The iPod Classic was killed off in 2014, now Apple has terminated the two little upstarts known as Shuffle and Nano.

Apple has now discontinued their two most compact music players. Say goodbye to the last of the true iPods – the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle.

Apple first introduced the iPad back in 2001 and, even though I was rocking a Creative Juke Box, I can’t deny how the white music player shook up the portable media market.

With this latest cull, you will be left with the iPhone or an iPhone without the phone bit. Sad times.

iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano

The original iPod Nano launched in September of 2005 and the original iPod Shuffle launched in January of 2005.

Apple has now decided to focus on the iPod Touch, simplifying their iPod range.

An Apple spokesperson stated:

Today, we are simplifying our iPod lineup with two models of iPod Touch, now with double the capacity, starting at just $199, and we are discontinuing the iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano,”

Apple have now removed both of these iPods from their retail stores and online.

So if you are looking to get one, you will have to try a third party retailer whilst stocks last.

The post RIP the last true iPods – Nano and Shuffle appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Right now you have a few choices if you want to listen to music on the move – you can use your smartphone which has been designed to do many things *quite* well, to make that better you can add to that a portable amp/DAC (digital analogue converter) which will bypass your phone’s audio tech and make your music sound sweeter. Even better would be to go back to when we owned devices to do specific jobs, in this case a dedicated portable audio player. I have been running Pioneer’s recently released XDP-100R digital audio player (DAP) for a week-or-so and here’s my review.

I understand that convergence is the way of tech these days. Most people don’t bother with a separate stills camera, video camera, watch, portable media player, SatNav, compact computer and phone – instead we carry one smartphone.

The thing is, people who like to take good photos, whether professionally or hobbiest, will still buy a decent DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. The same goes for budding filmakers – these will head over for a ‘prosumer’ video camera. Why not follow this rule if you really want great audio from a portable device?

True this means an extra device to carry, but this would be the same if you were going to invest in a portable amp/DAC to plug your phone in to. The bonus of using a DAP is that you can store all your music on there and the hardware will be designed especially for audio reproduction.

The Pioneer XDP-100R looks to have a lot going for it when glancing at the spec sheet – it’s running Android 5.1.1 and is equipped with a 720×1280 screen and, as you would expect, some good audio tech. Is it any good though?

After playing with the excellent Chord Mojo, this might be a tough job for the new Pioneer.

Pioneer XDP-100R design

The Pioneer XDP-100R does look slightly similar to another DAP ~cough~ Astell & Kern ~cough~ but that’s not a bad thing as I do like the stealth-like industrial design.

The metal construction is coated in a very nice, subtly textured gunmetal finish.

It feels really nice in the hand and the unit has a pleasing weight to it but is also light enough not to pull your pocket.

The buttons on the side of the chassis cover forwards, backwards, play/pause/stop and a larger power button. I like the rotary volume controller on the side of the XDP-100R and the way it is only accessible at the top and bottom thanks to the angled edges, which makes it tricky to accidentally deafen yourself (potentially) – my pocket has ramped up the volume on my HA-2 by itself which does take me by surprise. Not a nice one either.

The ‘bumper’, as Pioneer calls it, looks like a weird little handle.  This removable bumper actually does a pretty good job and protects the 3.5mm input, especially if you’re using an angled jack.

The little yet important details don’t finish there either. The engraved ‘High Resolution Audio Player’ on the side of the chassis looks good and adds to the premium look and feel.

If you have ever used an Android phone then the 4.7-inch display and operating system will feel very familiar.

Pioneer XDP-100R performance

The Pioneer is an Android based portable audio player and runs on Android 5.1.1. While I could point out that Android 6 is already out (my Nexus 6P is now running 6.0.1), the bulk of Android devices are still running 5.1.1 at the moment. The great news is that you can access the Google Play Store directly to grab the apps you want.

Personally, as this is a device designed to play tunes, past Quobuz, Spotify, Tidal and Onkyo music, and similar, I see no reason to sully the XDP-100R with needless junk. This also means that you will probably notice that the XDP-100R starts faster than your phone and, most likely, your tablet.

