V-moda unveils Vamp Verza: a dockable, device-agnostic headphone amp and DAC for mobile audiophiles

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Vmoda unveils Vamp Verza a dockable, device-agnostic headphone amp and DAC for mobile audiophiles" data-src-height="472" data-src-width="629" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/vamp-on-amp-1363186068.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last we heard from V-moda, the company was appealing to audiophile sensibilities with its $300 Crossfade M-100 portable headphones. Continuing in that respect, today it's officially unveiling the Vamp Verza as a followup to last summer's $650 iPhone 4/4S-purposed Vamp <strike>spy tool</strike> headphone amp, DAC & case combo. The aluminum-clad Verza is a device-agnostic solution that uses a sliding dock system with special $100 Metallo cases to give any supported devices a similar all-in-one feel to the original.</div><div style="text-align: left;">At launch, a GS III case is available, with an iPhone 5 model a few weeks out -- the company is aiming to get GS IV and Note II cases out next. The unit's 150mW x 2 amplifier will bypass your iDevice's audio output via a USB port on its bottom, while an adjacent microUSB port can take advantage of the external sound card profile found in Android Jelly Bean. V-moda notes the microUSB port acts like a traditional USB audio device, so it'll work with mostly any device. As you might guess, both ports have their own specific DACs routing audio at different power levels to its op-amp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <img alt="Gallery Image" height="640" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/verzawhitepkgaccessoriessquareweb.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="640" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/verzawhitelayingsquareweb.jpg" width="640" /><img alt="Gallery Image" height="640" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/verzashadowlayingipodsquareweb.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="Gallery Image" height="640" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/verzawhitelayingm-100lenovosquareweb.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A 2,200mAh battery keeps the unit juiced for about seven hours of playback, and it can be used as a USB charger as well. On its side is a row of four orange LEDs to keep you informed about its battery and charger status at the push of a button. iOS users get extra flexibility too, being able to make use of pass-through USB syncing and a bass boost option. Level control is handled by a traditional volume dial (naturally) on its top, which also serves as its power switch, while two LED-backlit toggles let you choose between the two DACs and three operating modes on iOS (sync, charge / playback and playback).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Its 3.5mm headphone jack supports optical audio, and a 3D expander button gives it extra flexibility to work with speakers and automotive audio systems. Lastly, a depressed hi/low gain toggle switches the unit's output for high or low-impediance headphones, meaning it'll be right at home with the smallest cans, to power-hungry reference types like the Sennheiser HD700. If you're interested, it'll be available soon in a variety of colors, to boot. All that's just grazing the surface, so join us below for a complete (and lengthy) video background and overview with V-moda's own Val Kolton.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-71e34e0" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/71e34e0/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=90563040&disablebranding=0&view_secret=90563040" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div></div>

V-moda unveils Vamp Verza: a dockable, device-agnostic headphone amp and DAC for mobile audiophiles

  Last we heard from V-moda, the company was appealing to audiophile sensibilities with its $300 Crossfade M-100 portable headphones. Conti...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Meridian Explorer combines headphone amp

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Meridian Explorer combines headphone amp and portable DAC with $299 price tag" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/meridian-explorer.jpg" /></div>Feel that? If you're an audio purist, the sensation of your wallet tingling is probably a familiar experience. This time, you have Meridian to thank, which is aiming to help you get the most from your nice headphones. The company just debuted the Explorer: a portable, USB-powered DAC and headphone amplifier that's priced at $299. Like all external DACs, the unit promises better sound quality than typical onboard solutions can deliver, and as a high-end touch, the Explorer offers asynchronous USB audio for greater timing precision and reduced jitter. Alongside the 3.5mm amplified headphone output, you'll also find another 3.5mm jack that supports both analog and mini Toslink connections. Each Explorer is built in the UK and measures approximately 4.0 x 1.25 x 0.7 inches. Perhaps most importantly, though, its design doesn't reek of something that was cobbled together in the garage.<br /> </div></div>

Meridian Explorer combines headphone amp

Feel that? If you're an audio purist, the sensation of your wallet tingling is probably a familiar...

مزيد من المعلومات »