For Europeans like this writer, Spring Break USA has a near mythical status. There are images of an endless sea of six packs, boobs, shimmering-sea day parties and sex. We know very little, likely because every journo or photographer that ever headed out there was eaten alive by packs of ferociously horny students. They have red cups.
Alpha Dog headphones are a little bit special and the ultimate in headphone customisation.
The earcups are created via a 3D printer in such a way that each headphone can be hand modified and tuned to a specific frequency range, making for a total audiophile listening experience.
Anyone who has spent too much time lurking around studios will be familiar with the distinctive yellow and black design of KRK speakers and will most likely have heard a set of Rokit monitors, along with the enthusiastic endorsement of their owners.
Such is the popularity of the Rokit range of speakers that they need no introduction to most studio heads, and these active studio monitors have gained their popularity through a mix of audio fidelity and good old-fashioned value for money.
Speaker technology has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years, seeing quality improve and prices drop. Along with this change in technology has come a change in the brands considered to be top dogs in their field, with names such as Funktion One and Void Acoustics coming from humble beginnings to now dominate the club market. When it comes to the world of studio monitors a similar story has played out, with brands such as Barefoot and ADAM emerging as the leaders in their field.
Of late it seems that not a month goes by without a big announcement coming from Native Instruments’ Berlin headquarters that promises to change the way we do our thing behind the decks and in the studio. This month is no exception, with some rather large news indeed.
This big news is the release of Maschine Studio, which promises to not only change the way a lot of people make music, but also completes the Maschine product range which has now become the “Maschine Family”.
There are few — if any — headphones that have the same reputation and long-lasting appeal among professional DJs that Sennheiser’s HD-25s have earned for themselves. The best comparison that can be made is with that other clubland favourite, the Technics SL1200 turntable. Both are seen every night in countless clubs across the planet, and while technology has moved on — and other products have come and gone — the classic design and high quality of these products has meant that they have continued to be popular without ever falling out of fashion.