I was relieved to see that Pioneer haven’t gone over the top with skinning the user interface with needless rubbish.

Everything is slick and smooth with no noticeable lag when flicking between apps, and the screen is nice and bright. More importantly, the Pioneer DAP feels like a product where the interface is a key part of the design rather than it be something that had to be bolted on as an after thought.Under the hood you’ll find an ESS Sabre 9018K2M DAC with a matching 9601K headphone chip.

The ESS Sabre seems to be the go-to chipset for decoders of all sizes, this is most likely down to its performance as well as its bang for buck. The 9601K has allowed Pioneer to equip the XDP-100R with a 160 step volume which means you should be able to dial in the perfect volume for your choice of cans.

It also ensures that the XDP-100R supports PCM up to 24/192 and DSD128.

As an added bonus, at the launch of the player Pioneer, Meridian and Tidal were pretty chuffed to announce that the XDP-100R will be fully compatible with the MQA compression tech from Meridian which promises to make the process of streaming high res audio a simpler business than before.

This will be added by software update and to the best of my knowledge puts the Pioneer in first place (although the XDP-100R’s brother from another mother, the yet to be released Onkyo DP-X1 will undoubtedly have similar skills). So, should MQA become the thing, Pioneer has you covered. We all just have to wait and see what happens next, but the idea behind it is certainly an attractive one.

Should I mention the in-built speaker that lurks at the bottom left of the XDP-100R?

Nope, perhaps best not. It works. That’s about it really.

The XDP-100R has 32GB of internal storage out-of-the-box which I still find a more than a little stingy. But, before you starting dissing it, the XDP-100R is also fitted with not one but two micro SD card slots that will each accept up to 200GB. Yes, this means that you could be carrying around 432GB of music which, I think we can all agree, is rather impressive.

OK, so a 200GB microSD card will still hit you for over £100 if want one that wont crap out on you, but you can snag 128GB cards for around £50 which will still hand the hi-res player 288GB for a hundred notes extra.

The on-board audio player will sniff out all the music shoved in to it, whether on its internal bank or the SD cards. You also get Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz loaded as well as the Onkyo Music App which allows for the direct purchase of music to play on your Pioneer.

To add tracks on from your home hard-drive couldn’t be simpler – just drag and drop files via Windows/OSX, you also have the option of downloading desktop software to better allocate data across your cards and the internal storage.

I do like how the Pioneer’s music player not only can sort through using the usual artist, songs, albums, genre, etc – but you can also sort via format. So, if you just want to hear your FLAC tracks, you can. Easily.

Battery life is quoted at 10 hours but on my commutes and occasional office listening I was getting far better returns at decent volume.

You also get Apt-X Bluetooth as standard which means that the XDP-100R will play nicely with car audio systems and other Bluetooth friendly set-ups and hooked up without issue to a Musical Fidelity Bluetooth receiver.

Also noteworthy are the options to put the XDP-100R in line out mode (maxing and fixing the volume out) or standalone mode (that turns unnecessary functions off).

Pioneer XDP-100R sound quality

I have to admit that I was hoping that the XDP-100R would at least manage to sound better than my HTC One M9 and Nexus 6P, and ideally be better than either of them hooked up to an external DAC, as this must surely be the aim of the device.

I found quite a few similar audio charteristics between the HTC One M9 hooked up to my Oppo HA-2 DAC and the XDP-100R, which is certainly no bad thing.

Listening to Jane’s Addiction’s ‘A Cabinet of Curiosities’ [FLAC] and the player sounds immediate and exciting without any harshness.

Flicking over to Tidal and tracks such as Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’, the XDP-100R treats the more laid back vibe delicately and cleanly without any pushiness.

Getting my funk and dub on now and I was pleasantly won over by the Pioneer’s deep bass response through both a set of Pioneer headphones which were loaned to me with the unit and my trusty Oppo PM-3 cans.

Not only is the bass warm and deep, it is also fast and detailed with no bleeding in to the low mids from what I could discern.

Vocal reproduction is sweet with impressive separation between voices and instruments.

