Tech News
-
Audeze Unveils LCD-S20: First SLAM-Enabled Planar Magnetic Headphone
Published: Friday, April 11, 2025 | By: GuestAudeze Announces LCD-S20 Closed-Back — First Planar Magnetic Headphone Featuring Its SLAM Technology for Unmatched Bass and Spatial Imaging
April 10th 2025, Santa Ana, CA — Audeze, the leading premium headphone manufacturer known for its award-winning technology is excited to announce the new LCD-S20 closed-back headphone, the first planar headphone featuring their patent-pending SLAM technology for powerful bass response and improved spatial imaging, along with a new magnetic earpad attachment system. At $499, LCD-S20 becomes Audeze’s most affordable LCD headphone, creating new opportunities for budding producers, musicians, and audiophiles in need of acoustic isolation to access the brand’s studio-trusted sound quality.
SLAM, short for symmetric linear acoustic modulator, is a technology Audeze introduced on their flagship CRBN2 electrostatic headphone in 2024, which uses precisely tuned acoustic channels to selectively enhance low frequencies and enable more linear, accurate diaphragm movement. Now featured on a planar magnetic headphone for the first time, SLAM allows the LCD-S20 to deliver a richer, more lifelike low end, and more accurate fine detail for precise soundstage presentation compared to similar closed-back headphones.
“With the LCD-S20, we’re bringing Audeze’s renowned studio-quality sound to a broader audience without compromising on innovation or performance. The integration of our SLAM technology is a leap forward in both audio fidelity and user experience, said Audeze CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram. “LCD-S20 is not just an entry point into the Audeze family; it's a testament to our commitment to making world-class audio accessible to everyone, from budding musicians to seasoned audiophiles,” he added.
LCD-S20 is designed for long-term user comfort and convenience, with supple, supportive user-replaceable synthetic leather earpads and head strap. LCD-S20 is the first Audeze headphone to use a new magnetic earpad attachment system that allows users to quickly and easily swap or replace the earpads. Additionally, LCD-S20 features a detachable single-sided cable that users can connect to either the left or right earcup to optimize the cable routing for their individual uses.
The LCD-S20 is built on a proven Audeze chassis that debuted with the incredibly popular Maxwell headset in 2022, featuring a spring-steel headband, forged aluminum yolks, and high-strength glass-infused nylon parts. The earcups are wrapped in a sophisticated woven cloth for a high-end finish. The 90mm planar magnetic drivers are built in Audeze’s Southern California factory and feature patented innovations including Fluxor™ magnets, Fazor™ waveguides, and Uniforce™ voice coils which help ensure that LCD-S20 delivers the accurate, ultra-low distortion sound quality that Audeze is known for.
LCD-S20 retails for $499 and is available on the Audeze website, for more information on Audeze, please visit the website at www.audeze.com.About Audeze
Audeze LLC is the California-based high-end audio manufacturer delivering the most accurate sound reproduction available today. Audeze products, engineered with the latest innovations in materials science and technology, are built with precision craftsmanship. Audeze's commitment to research, development, and uncompromised audio is reflected in every facet of their leading-edge products. This has earned Audeze the distinction of being the world's best reviewed headphone brand.
-
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 880M in the ACEMAGIC F3A Mini PC Review @ Guru 3D
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2025 | By: GuestGuru3D has published a detailed review of the ACEMAGIC F3A Mini PC, showcasing its impressive balance of compact size and high-end performance. At the heart of this system is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor paired with Radeon 890M integrated graphics, designed for demanding workloads and multimedia use. The 12-core, 24-thread CPU—built on a hybrid Zen 5/Zen 5c architecture—offers a dynamic clock range from 2.0 GHz to 5.1 GHz, ensuring both power and efficiency. The Radeon 890M GPU, based on RDNA 3.5, features 16 compute units running at 2.9 GHz and supports modern enhancements like FSR 3 and Fluid Motion Frames 2, making it capable of handling high-resolution visuals and light gaming.
The ACEMAGIC F3A packs AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is offering impressive computing power for its size. Gaming aficionados will enjoy playing modern AAA games smoothly at medium or perhaps even high settings with AMD's FSR enabled. For those who delve into AI workloads, the F3A also handles heavy tasks like running Llama 3.3 and DeepSeek models. Although these tasks take longer due to the intensive processing required, it's impressive that such a small device can handle advanced AI tasks at all.
The F3A is equipped with 32 GB of DDR5 memory (5600 MT/s, dual-channel) and a 1 TB SSD, with support for expansion via two M.2 2280 PCIe slots and memory scalability up to 64 GB. Its connectivity options are extensive, including HDMI 2.1, dual USB4 Type-C ports, DisplayPort 2.0, four USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, dual RJ45 Ethernet ports, and audio jacks. Guru3D praised the system for its quiet operation, energy efficiency, and solid thermal design—all packed into a sleek, space-saving chassis—making it a compelling option for professionals and enthusiasts looking for performance in a minimalist form factor.
