Beta testing the new Audeze Black-Box.

We’re looking for a select few Head-Fiers to beta test our prototype “Black Box” product. Let us know if you’re interested in dedicating the necessary time and helping us take headphone personalization to the next level.
 
What is the Black-Box?
The Black Box is a unique DSP/Amp/DAC product equipped with a USB 2 input and one SP/DIF input. It also has SP/DIF and headphone outputs. The name Black box is temporary name that might change eventually.
 

 
What does it do?
Hardware:
The Black Box features built-in DSP allowing personalization of Audeze headphones. Each Black Box comes pre-calibrated with one (or more) carefully measured Audeze headphones. It is also a DAC with a headphone amp.
Cloud:
Logging into the exclusive Audeze Black Box web portal, you can access the headphone's measurements. You can also tweak the response to your liking. Or you can examine the differences between direct-field and diffuse-field performance. Our proprietary algorithms take care of the rest and optimize the performance to match the target response that you have created. We are adding more functionality to the cloud, so by the time you get it, there might be more options. Note, this isn’t simple EQ.
 
 
 
It can help solve hearing anomalies. For example, if you have a dip at a certain frequency in one ear (but not the other), you can correct for that. People who have tinnitus are often sensitive to certain frequencies – our Black Box may help. The Black Box is all about improving your headphone listening experience.
 
What will I receive?
You’ll receive a calibrated Black Box and a pair of Audeze EL-8 or LCD-X headphones, driver software for Windows and Mac, an application to control the Black Box, and private login info to the Audeze Black Box site. The Black Box and headphones must be returned to Audeze within 4 weeks after receipt and we’ll provide free shipping both ways.
 
Because this is a beta testing program, we will NOT be able to give you much technical support on the phone and most of the communication will be by email. 
 
What does Audeze expect from you?
Detailed feedback on the Black Box including usability and any platform issues you find within 30 days. You’re free to post on Head-Fi or on other websites about your experiences as long as you clearly state that this is a beta program, and you are using a prototype unit. However, you cannot disclose any technical information. Since there is so much new technology involved, we’d like you to review the technical information before you post your reactions.
 
How will we select beta testers?
Tell us why you would love to test this product and a few details about your background. Being tech-savvy would be a plus as there will be a learning curve. We’ll select testers by your willingness to dedicate the necessary time and provide effective feedback. We have two units at the moment and we’d like to send them to six to eight users over the next few months. You can also PM us if you don’t want to put all your information in the thread. 
 
Note: Our tester selections are final and Audeze is free to change the terms and conditions of the beta test at any time. And those of you who work for other headphone companies are disqualified for obvious reasons.

Clever, but between age, travel (gone about 9 days a month), and a bit of tinnitus I'm probably not the tester you're looking for. It would have been nice to hear an equalized X against my LCD-2's though. Good luck with the project .

Yeah, count us in! Wait...do we count as a headphone company? hmmm.

I would love to test your Audeze Black Box. I have always been limited to less than perfect headphone listening experiences due to a problem with my right ear. As a result of abuse as a child, my right ear definitely "hears differently". I would not only enjoy assisting you with your beta test, I would like to include some commentary in the blog post I am writing as a Moon Audio Ambassador / Reviewer. My reference systems are Fostex TH900 with Silver Dragon cabling and the Chord Hugo; and, the Schitt Lyr 2 with the Bifrost Uber driving Hifman HE-560's. The only reason I don't own the LCD-X (which I really enjoyed listening to at Can Jam here in Denver) is that part of my right ear problem is due to constantly swollen neck muscles resulting from three bad spinal faucets in my neck. As Drew Baird correctly pointed out to me, the lighter weight Fostex would be better for extended listening periods than the heavier LCD-X. Obviously, if allowed to assist with the beta test of the Audeze Black Box, I would prefer to borrow the EL-8 due to the lighter weight.
 
Admittedly, I am not an electrician or engineer, but I am a "geek" being a certified public accountant and network manager. I will be able to figure out what I need from the unit and what feedback you need without long-winded conversation by either of us.
 