I did quickly play with the preset EQ adjustments as well as some custom tweakage. I can say that they all do what they promise to but they weren’t really for me. Again, I expect my player to sound true to the source rather than adding a wash of colour over the top – If I wanted to do that I’d buy some Beats headphones

I was challenged to test the XDP-100R with more difficult-to-drive headphones but I don’t have any. The PM-1 were driven fine but then I wouldn’t wear them on the commute or in an office environment.

It seems an even playing field so far in comparison with a smartphone and Oppo’s portable DAC/amp but how does it compare with Chord’s Mojo?

Anyone who has tested the Mojo will not be surprised to read that the XDP-100R certainly has its work cut out to go against the Chord device and, here, it has to admit defeat. The Mojo just offers more realism and transparency to my ears.

It doesn’t all go the Mojo’s way though. The Pioneer is more easy to pocket and has everything in one unit. This is where you have to balance out what is more important to you in a portable player. If you’re mostly wanting something to listen to at the office and want top quality reproduction with a range of output options, the Mojo is the way to go. If, on the other hand, your listening will mostly be on the commute and whilst wandering the streets, then the XDP-100R would be my recommendation.

The screen is decent enough for videos and playing ‘Roger Waters The Wall’ was a pleasure to the ears and not too bad on the eyes either. The videos now offered through Tidal too were watchable but it was mostly the audio that pleased. Apple would do well to look at this and see what could be possible if they wanted to improve their iPod Touch.

As I have eluded to previously, output options aren’t really many. There’s USB/OTG and Bluetooth and, well, that’s it. But the XDP-100R has been designed as a PORTABLE audio player and not something to hook up to your main system. I am guessing that Pioneer have assumed that, if you are investing in a dedicated digital audio player, then you most likely have a decent networked home streaming set up too.

If I had one gripe with the XDP-100R is that it doesn’t go loud enough – or rather, it does but it could do with more scope.

I don’t want to hurt my ears, obviously, but I also don’t want to be at risk of running a device at its maximum. The Oppo HA-2 certainly has more legs in this regard and the Chord Mojo has it in spades!

I am by no way saying that the XDP-100R is under-powered, my headphones have decent isolation and I could hear music perfectly well on the tube, but I just feel that it hasn’t got the headroom should it be required to drive more hungry headphones. I do love the gradual volume increase and the rotary dial, but it could do with going to 180 or 200, rather than stopping at 160 in my opinion. Let’s face it 0-60 is silent-very quiet on the Pioneer, which is nice and shows how good the hardware is, but I think the device needs to go up to 11…. or make 10 louder, as a wise man once said.

Pioneer XDP-100R DAP review conclusion

As Pioneer’s first foray in to the digital audio player market the XDP-100R does plenty of the right things.

Is it portable? Yes. Does it play FLAC, OGG, AAC, MP3, DSD, WAV? Yes. Does it look good? Yes. Does it sound good? Yes.

To say that I have been impressed by the XDP-100R would be an understatement. A friend of mine was asking about portable music players so I let him try out the Pioneer in the office and he was amazed by its clarity and depth.

I realise that some people, for whatever reason, would want more connectivity options or, like me, bemoan the lack of more volume but, as a complete package, the Pioneer XDP-100R does little wrong. I have really enjoyed my time with it and have already started to miss it as I strapped my HA-2 to my phone this morning.

If you are looking for music on the move then I thoroughly urge you to try the Pioneer XDP-100R.

Pioneer XDP-100R DAP price and availability

You can buy the Pioneer XDP-100R now from all good Hi-Fi retailers, as well as Amazon.co.uk for £499.99.

