Users can choose open- or closed-back listening by turning the outermost section of each earcup.

Open-back headphones, where the outer earcups are perforated to allow air and sound to pass freely in and out, can bring a more natural, spacious feel to music listening. But sound leakage is a big drawback – users can hear much of the world around them and anyone nearby can clearly hear sounds coming from the headphones. Closed-back headphones, where the outer cups are solid, offer more isolation, but staging can feel restricted and the listening experience very much in your head. The Sentio headphones from British audio house Rock Jaw combine both headphone designs in one.

Rock Jaw says that the Sentio headphones are the result of two and a half years of research and development, and feature a hybrid driver configuration as well as the open/closed design. With a turn of the outermost part of each earcup, users can switch between living room-friendly open-back headphones and portable closed-back headphones that aren’t going to annoy your fellow commuters.

Each housing has a 30 mm driver of the kind that can be found in on-ear headphones and a 50 mm driver that’s usually reserved for circumaural headphones. This hybrid approach is said to take the best aspects of both designs, resulting in headphones that deliver a tight, punchy bass, “an excellent response in the mid-range” and crisp, clear highs. They’re reported to have an overall frequency response of 19 Hz to 21 kHz, 100 dB sensitivity and impedance of 32 ohms.

Stainless steel and aluminum construction allows the Sentios to tip the scales at just 340 g (12 oz), they have synthetic leather cushions, with optional velour pads also available, and they’ll come with a 1.2 m (4 ft) and a 4 m (13 ft) audio cable. An optional microphone boom can be plugged into the right cup for taking calls or communicating with virtual mobile assistants.

Rock Jaw has a working prototype of the Sentio headphones in the bag, but has turned to Kickstarter to bring them into production. The campaign runs until March 3 and, as of writing, pledges start at £130 (about US$190). Backers are also being given the chance to choose the color of the stitching and have up to six letters engraved on the housing. If all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in September.

You can see the crowdfunding pitch video.

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
EDITOR: La Mont Reed
IMAGE: Sentio Headphones

Back in 2014, Panasonic reanimated the not-dead-just-sleeping Technics brand with the launch of two high end audio ranges. We got a brief ears-on in the listening room and liked what we heard. Very much. But there was something missing. For many party animals of a certain age, the good times were fueled by discs spun on the DJ weapons of choice – a pair of Technics SL-1200 decks. The brand confirmed plans to appease vinyl lovers at IFA Convention 2015 by introducing a new direct drive motor assembly for an upcoming turntable. Now, the picture is complete with a CES reveal of the brand new Grand Class SL-1200G.

In fact, Technics is planning to release two Grand Class turntables. One special limited edition model to mark the brand’s 50th anniversary (SL-1200GAE) and a non-limited standard version (SL-1200G). Both are very much influenced by the original models.

Panasonic’s engineers have developed a new coreless direct drive motor that works with microprocessor-controlled rotary positioning sensors to eliminate cogging (tiny vibrations from the motor and rotational speed fluctuations). The motor supports turntable speeds of 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm and drives a three-layered cast brass and aluminum platter with rear damping.

The turntable’s cabinet is also multi-layered, which includes a 10 mm-thick aluminum top panel, for a combination of high rigidity and premium finish. The SL-1200G makes use of aluminum for the tonearm, while the anniversary edition is treated to magnesium alloy, both of which have been engineered to increase the dampening effect.

Only 1,200 units of the anniversary edition turntable will be manufactured, and will be released in the (northern) summer. The non-limited SL-1200 will follow later in the year. There’s no word on pricing as yet.

Source: Technics

Technics SL-1200GAE Limited Edition & Technics SL-1200G CES

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IMAGE: Technics SL-1200

SubPac M2 brings the bass to your body

Los Angeles-based StudioFeed first came to our attention in 2013 when it launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at putting some low end rumble in your seat. The Kickstarter campaign was successful and the SubPac tactile bass technology has since been further developed, and also pushed beyond the immersive music and gaming experience. It’s been integrated into Peugeot’s Fractal concept car, for example. It’s also added a more engaging, physical dimension to a VR-enhanced premiere of the movie Jurassic World, and allowed deaf and hard of hearing festival goers in Brazil to feel the music at this year’s Rock in Rio. Now the company is aiming to put some bottom end on your back with the upcoming SubPac M2 wearable sound system.

The 17 x 12 x 1.5 in (43 x 30 x 4 cm), 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) M2 is worn like a backpack, with adjustable shoulder straps at the front that bring the SubPac bass thumper up close to the body at the rear. The company says that its brand new SubPac transducers have been optimized for greater accuracy and energy efficiency, delivering powerful and immersive low end thunder through the unit’s vibrotactile membranes while remaining quiet to those nearby. The materials have also been treated with nano silver to keep bacteria and odor in check during active use.

The M2 is reported to work straight out of the box, and doesn’t need users to buy any altered or format-specific source audio files or tweak code on their computer. Bass intensity can be set using a slim cabled control box, though the system’s frequency response of 5 Hz – 130 kHz means that it doesn’t just growl at the low end.

