Beresford TC-7510 Mk6/4
April 4th, 2009
The Beresford TC-7510 is an uncomplicated Digital to Analogue Converter with design features offering the ideal solution for the modern day high technology home hi-fi or multi-media environment.
Most digital to analogue converters are aimed at the CD and DVD audiophiles. The TC-7510 has however been designed for a broader range of application and has been further optimized for accurate PC and wireless digital audio reproduction. That includes wireless servers such as the SB3, Airport Express, DAB radio, and satellite audio.
The TC-7510 is a 4 digital inputs audio DAC with 24bit/96KHz digital input capability. It reclocks and resamples incoming digital data using its own inbuilt jitter free clock in order to negate jitter in the original signal. The actual Digital to Analog conversion process takes place at 352.8KHz for a 16 bit/44.1KHz CD audio signal, and 384KHz for DVD audio. This higher frequency sampling rate accounts for a large part for the detailed resolution and separation of singers and instruments in a recording.
In addition, it has a headphone amplifier and two line outputs. The multiple input and output options enhance the practical uses and increases the versatility of the TC-7510.
I used this with a PC, so I used a top down approach :
Foobar2000
Digital Coaxial out (with the bundled and excellent cable supplied with the DAC) from motherboard
Beresford DAC
Harmon Kardon HK680
Upgraded (silver core wire and morel MDT series tweeter) TDL RTL2 Gold edition.
Now I am not totally sure whether or not to allow component burn in BUT I did notice a marked improvement in sound after using the DAC constantly for a few days.
The problem is before i used 3.5mm to RCA adaptors and now im using a DAC with digicoax out and whilst the sound massivly improved I find it hard to distinguish how much of that is down to the DAC itself and how much is down to change of format.
Bass stayed the same, the tweeter stayed smooth and coherent. What I did notice was subleties, in that I would hear sounds that before were muffled or got lost.
Overall I would really recommend one and cant wait to try the updated DAC 
GoStereo headphones (which are also speakers!)
January 29th, 2009
Ever wanted to be able to listen your mp3 player through headphones and speakers when your about? Well now you can with the Go Stereo Tune in Tune out headphones. Unfortunately the sound quality isn’t brilliant and has a cheap plastic headband that looks like it could fall apart at anytime.
Nevertheless, these cheap (£35) headphones are a good choice for anyone who wants a device that will satisfy a personal listening experience and allow for the sharing of tunes on the fly.
Verdict 6/10
Acoustic Energy AE26-06B AEGO M 2.1
January 20th, 2009
For these who haven’t heard of Acoustic energy they are a well respected British hi-fi manufacturer and they bring a great deal of that expertise to these speakers. They have innovations such as a cone to remove unwanted sound from the back of the driver; the satellites are made from cast aluminium to reduce cabinet vibrations; the speaker cable is flat rather then round to improve the magnetic field strength which means that less of the signal is lost down the cables and the amplifier has better control over the drivers.
The satellites are high excursion due to there small size; reviewers have often comment that the mid-range sounds unrealistic, which I agreed with until recently however after about 6 months they do start to improve massively as a result of run in and system changes which I will talk about later.
Only until recently I had placed them straight on a table. However now they are on top of something soft to prevent it from vibrating the table, this gave an all together more coherent sound and improved the sound staging due to the treble improvement. On well recorded music I could pick out where the singer was and also where the saxophone and clarinet where coming from, something I didn’t expect in this price range.
Another alteration was the additional current a change in my sound card offered. This helped to fill out the mid-range and make it sound allot more realistic.
To conclude these are an excellent upgrade to the cheap speakers often thrown in with most PC purchases. Another product worth consideration is the B&W Zeppelin, however it is around 300 compared to the egos £120, but I would recommend auditioning them both and then make your mind up from there.
Sennheiser HD800 - What a GRAND Masterpiece
January 16th, 2009
Introducing the new Sennheiser HD800 openback headphones claimed by Sennheiser to be the “best headphones in the world” for just under £1000
These headphones have been exclusivly designed to reduce the common high end headphone problem - low-end distortion.
The HD800 has an unconventional diaphragm that’s a slightly larger ring driver at 56mm - thats the largest transducers to be used yet for headphones.
These headphones have a whopping 6Hz-51kHz frequency response and a harmonic distortion of less than 0.02%
These impressive specs are also complimented by gorgeous exterior aesthetics to produce one of the world’s finest headphones ever.
The HD800’s should be available in February for £999.99
Share your view?
January 15th, 2009
Fancy writing for AudioCrunch? Well now you can - simply register and create a post, we would love to hear your thoughts!
1 rule - it must be audio related. If we’re happy with your writing we could even add you to the AudioCrunch Team 
Happy Writing!
JVC Match Ipod Colours
January 15th, 2009
JVC HA-FX34
“JVC has announced a new comfortable in-ear canal headphone in seven colors to coordinate with the latest iPods. The JVC HA-FX34 Marshmallow has been designed with wearer comfort as a top priority. Super-soft earpieces in two sizes are supplied as standard, providing a snug fit for a wide range of users. While the earpieces provide a perfect fit for the ears, the range of seven body and cord colors complements perfectly Apple’s third-generation iPod nano and iPod shuffle models. Furthermore, the gold-plated connection plug is fully compatible with Apple’s iPhone, making the HA-FX34 an ideal choice for music on the go”.