Thank you for your consideration. One way or the other, I will be at your booth again when you return to Denver in October.

audeze said:

   
We’re looking for a select few Head-Fiers to beta test our prototype “Black Box” product. Let us know if you’re interested in dedicating the necessary time and helping us take headphone personalization to the next level.
 
What is the Black-Box?
The Black Box is a unique DSP/Amp/DAC product equipped with a USB 2 input and one SP/DIF input. It also has SP/DIF and headphone outputs. The name Black box is temporary name that might change eventually.
 

 

Click to expand...

 
Thanks for the opportunity! I'm interested to join!
 
Why I'm interested in this opportunity? As a reviewer I always love to try new products. As for this case, I see it as a very unique approach, where the 'Black Box' + Audeze Headphone could be the unique one solution for various personal preferences of sound signatures. Although purist might not like the DSP approach for sound signature adjustment, but things might change, depending on how good is the DSP to preserve the fidelity of the recording while making the right adjustment to compensate the headphone characteristic and suiting one's personal sonic preference.
 
I do recordings, so I understand that on the mixing stage, majority of the recordings has gone through digital manipulation on the DAW. Also on mastering stage. From this perspective, I'm not against to use DSP on the playback stage, as long as the result is desirable.
 
My backgrounds, I've EE background, and love simple DIY. I usually include some simple electronic measurement in my reviews. Have a couple of digital oscilloscope and digital multimeters at home. As mentioned earlier, I do some recordings (not often), and in charge in my church for the PA system. And I've done some reviews here in Head-fi.
 
Some of my reviews for your consideration that might be relevant to this 'Black Box' project:
 
Review of Creative Sound Blaster X7:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/756102/creative-sound-blaster-x7-detailed-review-impressions
 
Review of Fiio X3 2nd Generation:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/fiio-x3-2nd-gen-ultraportable-hi-res-dap/reviews/13322
 
Review of Audio-Technica AT-R70x:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/765004/audio-technica-ath-r70x-in-depth-review-impressions
 
Review of Audio-Technica AT-HA5050H:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/749555/sneak-peek-of-audio-technica-at-ha5050h-pre-production-unit
 
 
Other reviews are on my signature.
 
 
I do prefer to do it around September or later. July and August my schedule already full with other review commitments.
 
 
Thanks!

Hi, 
 
My name is Shane Gunther, and I would love nothing more than to beta test the Audeze Black Box. I am located in Maryland, United States ( I am happy to pm you more information).I am a 23 year old mortgage loan originator, and I have a long background in tech related hobbies. I consider myself tech-savvy, and actually recently built my own gaming computer. I am willing to dedicate the necessary time and provide my honest feedback. 
 
Thanks for the opportunity, 
 
Shane

Hi, I'm Brian. I would love to try and give my honest feedback of the Black Box. I've long been a fan of Audeze's design choices, and appreciated every comment of the sound you are able to produce. I work in IT, so I have plenty of time to analyze sound and tinker with settings. I'm a tinkerer by nature, so getting to use a product that can be tweaked without breaking it is a dream come true   This would also give me a firsthand opportunity to try Audeze products. I've been considering a pair, but the closest places to demo are 6-8 hours from me. I have a wide variety of music tastes to test this unit out, ranging from Bach to Meshuggah, Kendrick Lamar to Steely Dan. 
 
 
 
If I can assist you, please let me know. I hope to gain as much from this opportunity and plan to give as much information as you need. Thank you!
 
Example of review:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/studio-v-anniversary-edition/reviews/7962

I would like to be considered for the beta testing team.
 