-
CHERRY XTRFY K5V2 Compact Black Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review @ Madshrimps
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2025 | By: GuestMadshrimps recently reviewed the CHERRY XTRFY K5V2 Compact Black Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, a 65% layout keyboard that blends portability with high customization. Designed for gamers and enthusiasts, it features hot-swappable switches for effortless switch replacement, supporting a wide range of mechanical switch types. The keyboard is equipped with per-key RGB backlighting, customizable through onboard controls, and comes with high-quality double-shot keycaps that enhance durability and aesthetics. The top plate is made of aluminum, offering a solid, premium feel while keeping the keyboard lightweight and compact.
"The new K5 keyboard with CHERRY MX4A Red switches is a pleasure to type on, the quality is great, and the durability of the switches is excellent. We are dealing with a compact 65% size, but with plenty of function keys, allowing plenty of configuration options without the need of a software utility, including macros! "
In performance tests, the K5V2 delivered responsive keystrokes and reliable input accuracy, making it suitable for both competitive gaming and everyday typing. The review praised its low latency, consistent actuation, and overall ergonomic layout, which ensures comfort over long sessions. Additional features like a detachable USB-C cable, adjustable height, and support for macOS and Windows further enhance its versatility. Overall, the CHERRY XTRFY K5V2 stands out as a well-built, feature-rich compact keyboard that strikes a strong balance between performance, design, and user flexibility.
-
Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-8400 2x24GB DDR5 RAM Review @ APH Networks
Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | By: GuestAPH Networks recently published a review of the Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-8400 2x24GB memory kit, showcasing its impressive speed and sleek design. Optimized for Intel’s 800 Series motherboards, the kit runs at 8400 MT/s with CL40 timings and features a silver aluminum heat spreader paired with dynamic RGB lighting, customizable via Corsair’s iCUE software.
"The Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-8400 2x24GB are attractive
looking CUDIMMs that operate at stratospheric clock speeds designed to
maximize performance with the latest Intel CPUs"In performance tests, the Vengeance RGB DDR5-8400 delivered strong results in memory bandwidth and multi-core workloads, while showing modest gains in single-threaded tasks and gaming. The modules remained stable during testing, reflecting solid build quality and thermal performance.
-
PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound @ TechPowerUp
Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | By: GuestTechPowerUp recently published a review of the PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound, a custom RDNA 4 graphics card designed for high-performance 1440p gaming. Equipped with 56 compute units, 3,584 stream processors, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit interface, the card delivers excellent rasterization performance and improved power efficiency.
"The PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound features a slim dual-slot cooling solution that delivers outstanding temperatures while staying whisper-quiet under full load. Energy efficiency is incredible, too, and you get a dual BIOS as well..."
PowerColor’s triple-fan cooler, dual BIOS, and standard dual 8-pin power connectors ensure effective thermal management and quiet operation. The RX 9070 Hellhound outperforms NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 in rasterized games, though it still trails in ray tracing. Support for FSR 4 enhances visuals and frame rates in compatible titles.
Priced at $630, it comes close to the RX 9070 XT, but its cooling performance, efficiency, and value make it a compelling option for gamers targeting 1440p resolutions.
-
Unleash Hell: DOOM: The Dark Ages Now Open for Pre-order!
Published: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | By: GuestThe iconic FPS franchise, DOOM, an essential part of gaming history since its debut in 1993, is returning with its newest entry: DOOM: The Dark Ages. Developed by id Software in collaboration with Bethesda Softworks, this upcoming title explores the early narrative of the legendary DOOM Slayer, placing players in a medieval setting where they must confront a renewed invasion from Hell. Notably, this marks the series' first entirely new installment since the 2016 reboot.
Scheduled for release on May 15, 2025, DOOM: The Dark Ages maintains the franchise's trademark intensity but shifts the familiar sci-fi themes to a dark, gothic-inspired medieval environment. Players will navigate shadowy fortresses, expansive battlefields, dense forests, and supernatural realms, combating monstrous adversaries with an arsenal that includes new weaponry like the Shield Saw. The combat mechanics continue to emphasize brutal, fast-paced encounters, blending melee and ranged combat effectively.
According to the official website, a notable addition to this installment is the inclusion of combat vehicles. Players can control powerful units like the Atlan mech and the Mecha Dragon, significantly influencing battle strategies and providing a fresh tactical dimension alongside traditional DOOM-style gameplay.
Pre-orders for DOOM: The Dark Ages are now available, offering both a Standard Edition and a Premium Edition with various additional features.
Further details and pre-order information can be found on the official website: https://doom.bethesda.net/en-US/the-dark-ages.
-
ASUS ROG Falchion Ace HFX Keyboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Published: Monday, April 7, 2025 | By: GuestThinkComputers.org recently published a review of the ASUS ROG Falchion Ace HFX keyboard, highlighting its unique features and customizable design. This compact 75% keyboard offers a blend of functionality and aesthetics, catering to gamers and enthusiasts alike.
