Sony releases new active noise cancellation headphones

Sony have released a new active-noise cancellation ear-bud style headphones, model MDR-NC11. When the unit is switched on noise is reduced by 10dB. The specs on the website say that it cancels noise from 50Hz to 1,000 Hz, with a maximum of 10dB noise cancellation in the critical range from 100 to 400 Hz – where the human ear is super-sensitive.

Read more on the SonyStyle web site and search for MDR-NC11. Watch the shockwave flash advert for noise cancellation products.

Digital sound projector

Pioneer has developed a speaker system called the PDSP-1, the world’s first digital sound projector, that uses 254 2.5 inch speakers to create 5.1 virtual channels. The speaker unit is only 5 inches thick and delivers 500W of power. The system was developed in conjunction with 1 Ltd, a technology development and licensing company.

Read the news article on the Pioneer Electronic web site.
Read about the technology on the 1 Ltd web site.

Rion releases new sound level meter

Rion have released a new sound level meter model, the NL-32/NL-22 Type 1 / Type 2 Noise Analyser. Data can be stored on to compact flash cards. Remote download and control option for GSM or landline.

Read the full article on the ANV Measurement Systems website.

Cheap Digital Amplifiers

Read this interesting article on digital amplifiers. These guys have made a digital amplifier the size of a credit card that can pump out 200W RMS into 8 Ohms, DC to 91kHz. They require virtually no cooling and their efficiency is almost 90%!

Vacuum tube on PC motherboard

AOpen, a Taiwanese manufacturer of computer components, has released a motherboard for PC with a vacuum tube to “improve” the audio output. This product is obviously targeted for a niche market, for those people that find their conventional PC sound cards unsatisfactory