Here is a little background:
 
I have been in this audio world for 4-5 years now and had much experience with a lot of gear. I am a Computer Science graduate working as a Software Developer for the last few years. I used to work as a computer repair technician while going through college, so I know my way around components and proper methods of troubleshooting issues. I have most everything I have owned listed in my profile, but here is the short list with a little background history of my audio chronicles. I got two pairs of Aurisonics CIEMs, (AS-1 and AS-2) a few years back. I had at the time Denon AH-D2000 w/ Silver cables. I have sold and bought many headphones, having a pair of HD800's for a few months then ending up with M100's and HD 598's and now Oppo PM-3. Through those headphones I have used a bit of equipment. I have had experience with R2-R Ladder DAC's (MHDT Paradisea) and Sigma-Delta DAC (Geek Pulse X Fi is the current workhorse) and amps that go along with them. I have a Geek Pulse X Fi currently as well and the LPS unit to go with it. I have listened to many headphones throughout the many head-fi meet ups I have attended, including some of your headphones and competitors, and even a pair of Sony R10's on a Red Wine Audio Bellina Renaissance edition DAC/HPA. I have also had my fair share of mobile audio experience, with being a previous owner of a RWAK100, owning the Altmann Tera Player at one time, and now owning a RWAK120ii. I have helped in other markets with Beta teams and even had some of my own code added directly into the final production of products. I have enjoyed all of these opportunities and maintain great relationships with everyone that I have dealt with. It would be an honor to participate in this select group of users.

If you're requiring World Wide testers, I'm in London UK and work for a HiFi company. Would be chuffed to test away!

I'd be excited to test the Black Box. I'm a long time user of speaker/room correction (Tact, Dirac). I work as a computer programmer and have both Mac and Windows at home. I own (and love) the LCD 2s. I also use the Oppo PM-3 at work and a STAX 009 at home. Thanks!

Why not a crossfeed implementation?

I would love to be part of the Beta testing program for the "Black Box" !!!
 
I have a very strong appreciation of the sound quality that Audeze provides ... it is outstanding ... though with experiencing driver failure number 5 on my LCD3,
well my faith is quite seriously being challenged in the brand.   I am so disappointed.
 
This may be a great opportunity for me to build trust again in Audeze ... as well as help Audeze,  rather than spending my time becoming vocal about repetitive driver LCD3 failures.
 
 
A bit about me ...
"Exceptional" hearing in mid range and treble, according to audiologist and doctors when I get my hearing tested every 5 years or so.
Bass ... is a different story ... up & down like a roller coaster ... may have gotten damage when I worked construction during University holidays, or maybe when I was a heavyweight boxer. 
Technical ... work in IT ... not a stranger to testing.  Running a MacBook on Yosemite at home.
 
 
This is a very sincere request from a dedicated long time Audeze owner ... who, unfortunately due to repeating driver failure issues, is becoming extremely disillusioned.

This is a very cool sounding product and I would love a chance to give them a listen as well! I've been very lucky to have the resources to listen to quite a number of different equipment, but while I've heard Audeze headphones at various occasions, I've never had the chance to really sit down with one and give it a good hard listen. This seems like a great opportunity to familiarize myself more with Audeze and on top of that, this new technology is indeed very intriguing and seems like it could really make a big impact on people who like versatility in their sound. I also have quite a few friends, who are bigger tech geeks than I, who would definitely love a chance to play with the UI of the black box (if Audeze allows that).
 
In terms of background, I first got into audio in high school when I bought myself a pair of v-modas. Thinks sort of took off from there. I've been in the hobby for a few years now and I'll just link some of the stuff I've previously own and currently own on my profile.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/u/288076/cotnijoe
 
Some Reviews/Impressions I've done:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/767883/official-hifiman-he1000-impressions-thread/330#post_11660374
http://www.head-fi.org/users/288076/reviews
http://www.head-fi.org/t/741770/customart-us-ciem-demo-lineup-tour-including-harmony-8-pro/255#post_11310051
 
Thanks for giving the community this opportunity!

Hi,

I'm interested in going as a beta tester from down under. Always on the hunt for new stuff and willing to try the black box with a bunch of headphones including electrostats, orthos and dynamics. Happy to provide detailed and thorough feedback in return for the opportunity to test this.

Hmm very interesting , It might be interesting for Czech an Slovak community
 
What support for opensource technologies like linux ?
 
Anyway i am interested