The review notes that the Falchion Ace HFX boasts a comfortable typing experience with its high-quality switches and customizable actuation points. The keyboard’s unique split design and detachable cable offer increased flexibility and personalization.
"If you have been following competitive keyboards over the past year you know that Hall Effect keyboards have become extremely popular allowing for faster and more accurate movement in games. ASUS is jumping into this arena with their ROG Falchion Ace HFX, which is a 65% gaming keyboard that makes use of their own ROG HFX magnetic switches, a gasket-mount design with five layers of sound dampening, 8000 Hz polling rate, and some pretty nifty features we haven't seen on other keyboards. Of course you are going to have support for things like rapid trigger and snap tap (ASUS calls it speed tap). Let's take a look a see if this is the keyboard series gamers need to consider."
Additional features include vibrant RGB lighting, customizable keycaps, and a dedicated macro key. The keyboard’s software allows for extensive customization of lighting effects, key assignments, and macro programming.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Falchion Ace HFX is a well-designed and feature-rich keyboard that offers a unique blend of performance, customization, and aesthetics.
-
Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 Motherboard @ Funky Kit
Published: Monday, April 7, 2025 | By: GuestFunkyKit recently put the Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite WiFi 7 motherboard through its paces, and the verdict is largely positive. This board offers a compelling blend of features and performance for Ryzen 7000 series processors, particularly appealing to gamers and enthusiasts.
" ... If you're planning to build a gaming PC using AMD's new Ryzen 9000-series X3D processors, then take a look at the Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WiFi7 motherboard. It offers good performance and a decent amount of features, including EZ-Latch Plus and EZ-Latch click for easy DIY assembly. What's more, with Gigabyte's X3D Turbo Mode, you can use non-X3D CPUs to achieve similar gaming performance levels as their X3D counterparts. Just enable it in the BIOS. "
The review highlights the board's robust power delivery, which ensures stable operation even under heavy loads. The inclusion of WiFi 7 is a significant advantage, offering blazing-fast wireless connectivity. FunkyKit also praises the board's solid VRMs and effective cooling solution.
While the BIOS could be a bit more user-friendly, the overall experience is positive. The board offers a good selection of connectivity options and a clean aesthetic. Ultimately, the Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite WiFi 7 is a well-rounded motherboard that delivers excellent value for its price point. Overall, Funky Kit's review confirms this is a solid choice.
-
Crucial P310 2TB NVMe M.2 2230 SSD @ Funky Kit
Published: Sunday, April 6, 2025 | By: GuestFunky Kit has just published an in-depth review of the Crucial P310 2TB NVMe M.2 2230 SSD, highlighting its performance and suitability for compact devices. Designed with a focus on power efficiency, the P310 leverages Micron's advanced 3D NAND technology and a Phison controller to deliver sequential read speeds up to 7,100 MB/s and write speeds up to 6,000 MB/s. This makes it a compelling choice for ultrabooks and handheld gaming consoles requiring high-speed storage in a compact form factor.
" ... The Crucial P310 is one of the best tiny SSDs we've seen for mobile computers and handheld gaming consoles. It delivers high performance for all those who need it the most, and is compatible with most devices on the market. "
The review notes that the P310's M.2 2230 form factor enhances its compatibility with space-constrained devices, offering a significant performance boost over previous-generation SSDs. However, it also mentions the use of QLC NAND flash, which results in a relatively modest endurance rating of 440 TBW. Despite this, Funky Kit concludes that the Crucial P310 2TB SSD provides a balance of high performance and reasonable pricing, making it a viable option for users seeking to upgrade their portable devices.
-
ADATA SC740 External Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org
Published: Saturday, April 5, 2025 | By: GuestThinkComputers recently published a comprehensive review of the ADATA SC740 External Solid State Drive (SSD), highlighting its innovative design and performance capabilities. This portable SSD distinguishes itself with an integrated USB-C cable, ensuring users are never without a connection—a thoughtful feature that enhances convenience for those frequently on the move. The SC740 boasts impressive sequential read and write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s, respectively, facilitating rapid data transfers suitable for tasks ranging from file migration between systems to serving as a reliable game or editing drive.
"External solid state drives are nothing new, they provide fast portable storage whether you are transferring files between systems, need a portable game or editing drive, or even just need to add some quick storage to something like a laptop. ADATA's latest external solid state drive is the SC740. What sets this drive apart from many others is that it comes with a built-in USB cable so you never forget it! On top of that the drive features read and write speeds of 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s respectively as well as a pretty compact design. Let's take a look and see what this drive is all about."
Overall, ThinkComputers' review underscores the ADATA SC740 as a compelling option for users seeking a portable SSD that combines speed, durability, and user-friendly features. Its integrated cable design and high-performance metrics position it favorably among competitors in the external SSD market.