JVC HA-FX34 iPod headphone
“Completing the feature set is the 3.28-foot (1.0 m) friction-noise reduction cord, designed to minimize the noise generated as the cord brushes against clothing. The JVC HA-F130 Gumy in-ear headphones, meanwhile, are now available in three new colors- Raspberry Red, Mint Blue and Melon Green - bringing the lineup to a total of eight. The soft rubber body of the headphones that inspired the “Gumy” nickname has been redesigned for even greater comfort, and like the Marshmallow, the Gumy comes with a gold-plated iPhone and iPod compatible plug”.
Source ces-show
AKG K701
January 15th, 2009
When I initially received these headphones I was very unimpressed, they sounded very cheap and I considered returning them. However, since that day they have gone from strength to strength. I have noted 300 hours is often quoted for the total run in time, but they continue to impove long after this and even now, 6 months later, the sound continues to improve. If you’ve ever wondered why headphones and speakers need such long run in times, the reason is due to a phenomenon in metal, whereby as the material is subjected to a strain in becomes stiffer. This property is used in industry for cold rolling. I won’t go too deeply into this subject, but any good material science textbook should provide interesting reading.
These AKG’s provide an extremely detailed and cohesive sound. The high frequencies are extremely natural and was the opposite of the overly aggressive or hard treble often found on most systems: This also helps to produce an incredibly open sound-stage.
These headphones will change the way you perceive music. The difference between the AKGs and other types of speakers and headphones is that music flows naturally and as a result it never becomes fatiguing.
Noticeably, the headphones are extremely comfortable and together with the quality in sound i would recommend these headphones to all music lovers.
Verdict 9/10
Sony Introduces New Audio Accessories
January 15th, 2009
Sony has introduced a new line of audio accessories, which include Extra Bass headphones and multimedia PC speakers which offer a more enriched sound.
Sony state “We’re continuous leaders in the audio space because we use superior technology without compromising style,” said Andy Bubala, director of marketing for audio accessory products for Sony Electronics. “From our new Extra Bass headphones to our new speakers, both of these attractive lineups deliver the incredible sound quality Sony is known for.”
Like Your Bass?
With 5 new Extra Bass products, Sony is launching a new series of headphones that will appeal to all listeners that love hip hop, dance and club music. The new MDR-XB family of headphones have been specially designed for premium playback of intense beats due to exclusive drivers that offer rich playback in the bass frequencies. The new eye catching, sound-sealing structure has also been designed to minimize sound leakage.
Models MDR-XB300, MDR-XB500 and MDR-XB700 have king-sized each cushions to achieve maximum listening comfort together with uniquely developed XB diaphragm driver units ranging from between 30-50mm for dynamic bass playback. With a wider range frequency response, these headphones have a power handling capacity between 1500mW to 3000mW, depending on the model.
The collection will also include ear bud style headphones (MDR-XB20EX and MDRXB40EX), featuring hybrid silicone ear buds in small, medium and large sizes for a more custom fit. These models have 9mm and 13.5mm size driver units, respectively, for booming bass and 100mW of power handling capacity .
These headphones should be available in February for between £35 - £90.
Top PC Speakers
For all you PC users out there, Sony are launching a new line of high end PC speakers which boast a beautiful design with superior sound quality. The series includes 4 models that are perfect for listening to music, watching DVDs and playing the latest computer games.
Realizing the importance to have high quality PC speakers to immerse yourself in music, movies or computer games, Sony developed the slim size SRS-Z50 pair speakers with bass reflex duct, the three-way SRS-Z100 pair speakers with bass boost, the SRS-D25 2.1 speaker system with sub-woofer for strong bass and the SRS-DF30 2.1 speaker system with built-in FM tuner for stylish, powerful music listening. While all of the speakers offer headphone out with power on/off and volume control in varying total output power levels, unique features include VAIO color matching in the SRS-D25 (black, red, pink or white) models and the SRS-DF30’s FM tuner.
These speakers will be available in March ranging from £40 - £137.
SONY MDR7506
January 12th, 2009
Sony MDR7506
£79.99
These are cracking, large diaphragm, folding headphones that are fairly inexpensive designed for studio and live work. All aspects of the 10Hz - 20KHZ frequency range are clear and wonderfully produced.
The design also makes these headphones highly durable with sufficient noise isolation.
Sony’s Overview
“Sony’s range of professional headphones are engineered for a combination of strength, comfort and practicality, and are used daily in broadcast & recording studios worldwide. The MDR-7506 professional headphones come complete with protective carry pouch and gold-plated UnimatchTM 3.5mm/6.3mm adaptor.”
Verdict 7/10
Welcome All Readers
January 12th, 2009
Hello and welcome to AudioCrunch - a blogging site that covers all new audio hardware ranging from headphone to speakers to even the latest music and audio software.
I would like to introduce my Co-Editor David Harrison, who, like myself is extreamly passionate about music and the industry. David will be joining me in blogging pretty much everyday so the world can hear our opinions about all things audio.
Feel free to make any comments about any of our posts. We will try to reply back to all questions raised.
If you would like to feature on our blog or want to ask us anything please write to either myself jason@audiocrunch.co.uk or David, david@audiocrunch.co.uk.
Many thanks, and happy reading!