Hi-Res Audio to be Featured at 2014 International CES – The Consumer Electronics Association has announced that the upcoming International CES in Las Vegas January 7-10 will feature a new TechZone titled The Hi-Res Audio Experience. It will showcase the latest hi-res audio content coming to market and the latest technologies giving consumers the highest-quality listening experience. Located in the Venetian’s Bellini Ballroom, the Hi-Res Audio Experience is anchored by digital download pioneer HD Tracks and features among others Acoustic Sounds Super HiRez Store, Blue Coast Music and Native DSD. Several manufacturers will also have hi-res products on display in their rooms in the Venetian Tower and booths across the CES show floor. There will also be a series of conferences: Welcome to the Hi-Res Music World, Meet the Hi-Res Music Creators, and Hi-Audio for Every Lifestyle. CES research has shown that four in ten of consumers with a moderate audio interest are willing to pay more for high quality audio electronics devices, and that nearly six out of ten are willing to pay more for higher-quality digital music. Nine in ten consumers said sound quality is the most important component of a quality audio experience.
Gary Koh Recording Demo Selections – In a recent Genesis Speakers newsletter Gary Koh revealed some of the recordings he uses to show off his speakers at audio shows. First was Count Basie’s Me and You on Pablo/OJC. He said it was “unobtanium,” but it’s only $8 at Amazon so I don’t understand. (I don’t know if he was talking about the vinyl or the CD.) He says it’s even better than the later 88 Basie Street on xrcd. Next he likes the 1968 Nonesuch LP Los Chiriguanos of Paraguay, also Al Grey and the Basie Wing in The Last of the Big Plungers on an Argo LP. Aaron Neville’s album Everybody Plays the Fool is a favorite of his, and he prefers the last track on the DJ maxi-single re-mix vinyl. For bass end, he likes to demo the Touch vinyl Yello from 101 Distribution, which is available only on CD at Amazon. Finally, of course, he loves the M&K direct-disc vinyl (and if you must, the CD reissue – which doesn’t come close) For Duke.
New Super-High-End Headphones – JH Audio is getting attention for its custom-molded JH13 Pro in-canal earphones (for once that’s correct terminology) which achieve a top-notch balance of lows, mids and highs—at a $1099 price. They have the world’s first six-driver earpieces and -26dB of isolation, eliminating stage volume and ambient noise, and are therefore already being used by some name pop performers. The cable is detachable, and they can be used with iPhones or smart phones. Frequency response is 10Hz to 20KHz with 28 ohms impedance. The JH13 Pros use Freqphase time/phase WaveGuide technology for a wide frequency response, increased headroom and dynamic range with virtually zero distortion. The December issue of Popular Science has them in their Best of What’s New in Entertainment Technology section.
DISH to Update its Apps – DISH currently offers two apps for remote viewing: DISH Anywhere and Hopper Transfers. The first connects to the Internet for remote viewing of Live TV or recorded events and is available on most Net-connected mobile devices. Hopper Transfers is used to move recorded programs to mobile devices for watching programs when an Internet connection is unavailable, is currently is only suitable for iPads. By the end of this year both features will be combined in a new DISH app and will work with both iOS and Android mobile devices.