The control box is also used to feed in sounds from a source player or smart device via a 3.5 mm stereo input jack, but the system includes a Bluetooth 4.0 receiver for wireless streaming, too. A 10.8 V/2,300 mAh Li-ion battery pack offers up to 6 hours of continuous music, gaming, home theater or virtual reality immersion per charge.

The SubPac M2 is currently up for pre-order, priced at US$379 (rising to $399 when the “earlybird” period ends). Shipping is expected to start in December. Gizmag is expecting to take the M2 for a test drive in the near future, where we’ll hopefully find it delivers a more satisfying punch than the Woojer wearable woofer we reviewed last year. In the meantime, check out the video below for an introduction to the system.

Product page: SubPac M2

SubPac M2 – “Feeling is Believing”

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IMAGE: SubPac M2

While not everyone is wild about adding motors to all-terrain bikes, if there’s one sub-type of ATB that could sometimes benefit from an electric boost, it’s the snow- and sand-slogging fatbike. We’ve certainly seen some electric fatties before, but the Xterrain500 adds what is quite a unique feature – the ability to run a custom 10-inch-wide front tire.

The Xterrain500′s taller front wheel can be swapped for the 20 x 10-incher by moving the RockShox suspension forks closer together, via an adaptable crown plate.
The Xterrain500 has a pedal-assisted top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h).
The idea behind the Xterrain500 is that its ultra-wide tire will provide the front end of the bike with a huge amount of float, keeping it from getting bogged down in soft surfaces.

The idea behind the setup is that the ultra-wide tire will provide the front end of the bike with a huge amount of float, keeping it from getting bogged down in soft surfaces. For comparison, regular mountain bike tires top out at about 3 inches in width, while conventional fatbike tires go up to 5 inches.

At 20 inches in diameter, though, it’s not nearly as tall as a regular tire. If the rear tire were similarly short, generating sufficient torque could be challenging. Instead, the designers have gone with a standard 26-inch-diameter fatbike wheel in the back, clad in a 4.6-inch-wide Kenda tire.

Another problem with a small-diameter front wheel, however, is the fact that it can’t roll over protruding obstacles as easily as a 26er – things like roots or rocks could stop it in its tracks, whereas a regular fatbike wheel would just roll right over them. For that reason, the Xterrain500 comes with a second front wheel that runs a more traditional 26 x 4-inch tire. When riding irregular terrain (or smooth asphalt, for that matter) it can be swapped for the 20 x 10-incher by moving the RockShox suspension forks closer together, via an adaptable crown plate.

As far as the electric side of the bike goes, a 48-volt 9-Ah Samsung battery powers a 500-watt/48-volt electric rear hub motor, providing pedalling assistance up to a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). It has a battery range of approximately 25 miles (40 km) per charge.

The Xterrain500 isn’t available for purchase just yet, although the company hopes that an Indiegogo campaign beginning next week will change that. If all goes according to plans, the bike will ultimately sell for US$1,600. In the meantime, you can watch it in action, in the video below.

Source: Xterrain

XTERRAIN Electric All-Terrain Bicycle

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IMAGE: Xterrain500

Attaching motors to drift trikes has seen the sport’s popularity flourish over the last 12 months. Traditionally a recreation for residents of hilly areas, both companies and DIYers have begun integrating gas and electric motors in a bid to extend the experience to flatter terrain. Auto parts manufacturer SFD Industries is at the forefront of this rise in motorized three-wheeled drifting, and is staking its claim in the form the Big Wheel Drift Trike that boasts a whopping 26-inch front wheel.

“The thing that really sets off our drift trike is the big 26-inch by 3.5-inch wheel,” August Agner, owner of SFD Industries tells Gizmag. “It feels super stable and is proportioned similar to a child’s big wheel to really make an adult look and feel like a kid again.”

Like the Tortuga Trike we covered recently, the Big Wheel Drift Trike runs on a 6.5 hp (4.8 kW) motor. According to Agner, the PVC sleeves wrapped around the rear wheels to create the loss of traction are thicker than most, and should allow for months of sideways action. Another point of difference for the Big Wheel Drift Trike is the resting place for the rider’s feet. Other trikes, including the electric-powered Verrado, use stunt pegs mounted to the front forks, while Agner has taken a slightly different approach.

“The most unique feature we designed is the frame mounted pegs that eliminate foot lift while drifting, so you don’t have to worry about the tire scrubbing up your leg,” he says.

The frame is CNC bent out of Benteler chromoly, fully TIG (tungsten inert gas) welded and assembled in house at SFD’s workshop in North Carolina. The trike is set in motion with a twist throttle fixed to the aluminum bars, while hydraulic disc brakes at the rear will bring the drifting to a stop.

The standard Big Wheel Drift Trike is available now and priced at US$2,000, though Agner will cater to those looking to take their drifting experience up a notch. Custom upgrades include a dyno-tuned, “high horsepower” motor with exhaust for $500 and an aluminum down tube mounted fuel cell with pump and throttle plate for $200.

