

Update: As of this article’s writing, almost $500,000 has been raised, or at least double the amount of the original goal.

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Remember when NFC was cool? It still is. With the NFC-enabled BT540i Bluetooth headphones from KOSS, you can easily pair to a compatible device and enjoy surprisingly sweet sound quality with just a tap.

The BT540i is the latest in KOSS Corporation’s (KOSS) expansion of their “mobile” products line. Since 2012’s CES Show, KOSS has introduced many full-size, in-ear, and sport models that incorporate mobile device functionality, like many other consumer audio companies.

This circumaural Bluetooth model utilizes updated componentry and touts exceptional sound quality, while being very simple to use.

Here’s what you need to know:

That was quick

With our NFC-ready Google Nexus 5 (LG), unboxing literally look less than a minute.

Also included are a micro-USB charging cable, 4-foot 3.5mm cable for corded listening, warranty card, and instructions in both English & Russian (for some reason), all inside of a stylish soft-shell case.

After turning on the BT540i and tapping my phone to the right earcup’s edge, the Nexus 5 immediately enabled Bluetooth and synced up. No diving into menus, scanning and pairing – Done.

With products like our iPad Mini, which doesn’t support NFC, we had to traditionally enable the iPad’s radio, turn the headphones into “discovery” mode (sliding the power button for 4 seconds), and sync the BT540i once it shows up on iOS.

Function over form

With it’s high-density plastic supported by an aluminum frame, fully rotating/folding ear cups, soft foam leather cushioning, and clothed headband, the BT540i delivers the core elements most important to listeners. Weighing in at 8.2 oz, they’re not as light as a pair of Bose Soundlinks but definitely less straining than what’s offered from other consumer models.

The headband and cups are snug enough to offer good passive isolation, while soft enough for long hours of wear. The cups create a solid seal around our ears, and there is very little bleed that could disturb people nearby, even in quiet environments. Because the hinges and cups can rotate on multiple axis, the BT540i can accommodate for any head shape.

All of the controls are ergonomically placed on right ear cup, with the volume, transport, and power keys logically ordered around the rim. The buttons are easy to press, with audible feedback either from the headphones or from your mobile device’s OS. Flipping the power switch illuminates an LED indicator light that shows sync status and battery level.

Using the same framework as their PRODJ200, these headphones are covered in matte black with metallic, grooved barrel hinges and KOSS emblems as accents. The overall design is minimalist at best, and while enthusiasts will argue that what really matters is the componentry inside (it does), at a certain point there needs to be a sense of branding.

There are many, many black headphones on the market, and Koss’ entire over-ear headphone line pretty much stays within this box. Why not add a small trim of color? Bring back the subtle blue tones of the PortaPro, which till this day is the pair that most consumers associate with the brand.

Better components = better sound

To better illustrate the technology encased inside the BT540i, check out this quick video:

Koss introduced their new PLX40 driver elements inside, producing a slightly colored profile across it’s 100 dB SPL & 38-Ohm circuitry. Because of an overall improvement in power efficiency, there is little to no noticeable noise floor in both Bluetooth and hardwired modes.

The main reason why they chose to use the PRODJ200 frame is because it allowed enough space to fit the wireless and battery components inside, without having to compromise driver size. The diameter of a driver element is a crucial for natural signal reproduction, and anything smaller than 40mm usually results in a more colored profile to compensate.

Listening to an uncompressed source via the 3.5mm connector does reveal a slight boost in the lower frequency bands, however this bump is potentially beneficial for information loss during Bluetooth encoding/decoding. Regardless, what you hear is a smoothed out listening experience for enjoying music on the go, no matter how you connect.

Jazz. Classical. Alternative Rock. Metal. Electronic/Pop…

Every genre had a consistently pleasing listening experience across all of our devices, both over Bluetooth and corded listening. Because the BT540i seems to have a relatively flat frequency response, it has enough headroom for those who want to EQ their experience device-end.

Unplugged

For cord-free listening, these phones utilize an aptX codec over Bluetooth 3.0, which is a solid wireless delivery format. With most current devices moving onto Bluetooth’s 4.0, it’s surprising that headphones haven’t moved onto this SoC by now, which is not only more power-efficient, but has lower production costs too.

