Sennheiser HD202

Specifications

Transducer Type: Dynamic Neodymium magnets

Frequency Response: 18-18kHz

Impedance: 32 Ohms

Weight: 4.5 oz

Connector: Chrome 3.5mm stereo mini jack plug with 6.3mm adapter

Cable: 3.0m Double sided OFC Cable

 

This is another value for money headphone. Sennheiser, founded by Dr Fritz Sennheiser back in 1945 is well known for its high quality headphones. The HD202 is a low-priced quality headphone. The earcups are smaller than the Shure SRH240A. It also has a padded headband. During my listening session, I found the HD202 to be a little “tight” on my head. Secondly, the earcups do not completely cover my ears. I suppose the SRH240A is more comfortable. The headband is made of plastic and looks fragile. The band is thinner than the Shure SRH240A. It feels lighter than Shure. The cables are quite long (3m) but a chord winder is provided. According to the specifications the cables are OFC(Oxygen-free copper). However, unlike Shure, the 3.5mm jack is chrome plated.

The bass sounds boomy thereby overwhelming the low frequency range. Using the same song for this test ie Bruce Hornsby’s End of the Innocence, the “clicks” on the drums were darker and lacked brilliance. Bruce’s vocals was full and well reproduced.

Would I buy this headphone? Definitely. However, we are all aware that any preferences we have will depend on several factors. So, like everything else, it’s best to try them out yourself before making a decision.

 

My rating (upon 10)

Sound Quality          6

Design Features      4

Comfort                    6

Portability                 8

Value                        8

Head Liquidmetal Heat

 

 

Specifications

Technology: Head Liquidmetal

Head Size: 660 sq cm/102 sq in

Weight (unstrung): 280g/9.9oz

Length: 685mm/27in

String Pattern: 18/19

Swing Style Rating: L3

Grip: 4.25

Year of Purchase:  June 2009

 

This racket is a Midplus racket and is quite comfortable for frequent Club players like me. In comparison to my previous old faithful the Prince Response 90 it’s much lighter and has less vibration. Racket technology has come a long way. Its weight at 280gm is just right, considering my size and strength.

I changed the grip to a leather grip for my own comfort. Currently, the strings are Head Synthetic Gut PPS16. Material: Polyamide Copolymer. Gauge: 1.34mm. Tension: 54lbs.

The L3 swing rating is designed for players who have longer swings with more control than power. Finally, each person has a unique preference when it comes to the ideal racket and sometimes it may be a tough call.

 

 

 

Shure SRH240A

Specifications

Transducer Type: Dynamic, Neodymium magnet

Driver Size: 40mm

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz

Sensitivity (@ 1kHz): 107dB/mW

Impedance (@ 1kHz): 38 Ohms

Maximum Input Power: 500mW

Net Weight: 238gms (8.32oz)

Connector: Gold-plated 3.5mm(1/8”) stereo mini jack plug with 6.35mm (1/4”) threaded adapter

Cable: 2m (6.6’) non-pvc

 

The Shure SRH240A is a value for money headphone. The sound quality is quite good in comparison to other leading brands at this price. Overall, they are comfortable with circum aural earcups and padded headband which is crucial for long listening sessions.  However, the design of the earcups look too “plasticky” and cheap. I have a strange feeling the embossed silver brand name on it would fade in time. The cable is thinner than most headphones I’ve used and it comes with a gold plated 3.55mm jack and a 6.35mm adapter. The adapter comes in handy for larger equipment.

This headphone has great bass. Rich, deep and controlled. In my opinion, this is one of its most appealing factors. Conversely, the mid-range seems subdued, especially vocals. Bruce Hornsby’s End of the Innocence(Live), was a little heavy on the bass but the piano and drums sounded superb and very detailed. I could hear the little “clicks” on the drums.

Overall, the Shure SRH240A would be a great buy for those who are not looking to spend a fortune. Highly recommended for those who like good bass and detailed sound. The heavy bass is fine for casual listening. It is also a very long standing and reputable manufacturer of studio applications. 

My rating (upon 10)

Sound Quality               7
Design Features           4
Comfort                         8
Portability                      5
Value                             8

Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013

It seems like it didn’t take much for Novak to win. Novak served better with a total of 8 aces. He also played his backhand with higher velocity. In the 1^st set Rafa started poorly, down 0-3. He was defeated by Novak 6-3 in approximately 45 minutes.  In the final set( 4^th game) Rafa didn’t win a single point resulting in Novak leading the match 3-1. No doubt, Rafa had a few amazing winners but it wasn’t enough to take Novak out. In the final game, Rafa managed to deuce by hitting a backhand winner angle shot. Novak had to defend 3 championship points to finish off his opponent in 1 hour 36 minutes. Nevertheless, Rafael Nadal has had a phenomenal season.

