quelques nouveautés de la CES 2017

[clab]

Mytek launched the portable Mytek Clef, an MQA-enabled headphone amplifier and DAC that offers up to 24 bit/192k and DSD128 playback, with driverless USB Class 2. It sports a hi-res Sabre 9018 DAC chipset, easily driving headphones at twice the volume of typical smartphones. Tentatively priced at $299, and expected to ship in Q2 2017, the Clef can also be coupled wirelessly with any smartphone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth AptX or AAC for iPhone 7s.
https://mytekdigital.com/clef/

Astell&Kern revealed its teeny wireless XB10 smartphone DAC/headphone amp. This circular gizmo supports aptX HD (the latest from Qualcomm), is capable of 24-bit/48khz streaming, and has a built-in microphone. It also features dual audio outputs (3.5mm unbalanced and 2.5mm balanced), is iOS- and Android-compatible, and has a hands-free function. Supports voice calls and features a built-in microphone for receiving calls when using earphones without a microphone. $189.

PSB weighed in with its M4U8 ($399) wireless travel-friendly headphones. They’re equipped with aptX Bluetooth and three listening options for active, passive (no batteries), or active/noise-cancellation playback. The M4U8s were very comfortable and nicely assembled and had the rich sonics that I’m accustomed to in every Paul Barton design.

Somewhere out there, there must be a market for $50k headphone rigs. Obviously Sennheiser thinks so with its Orpheus system, and apparently so does HiFiMan. Its Shangri-La electrostatic headphones with 300B SET amplifier bundle are an all-out, take-no-prisoners approach with exquisite engineering and are strictly built to order. They sounded remarkable. I have also experienced the sheer gorgeousness of the Sennheiser Orpheus and it too is a thing of sonic delight, and opulent beauty and design. Now there’s a shootout we’d all like to see, but never will.

A little more down to Earth, however, are the HIFiMan Edition 6 headphones. Inspired by the earlier HE-6 flagship, the Edition 6 will be using a nano-thickness diaphragm, gold conductive coating, and an asymmetrical ear-cup. TBD pricing for now with hints in the $6k range. Gunning for the Focal Utopia? You be the judge.

Finally, I took in a short but sweet demo of the Audeze iSine10 electrostatic in-ear headphones ($499) but look for the more advanced iSine20 ($599) in February and some big Audeze announcements at Munich in May.

[Nono]

hello ,
sympa, mais on va dire que HCFR est quand même un site Francophone ! non?

[clab]

ces nouveautés proviennent de la CES 2017 (Consumer Electronic Show) de Las Vegas, les communiqués sont en anglais.