Pioneer XDP-100R specs at a glance

• 4.7 inch (1280 x 720) touch screen for easily navigating music files

• 32GB Internal storage

• Two SD card slots for extended file storage (Max 256GB/128 x2, Micro

   SDXC type)

• Built-In Wi-Fi - (802.11b/g/n or 802.11ac)

• Built-In Bluetooth with aptX (A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, OPP, HID, PAN)

• Built-in speaker

• 3.5mm Stereo Phone out

• Micro USB B/OTG Digital out

• Separate DAC/AMP circuit board and CPU circuit board

• Available in Black (XDP-100R-K) and in Silver (XDP-100R-S)

• ESS SABRE DAC ES9018K2M

• Headphone AMP SABRE 9601K

• Qualcomm APZ8074 Processor (2.2 gHz Krait 400 Quad-core, Adreno 330 GPU 450 mHz)

• Android OS 5.1.1 (Lollipop) with Google Play

• X-DAP Link for content file transfer (PC to DAP)

• OnkyoMusic.com Direct Download

• Output Power - 75mW + 75mW 32 ohm

• Impedance Support - 16-300 ohm

• MQA playback support (with firmware update)

• DSD File Playback:

   Convert to PCM 192 kHz/24-bit (3.5mm Phone/Line-out mode)

   Up to 11.2 MHZ DoP/ Direct Transfer and Up to 5.6/2.8 MHz DoP/

   Direct Transfer/ PCM (Micro USB-B)

• Hi Res file Playback:

   Up to 192 kHz/24-bit 32-bit Integer/float 24-bit down convert

   (3.5mm Phone/Line-out mode)

   Up to 384kHz/24-bit 32-bit Integer/float 24-bit down convert

   (Micro USB-B)

• Sound Arrange Function:

   Up-Sampling 192kHz/24-bit (3.5mm Phone/Line-out mode)

   Up-Sampling 384Hz/24-bit Real-time DSD Convert 5.6MHz (Micro

   USB-B)

• Six built-in sound adjustments (Lock range adjust, digital filter, upsampling

   to 384 kHz, Realtime DSD conversion to 5.6 MHz, High Precision EQ, Club

   Sound Boost)

The post Pioneer XDP-100R portable audio player review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

LH Labs via Audiobility are launching their new High end mini Headphone Amp/DAC in to the UK – the Geek Out V2.

To celebrate this initial launch in the UK , they will be offering a 15% discount via their Indiegogo page with delivery before Christmas.

Geek Out V2 paves the way for the future of the premium portable DAC & headphone amplifier experience in an extremely compact package.

Don’t let its small size lead you to believe that it will be short of features.

The Geek Out V2 packs selectable gain settings of 1000mW & 100mW, and will play nicely with those monstrous power hungry cans or your uber-sensitive IEM’s with equal aplomb.

You can now play any music on the market today from MP3’s all the way up to 32/384 kHz and DSD 128 ultra-high-resolution files.

The V2 + version even has a built in battery so this Headphone Amp/DAC can be completely portable.

Not only that, there is also an Infinity version which has the added benefit of a third gain setting of 450mW, plus a third digital mode to optimise the DAC for streaming music through services like Tidal.

Its THD performance is further improved by -3 dB! If you’re a fan of streaming online music through your computer, this could well be the DAC/amp for you.

You can Geek Out with the V2 at the bargain starting price of $254.00 (around £170).

I hope to be getting my hands on one soon so stay tuned for a GadgetyNews review.

The post Geek Out V2 mini headphone amp/DAC launches in UK appeared first on GadgetyNews.

We have been hearing rumors about the new iPod Touch over the last few week, the device is now official and it has had a number of upgrades over the previous model.

Apple’s new iPod Touch comes with the same processor that is found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the Apple A8 processor.

The device comes with a 4-inch Retina display that has a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels and Apple has also updated the cameras in their latest iPod Touch.

The front camera is a 720p capable FaceTime HD camera and the rear camera is an 8 megapixel iSight camera that can record Full HD video in 1080p, it also comes with Time Lapse mode and a slow mo mode. Naturally, the iPod runs on iOS 8.

The new iPod Touch range comes in six different colours – silver, gold, pink, blue, red, and space grey and it is available in four different storage sizes.

The 16GB model will set you back £159, the 32GB £199, the 64GB £249 and the top model, which comes with 128GB of storage is available for £329 and will land on your doormat in 1 business day.

The post New Apple iPod Touch rocking 8 megapixel camera appeared first on GadgetyNews.

If you’re looking for some headphones that won’t break the bank and work without wires then the new Arcade headphones from KitSound might be just the job.

According to the press release, the Arcade cans fuse retro design with modern, high quality wireless audio.