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IMAGE: SFD Industries

Though still in demand, classic analog synthesizers from decades past can be a bit of a nightmare to keep in good working order. Many modern digital emulators do a decent enough job of recreating the epic sounds Jean Michelle Jarre, Kraftwerk and Soft Cell, but some believe that they just don’t have the same iconic sound qualities. Such is the thinking of a team of designers and engineers led by Philip Taysom and Paul Maddox, which has created a next gen music synth named Modulus.002. The boutique polyphonic sound machine mixes classic analog sound creation techniques with some digital magic to give musicians access to the kind of sounds made famous by vintage instruments of yesteryear.

“Most modern designs of polyphonic synthesizers are pure digital and just don’t have the same iconic sound qualities, in our opinion,” says Taysom, co-founder of the Bristol, UK-based startup behind the Modulus.002. “What we have created in the Modulus 002 is a fusion of these iconic analog and hybrid sounds of the 70s and 80s synthesizers with the reliability of the latest electronics plus Internet connectivity to share sounds, settings and work collaboratively on music without relying on painfully slow serial/MIDI connections to do so. This is the first synthesizer designed for the interconnected 21st Century.”

Designed to be the flagship of a new family of Modulus products, and less than 12 months in the making, the hybrid synth boasts 12 polyphonic voices and more than 50 different waveforms. There are two numerically controlled oscillators for each voice for high resolution and stability, and two sub oscillators which can be individually switched from a square wave to the same waveform as prednisone the main oscillators, making four oscillators per voice. You’ll also find a Fatar semi-weighted, five octave key mechanism with aftertouch (pressure sensitivity), and an ergonomic panel layout that follows a traditional synthesizer work flow to make all voice control parameters available to the player.

Front and center is tadalafil an integrated 4.3-inch LCD screen with wide viewing angle that displays the control parameters of any control knobs touched by the user, with all modulation options accessed directly from the front panel. An in-house 24 dB-per-octave four pole analog transistor ladder filter is said to provide “classic warm sounds” and some unusual morphing effects. Players can access 12 “quick recall banks” from the front panel for speedy preset recall, and choose between polyphonic (up to 12 notes, with each note using one voice), monophonic (one note, one voice), unison (up to 12 voices per note) and stack (user-selectable multi-note, multi-voice) modes.

There’s global and per voice low filter oscillation, VCF and VCA envelope filters, an XY joystick, a step sequencer, arpeggiator (a cool feature where the synth will create a pattern from played notes) and an animator (which allows for sequencing of any control parameter).

To the rear are combined XLR/TRS ports for balanced or unbalanced analog signal output, two audio inputs which enable internal audio processing from the VCF onwards, a dedicated D-Sub connection that makes all 12 voices individually available for external processing, and a USB audio/MIDI port.

Bringing matters right up to date is a built-in Ethernet port to connect the Modulus.002 to a home or studio network for online collaboration or access to the company’s open cloud-based server platform for storage and sharing of sound patches, sequences and profile settings.

The Modulus.002 is available in August for US $5,200, and you can hear a few tasty samples on the company’s SoundCloud page.

Modulus 002 Exclusive First Look

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IMAGE: The Modulus.002

What is the RUNGU FAT-TRIKE?

With their huge, soft tires that allow them to “float” over snow and sand, fatbikes have experienced a surge in popularity over the past few years. Last December, British adventurer Maria Leijerstam took things a step further, using a custom fat trike to ride to the South Pole. Now, California-based Standard Bearer Machines is offering a fat-trike of its own, known as Rungu.

Unlike Leijerstam’s recumbent trike, the Rungu is an upright. While the pros and cons of recumbents versus uprights could be (and are) debated endlessly, the designers of the Rungu claim that their configuration offers better pedaling efficiency than a recumbent. As can be seen in the photos, it’s a tadpole trike, in which the single wheel is in the rear. A steering linkage system allows the two front wheels to pivot together.

So, what’s the point? Well, the father and son team who developed the Rungu found that when transporting surfboards across the sand on a conventional two-wheeler, stability was an issue. The dual front wheels spread the weight out wider, helping to keep the bike and rider upright. The trike can also reportedly climb up short flights of steps with ease.

That said, while the Rungu might indeed make a good beach bike, its usefulness on singletrack trails would presumably be limited – it looks like the two front wheels might straddle the trail instead of staying centered on it.

There are actually two models of Rungu. The Juggernaut (above) features fat 26 x 4.7-inch tires all around, and is intended mostly for use on the traditional sand and snow. It weighs 55.8 lb (25. 4 kg), and is priced starting at US $2,500.

The Kilimanjaro still has a fat tire in the back, but utilizes skinnier 29 x 2.5-inch tires in the front, along with 100-mm Rockshox coil spring suspension forks. It’s designed more for use on the road or hard-packed dirt, where speed and agility are more of a factor than having a wide footprint. It weighs 53.8 lb (24.4 kg), and costs $2,600.

Both models feature mounting points for accessories such as e-bike kits and overhead racks. You can see them in action, in the video below.

Rungu Intro Video

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ARTICLE: Gizmag.com
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IMAGE: Rungu fat-trike