[jude]

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NOTE:  If you can't see the embedded video above, please CLICK HERE to see the video.​

 
 
In this video, I go over some of my Head-Fi highlights from the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including MQA, Audio-Technica, and Chord Electronics.
 

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Products mentioned in the video:

 

1. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) end-to-end technology audio format
2. TIDAL music streaming service
3. Meridian Prime DAC/amplifier
4. Meridian Prime Power Supply power supply for the Meridian Prime
5. Meridian Prime DAC/amplifier
6. Meridian Explorer2 portable USB DAC/amplifier
7. Onkyo DP-X1 digital audio player
8. AudioQuest DragonFly Blakc and Red portable USB DAC/amplifier
9. Meridian Prime DAC/amplifier
10. Mytek Digital Brooklyn DAC
11. Mytek Digital Clef portable Bluetooth DAC/amplfier
12. Meridian Prime DAC/amplifier
13. Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT wireless Bluetooth headphone
14. Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT wireless Bluetooth headphone
15. Astell&Kern AK70 digital audio player
16. Astell&Kern AK300 digital audio player
17. Astell&Kern AK320 digital audio player
18. Astell&Kern AK380 digital audio player
19. Chord Electronics Hugo 2 transportable DAC/amp

 

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CES 2017 Highlights (Part 1) - Head-Fi TV produced by Joseph Cwik, Jude Mansilla, and Brian Murphy

 

[zeddun]

Great video as always! You mentioned APTX HD, how does that compare to Sony's LDAC Bluetooth protocol? I currently own the Sony MDR-1000x and paired with my ZX2 the LDAC streaming sounds great. Using the MDR-1000x in both wired and wireless mode I can't discern a difference playing the same 16/44 ALAC or FLAC files.

 

[jude]

Great video as always! You mentioned APTX HD, how does that compare to Sony's LDAC Bluetooth protocol? I currently own the Sony MDR-1000x and paired with my ZX2 the LDAC streaming sounds great. Using the MDR-1000x in both wired and wireless mode I can't discern a difference playing the same 16/44 ALAC or FLAC files.

 
@zeddun, thank you for the kind comment!
 
As for your question: That's a tough one to answer, as they're on different headphones completely at this point. While the Sony MDR-1000X is my favorite ANC headphone right now, for its crazy-effective ANC and sound quality for that type of headphone, the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT is (for me) the better sounding headphones in a quieter environment, and for general listening. (Keep in mind the ATH-DSR9BT doesn't have ANC.)
 
I'm sorry I can't specifically answer your question yet.

 

[miceblue]

I like those figurines on the table Jude! They averted my attention from the audio products on the table, which is a change of pace. : D

 

[zeddun]

   
@zeddun, thank you for the kind comment!
 
As for your question: That's a tough one to answer, as they're on different headphones completely at this point. While the Sony MDR-1000X is my favorite ANC headphone right now, for its crazy-effective ANC and sound quality for that type of headphone, the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT is (for me) the better sounding headphones in a quieter environment, and for general listening. (Keep in mind the ATH-DSR9BT doesn't have ANC.)
 
I'm sorry I can't specifically answer your question yet.

Thanks for the response Jude and thanks for all the great head-fi work.  Wonder if AT will release an ANC version of the wireless headphone in the future.  I agree with you that my ZX2 sounds pretty good with the MDR-1000X with LDAC streaming playing 16/44 FLAC or ALAC files and up to 24/96 files.

 

[kurochin]

Great video, Jude. The D-note technology on those Audio Technicas had me intrigued since I first heard of them. Watched a youtube video a year ago of a car audio guy opening up a Clarion speaker with the same tech and got a better idea of how the whole thing works. Also got to hear that same Clarion setup in a closed test room at a local car show some months later. Not an expert in that area and have no idea how it would rate against the setups of competing car audio brands, but I really liked what I heard that day. It was my favourite of all the test rooms at the show. Warm yet crisp. I don't think it'll revolutionize the industry or anything like that, but it's nice to see different tech for a change. Looking forward to what you have to share on those new DSR models.