KitSound promises that the Arcade headphones will deliver rich sound with enhanced bass through the 40mm drivers and will last up to 6 hours before needing a recharge.

Thanks to its built-in Bluetooth functionality, when you get a call your music will automatically pause with answering and hanging all being done by the touch of a button.

Inspired by a retro style, the KS Arcade Headphones ooze retro cool. The controls are simple and durable, with a lightweight design that means you can concentrate fully on the music”

KitSound Arcade specifications

Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
 Bluetooth range: Up to 10 m
 Play time: Up to 6 hours
 Drivers: 40 mm
 Plug type: 3.5 mm

RRP: £20.00

Check out the product video below:

[youtube id=”rLHgX2KKVUw”]

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If you like a bit of bling then you’ll be happy to hear that BassBuds luxury gold in-ear headphones was selected as a ‘highly commended’ product by the judges in this important industry review.

These limited edition 24 carat gold set of ear pleasers are the newest luxury item to be added to the BassBuds fashion forward high performance in-earphones collection.

The precision cut housing of each earphone is encased with 24 Carat gold plating and topped off with a SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal stone.

The advanced Crystaltronics sound technology is said to ensure you get a deep and clear HD listening experience.

On the tangle-resistant chord, the integrated hands-free microphone is compatible with all smartphones and media players and works together with the BB button to provide multi-functional control of phonecalls, audio selection and Siri and Google search use.

The BassBuds 24 Carat Gold Collection is “accompanied by specially designed high end packaging and excellent accessories” to add that extra experience of eye-catching opulence and personal luxury to the gift presentation.

BassBuds brings a unique blend of glamour and style, innovation and high performance sound, to this beautiful statement piece”

So says CEO, Clint Ippoma.

With celebrities like Sam Smith, Rita Ora and Dizzee Rascal enjoying the sound quality, BassBuds was also the first ever in-ear headphones brand to be featured at London Fashion Week, with its fashion colours line last Autumn. The brand was seen in the LFW issue of Vogue UK – the biggest issue of the entire year – and received national and international press attention, from Elle, Grazia, Esquire, Prima and many more.

The limited edition is now available on-line at UK department store Selfridges as well as in premium outlets abroad and will soon be available in more selected stores. The Rose Gold collection has also been developed and is set to complement this Gold collection later in the year.

About Gift Of The Year Awards: The Giftware Association (The GA) is a national trade representative body and is the only UK trade association serving the gift and home industry.

We recognize the remarkable talent and creativity of members ranging from retailers to suppliers.”

I look forward to reviewing a set of these BassBuds in the not too distant future, so stay tuned.

The post BassBuds 24 carat gold collection wins gift accolade appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Veho has announced its new 360° ZS-2 Water Resistant Sports Earphones for all you sporty types.

The Zs-2 earphones are designed to give you high quality sound and comfort whether you are working out in the gym, training on the track, trekking the mountains or simply commuting to the office.

The small and lightweight UK patent design of the ZS-2 have an IP64 rating that ensures protection from dust and water spray, meaning you can rely upon them to deliver in any conditions.

The ZS-2 earphones also feature comfortable over-ear hooks and noise isolating rubber earbuds, which are ergonomically designed to ensure your music is uninterrupted, however vigorous or long your workout.

The ZS-2 matches practicality and aesthetics with performance. Using high-quality 10mm acoustic drivers for stronger bass and crisper sound, they also feature a universally compatible 3.5mm AUX jack to connect with any smartphones or portable music player.

Steve Lewis, Veho CEO and Founder elaborated,

We have designed the ZS-2 earphones to match the daily requirements of amateur and professional sports people, as well as those looking to keep fit and healthy”.

Featuring a sporty yellow and black colour-scheme, the ZS-2 feature a 20cm flat Flex anti tangle cable. The hook design is equally comfortable while wearing hats, helmets, goggles and glasses – making the ZS-2 versatile for use during any activity and climate.

Veho’s 360° ZS-2 Water Resistant Sports Earphones will retail for £29.95 and are available from online and retail stockists.

I should be reviewing some of these soon – no, I won’t be showing any pictures of me in lycra. Don’t worry!