According to our recent interview with Koss, the advantages are too slim for audio products, so they stuck to the current high-quality standard.

The internal battery is advertised to last 8 hours, but we’ve consistently tested it to be closer to 6.5 hours of continuous listening time at moderate, comfortable volumes. That’s not bad, considering you may only need to charge 2-3 times a week to handle your daily commute.

Charging the BT540i isn’t quick, but isn’t slow either. From an empty tank, these stereophones are ready to go in about 90-120 minutes via a micro-USB connector. Trying AC adapters (not included) of different outputs makes little difference for charging speed and holding life, but for headphones you should stick to a plug of 1A or less for longevity.

On the move

Like many of its competitors, Koss is aiming its sights on mobile devices. So how does the BT540i perform on current mobile platforms?

Android 4.4 (KitKat) – On the Nexus 5, long pressing on the play/select button only activates a call-only voice dialer on stock Android. While this may differ on Samsung or HTC builds, it would be nice if this could engage a Google Now prompt for more robust hands-free control.

The noise-cancelling mics seem aggressively tuned, so we’ve found the need to speak at higher than normal volumes during calls so that our speech wasn’t garbled or phased out – this was the same on any OS.

Pressing the play button immediately starts your last track played track on Google Play Music. Apps like Spotify can override this, which is how I jumped from an NFC tap straight into my music in seconds. Transport and volume controls are free from quirks.

iOS 7/8 – On any current iOS device, long pressing the play button starts a Siri prompt, which listens for a multitude of actions that is always growing and adapting. Pressing the play button once starts iTunes, and all transport/volume controls are fine.

While the iPhone 6 does have a NFC chip, it’s currently designed only for the Apple Pay system, which is a shame since Apple has locked itself out of a world of simple device compatibility.

Windows 8 Mobile – For some reason, we had a difficult time pairing the BT540i with a Surface Pro. Both devices recognize each other, being a standard Bluetooth connection, yet they refused to pair every time. At the time of this review, we didn’t have another W8 device to try, so hopefully this is an isolated issue.

Koss moves forward

Last week, we interviewed Michael J Koss, CEO & President of Koss Corp, about these stereophones and how the company plans will stay fresh for music lovers for the years ahead.

Even though Koss adapted to current market trends for consumer audio, the BT540i would have made a better smash hit if it debuted a year before. As overseas production increased over the past couple years, the rise in availability of low-cost consumer headphones have skyrocketed too.

The BT540i is well built, acoustically pleasing, and very simple to use – especially at its price point of $199 MSRP. If there’s anything negative to say, it’s the fact that Koss should have released it sooner.

Overall, we’re very pleased with this pair, and will continue to be an everyday carry for some of our editors. The BT540i is a good indication of where Koss is heading, but they’ll need to continuously stay with or ahead of the curve, no matter how dedicated their loyal fans have been over the decades.

The post KOSS BT540i: Solid, Simple, Sound. appeared first on VR World.

Improved Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition

SteelSeries introduced a new and improved Siberia Elite headset, the World of Warcraft Edition for Warlords of Draenor. The WoW edition headset includes improvements such as a new microphone, boosted speaker drivers, and increased comfort.

According to SteelSeries CTO Tino Soelberg:

Our partnership with Blizzard Entertainment to create unique gear for the World of Warcraft community has culminated in this bold new version of our premium and award-winning headset—a perfect complement to Blizzard’s upcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion. Players deserve the best quality audio to experience the music and sounds of Draenor; this exclusive edition of the Siberia Elite headset delivers epic audio quality in a beautiful World of Warcraft-themed design.

The styling of the headset has also been modified to include World of Warcraft branding on the top of the headband and sides of each earcup, as well as illuminated runes on the earcups.

In addition to the improvements mentioned above, the Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition will have the same great features, excellent audio quality, and the superb SteelSeries Engine 3 software as the regular edition Siberia Elite headset. We’ll be taking a look at the Siberia Elite headset in an upcoming review, but so far our experience with it has been very positive. The same can be expected of the new WoW edition headset.

The SteelSeries Siberia Elite World of Warcraft Edition Headset is now available for pre-order from SteelSeries at an MSRP of $209.99.

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