Audio

Immerse yourself in the world of audio gadgets that redefine sound quality. From wireless earbuds to smart speakers, explore the latest innovations that elevate your listening experience.

Absentia Tesseract VR First Impressions: A Promising Start, but Lots of Room to Improve

Absentia Tesseract VR First Impressions: A Promising Start, but Lots of Room to Improve

March 7, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The competition for virtual reality headsets is heating up, and there are some clear frontrunners emerging – the Oculus Rift, whose Kickstarter project sparked the fresh wave of interest in the category is going to launch next year, while HTC just clarified that the HTC Vive will be available from April. Sony's PlayStation VR will also release next year, and on the mobile front, the Samsung Gear VR is already on sale.
One problem that is shared across all the different gadgets in this space is that they're all going to be pretty expensive – the Gear VR is the cheapest, at $99 (approximately Rs. 6,600), but it only works with certain high end Samsung phones – which, coupled with the limited exposure to VR means that the technology will remain a niche for some time, particularly in countries like India.
However, there are plenty of new headsets under development as well, including the Tesseract by Absentia, which is tentatively going to be priced at Rs. 12,000 for the HD vers..

Sony MDR XB950BT [year]

Sony MDR XB950BT 2025

March 7, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

If you're an audiophile who wants the purest and clearest reproduction of the source being played, then it's likely that you're not interested in Sony's XB (extra bass) headphones. We tried out the Sony MDR XB950BT – the top of the XB line, which also supports Bluetooth playback. That's a combination which has probably sent purists running for the hills, but the results are surprisingly decent.
Available only in bright red, and at Rs. 12,990, these headphones are clearly not for everybody, but all things considered, they are actually pretty reasonably priced. If you're not interested in bass-focused headphones, then the XB950BT doesn't really offer anything that will change your mind, but if you've heard and liked any of the headphones in the XB family before, then you'll be pleased to know that this is one of the better offerings from Sony within this line.
Design
The Sony MDR XB950BT looks eye-catching – some would call it tacky, with it..

Grain Audio OEHP.01 Review [year]

Grain Audio OEHP.01 Review 2025

March 2, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Based in small-town Pennsylvania, USA, Grain Audio is a personal audio manufacturer that makes liberal use of wood in its products. The company has just four offerings listed on its site, and ships directly to buyers. Of the two pairs of headphones listed, the OEHP.01 is the larger, over-the-ear model. Featuring solid wood casings, the OEHP.01 is our review product of the day. We go into the details in our review.
Design, specifications and comfort
The Grain Audio OEHP.01 headphones feature a unique design, with the entire driver casing made out of grain-matched solid walnut wood. This keeps the headset fairly light at just 220g, and gives it a beautifully natural look. The padding on the ear cups and headband is soft and comfortable as well. The headband is made of plastic, and unfortunately doesn't go too well with the wooden casings. The OEHP.01 uses 40mm dynamic drivers, and comes in a rather large box that includes a carry pouch and a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter.
The two ear cups..