The post Veho releases 360° ZS-2 water resistant sports earphones appeared first on GadgetyNews.

I will openly admit that I am slowly opening up to the idea that there are things that can make your audio better, things that I was originally skeptical about. Where I have experinced first hand the difference some HiFI interconnects can make, I am still unconvinced by their digital brethren. Now Sony is trying to convince comsumers that their new SD card will improve your listening enjoyment.

Sony is about to start selling a memory card that’s, apparently, been designed to help serve premium audio quality to listeners of digital music. Really?

I am willing to bet that the new SDXC for Premium Sound cards will improve your experience by the same amount those gold-plated HDMI leads you paid a premium for do.

I realise that Sony is probably looking at those buying their new Hi-Res audio Walkman for just shy of grand as likely buyers but, with Sony claiming that you’ll hear “less electrical noise” when listening to music saved to it, they may have gone a little too far.

Not even Sony is convinced who will buy them:

We aren’t that sure about the product’s potential demand, but we thought some among people who are committed to great sound quality would want it,”

The 64GB SR-64HXA micro SDXC card costs around $160 – a mere five times more than the price of the standard model.

Old rope/money anyone?

The post Sony release audiophile SD Card – can I smell snake oil? appeared first on GadgetyNews.

LINDY Electronics, one of Europe’s leading producers of computer and audio-visual products, has announced the release of its Mini Headphone Amplifier and Splitter which has been designed to improve the sound quality and volume of portable music players.

If you’re looking to give the audio of your MP3 player, smartphone or tablet a bit of a boost, both in quality and volume, then you may want to check out Lindy’s new Mini Headphone Amp and Splitter.

The rechargeable device (via USB) features dual amplifiers and a built in bass booster that adds extra power and depth to your audio.

Output is amplified by 120%, reducing the power demand on the Smartphone/music device when playing audio tracks, whilst users can drive larger, more powerful headphones than normally capable from a hand-held device.

A second 3.5mm stereo port allows users to easily share their music by plugging in an additional set of headphones. The compact form factor – comparable in size to the 6th generation iPod nano (38 x 38 x 12.4 mm) – also has an integrated cable management design, allowing users to conveniently store their headphone cable when not in use.

Speaking of cables, the LINDY Mini Headphone Amplifier and Splitter comes bundled with a 15cm 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable and a 23cm USB 2.0 Type A to Micro-B charging cable. Which is nice.

Thanks to an intelligent power switch that conserves charge by turning off the amp when no audio signal is detected, users can enjoy up to 12 hours of continuous playback from a single charge.

The LINDY Mini Headphone Amplifier and Splitter is available in the UK now priced at £22.98 and can be purchased from www.lindy.co.uk or from www.lindy.ie for customers in Eire.

Specification:
 
 100dB high fidelity SNR sound
 Built-in 120mAh rechargeable Li-Poly battery
 Integrated cable management design
 Low Distortion: < 0.1% (85 mW)
 Output: 50mW
 1 x 3.5mm stereo input
 2 x 3.5mm stereo outputs
 For use with 16 – 150 ohms impedance earphones
 Blue Power LED / Orange Charging LED
 Weight: 15.5g

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If £950 for Sony’s latest Walkman, the NW-ZX2 is too steep then you may be happy to hear that Neil Young’s Pono player will soon be available for a fraction of the Sony’s asking price.

The Pono player managed to raise over $6 million on Kickstarter last year and the device has already shipped out to Kickstarter backers. Now the music player will go on sale in the US on Monday retailing for $399 – quite a bit less than the $1,200 Walkman.

Pono will be sold in Fry’s stores in the US and will launch at around 80 stores initially.

The Pono player supports high quality audio formats such as FLAC, Ogg, Apple’s Lossless Audio Codec, WAV, AAC, and MP3. It will come with 64GB of onboard storage which in all honesty would be exhausted rather quickly if one were to fill it up with only FLAC files, but I’m guessing that it’s more about quality, not quantity. At least the ZX2 has a decent amount of storage which can also be expanded.

As yet there are no details on when the device will be made available in other countries but if I hear anything, I’ll let you know. Natch.

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