Stats (2013 Results)

                                                           Nadal                                    Djokovic

Win/Loss                                            75/6                                       71/9

Titles/Finalist                                     10/3                                       6/2

Ranking

2008                                                       1                                              3

2009                                                       2                                              3

2010                                                       1                                              3

2011                                                       2                                              1

2012                                                       4                                               1




 

Japan13

Meticulous, clean and efficient. That’s my impression of the "Land of the Rising Sun" during my short visit. According the Japanese Tourist Organisation (JNTO) tourism is a vital part of the economy and the number of foreign inbound tourists has been steadily increasing for the past 6 months (MAY-OCT13). Statistics for 2012 reported that it is ranked number 7^th. in Asia for international tourist arrivals.

There’s a vast array of historical sites which should not be missed. They each have interesting and unique backgrounds which date back several decades. However, be prepared for an unusually large-scale of students visiting these places. Without a doubt it is educational and an excellent activity to be included in the curricular. Vending machines are a common sight, which is very convenient if you need refreshments.

Japan is a paradise for eccentric shoppers. Most of the goods and foodstuffs are of high quality. However, be sure to have extra cash as they are quite pricey. It’s ranked 6^th. in the World Cost of Living Index 2013, just after Norway. One special and delectable pastry is the Tokyo Banana. It would be wise to do your homework as there are certain goods which are available only in Japan. There are unlimited choices and sometimes it’s difficult to make a decision. Sales personnel are very helpful, polite and systematic. They reflect an extraordinary level of efficiency which is quite amazing compared to most countries.

It’s a worthwhile trip and should be included in every avid travellers list.

 

 

BLUES

“If you ain’t got the money, you got the blues, coz you thinkin’ evil. Anytime you thinkin’ evil you thinkin’ ‘bout the blues”- Howlin Wolf (1966).  There are many interpretations as to what exactly is the blues. In the Oxford Dictionary it is defined as “a type of slow sad music with strong rhythms, developed by African American musicians in the southern US”.  Blues has influenced many other genres of music and has gained popularity worldwide.

The lyrics are often witty. In most of the lyrics, specific lines are repeated several times. “Thrill is gone, The thrill is gone away, The thrill is gone, baby, The thrill is gone away”- B B King. “How many more years have I got to let you dog me around?, How many more years have I got to let you dog me around?”- Howlin Wolf. The words are simple and often reflect a tone of depression, lost love or poverty. It is sung is as if the singer is talking in a rhythmic manner. The most common instrument used today by blues musicians is the guitar.

Some of my favourite blues performers include B B King, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Lee Hooker and Robert Johnson. BB King aka “The King of Blues” is one of the most iconic blues guitarist. His style of playing is quite distinctive and it seems like he makes his guitar “Lucille” sing. "When I sing, I play in my mind; the minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille."  King, who is an octogenarian remains quite active with boundless energy and enthusiasm and continues to perform til this day. One of my favourite tracks is Thrill is Gone.

Eric Clapton, an accomplished British musician was formerly a member of the Yardbirds and Cream.  He became well-known in the mid-60s and progressed to be ranked second in Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Robert Johnson is his most important influence and he has accompanied numerous iconic performers during his time. His songs, especially “My Father’s Eyes” and “Tears in Heaven” frequently explore highly personal themes. “Wonderful Tonight” I’m sure has moved the hearts of many women all over the world. One of his famous performances held frequently is the Crossroads Guitar Festival to raise funds for a center he established in 1998. The center helps people who suffer from substance abuse. Like many musicians, Clapton is sometimes outspoken and vehement in his opposition towards increasing immigration.     

It seems that Blues is here to stay and will remain pervasive in the world of music.

US85

Audio Space

AUDIO SPACE AS-8i 

When I first saw this massive block of beauty, I thought to myself, it must have been carefully and painstakingly crafted to achieve such aesthetic appeal, especially the front panel which has a gold finish. The other parts of the amp looks standard, with a chrome body and three huge black transformers surrounded by vacuum tubes. Nevertheless, it takes more than looks to impress audiophiles.

The AS-8i has four KT88 pentodes, one 12AX7 and four 12AU7 triodes. The front panel consist of the power switch, a triode-ultralinear switch selector, volume knob and a source selector. On the right side are four inputs. The back consist of the output binding posts with a choice of 4 or 8 Ohms. There is also a fuse near the AC power connector.

The output for this Hong Kong made integrated tube amp is 55 watts per channel in ultralinear mode, dropping to 28 watts in triode mode. In this review, the amp is connected to a Marantz CD 6311 KI-S player, Parasound P-PHP-850 preamp and Focus Audio FR6 Reference Series speakers. Cables: Cardas Crosslink S1. Interconnects: QED Qunex2 with gold plated RCA connectors.

In my first audition, I felt that the amp lacked bass and tried to introduce a sub-woofer to enhance it which made it worse. Finally, I decided on the pre-amp and that did the trick. The AS-8i handles most jazz and slow rock superbly. It is able to deliver the detailed notes of Miles with ease, you could practically hear his breath. Grover Washington Jr’s Take Five is brilliant as the amp manages to capture the high and low notes together without any distortion.The vocals by the Corrs is absolutely breath taking with amazing soundstage.

In conclusion, the amp is a good amp and is able to deliver beyond expectations. The drawback is, I reckon as with most valve amplifiers, rock and heavy metal is not its forte.

Korea12

NE China09

HK07

Australia04