LP

LP 2 GO is the iPod of vinyl record players

LAS VEGAS--Having hauled my record collection from state to state, I know that vinyl is pretty much the antithesis of portability. Ion Audio's LP 2 GO is making me think differently about my stash of Dylan and Stones records.

Ion has been spinning around in the digital turntable market for a while. The LP 2 GO takes that same tech and shrinks it down to something you can toss into a backpack. You'll still have to pack those big record platters around, though.

LP 2 GO has a built-in speaker and headphone output. You can blast your tunes or convert them to MP3 format via USB with the bundled software. It plays both 33s and 45s.… Read more

V-Moda Crossfade LP2 headphones sport 'tanklike' toughness

V-Moda refines the sound design of last year's original Crossfade LP DJ headphones with a refresh that offers customized ear plates, dual 50mm drivers, and a tough backbone enforced under strict military testing.

For this version, V-Moda displays its newest Live Play sonic signature developed using a 31-band equalizer to ensure a clean space, free of artificial sound spikes. The guts are built around a driver diaphragm model with a hard inner ring that pumps mids and highs, while a softer outer ring on top extends the bass line for harder punches.

V-Moda takes precautions to protect the Crossfade LP2s so you don't have to. The headphones adhere to the military's MIL-STD-810G hardened guidelines and will likely outlive everything else in your DJ bag thanks to a Kevlar wrapped detachable cable, a headband that can bend completely flat, and the shell's resistance to humidity, salt spray, and UV exposure.

The company is also offering customers a chance to personalize their gear with a custom ear shield program that lets you select between 12 colors of interchangeable shields- if you ask nicely, V-Moda will even etch your artwork onto the sides, anything from your name, company, sports team logo, or personal artwork.

The V-Moda Crossfade LP2 headphones are available now for $199.

More pictures after the break.… Read more

Crave giveaway: V-Moda Crossfade LP Custom headphones

Ever wish your boring old headphones were a bit more "you"? With this week's prize, a set of V-Moda Crossfade LP Custom over-ear headphones, you get a cool pair of 'phones--and the chance to infuse them with some personal panache.

Those with their ears to the world of audio accessories know V-Moda as a reputable maker of stylish, low-profile earbuds. When the company moved into the full-size-headphone realm last year with its V-Moda Crossfade LP headphones, CNET reviewers gave the cans high marks for their durable construction and good looks. The custom versions add even more flair to the mix.

You'll choose from a wide range of plate color options, as well as stock engraving graphics (numbered jersey, crown, skull snake, or vinyl immortal angel logo) or your very own custom logo. Custom text rounds out the personalization. We think a Crave logo with the words "devoted Crave reader" would look fabulous, but hey, it's up to you! … Read more

The 404 881: Where we sweat it out (podcast)

CNET Audiophiliac Steve Guttenberg (not that one) is back on the show and telling us why iPod docks, Beats Audio, and Spotify are ruining the music industry. Steve also has a few ideas on how to make one last buck off said music industry, and advises us on the rules of listening to music in public.

He still also has a pair of V-Moda earplugs to give away to a few lucky 404 listeners, so be sure to add him on Twitter and mention both of us in a Tweet for a chance to win!

The 404 Digest for Episode 881

Spotify and the search for meaning in music. Steve says: " They should stop making CDs." Do people really care how their gadgets sound? Planet Money podcast: Manufacturing the song of the summer.

Episode 881 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

V-Moda Crossfade M-80 headphones survive military stress test

V-Moda works with popular DJs like Paul Oakenfold, Major Lazer, and Deadmau5 to tweak and tune its headphones, and the latest product of its celebrity endorsement is a midsize pair of on-ear cans called the Crossfade M-80s.

The 'phones are designed to be 53 percent smaller than their full-size sibling, the Crossfade LP, but the steel exoskeleton, replaceable memory foam ear cushions, and even the contoured travel case all remain to give the headphones an overbuilt quality capable of withstanding rough roads.

We're not joking about its ruggedness, either. The M-80s survived the military's strict MIL-STD-810G standard that tests the limits of product durability. Nearly all parts of the headphones are tailored for toughness, from a detachable Kevlar-reinforced cable to the headband that can stretch out completely flat.

We had a chance to preview an early model of the M-80s last month, and V-Moda founder/designer Val Kolton told us how the company relies on a 31-band EQ, lab testing, reference tuning, and a QA process with sound engineers to make sure every V-Moda headphone sounds exactly the same. This way, the company can guarantee a consistent frequency response and noise isolation for every pair sold.

The V-Moda Crossfade M-80s are available now in retail stores for $230 and are backed by a two-year warranty as well as the company's "Immortal Life Replacement Program" that guarantees a 50 percent discount off a replacement pair in the unlikely case the original breaks.

Lucky for us, Val left a pair of M-80s for review, so look for a full report on CNET coming soon. More pictures after the jump.… Read more

A 'cure' for the Loudness Wars: Give us two mixes!

Most of today's music on CD, LP, or download is compressed to sound loud all the time. The engineers, producers, and record labels are afraid not to make music sound as loud as possible.

Dynamic range compression isn't new, it's been used by recording, mixing, and mastering engineers for decades. A little bit of compression is fine, but the unnatural onslaught of dynamically compressed sound obliterates musical nuance, delicacy, and emotional power. Compression's loud-all-the-time nature sucks the life out of music. The overuse of compression has become known as the Loudness War.

Before we go any … Read more

A CD player built to last 30 years?

While most of today's consumer electronics goods are designed with limited life expectancies, high-end audio gear has always been built to last for decades. Sure, it's more expensive to buy the good stuff, but when you stop and consider how many years of enjoyment you'll get out of a pair of really great speakers (or electronics) the investment makes a lot of sense. So instead of buying and replacing gear over and over again, just buy something really nice, once.

My Samsung Blu-ray player conked out just before its second birthday, and the one before that was … Read more

EZ LP 2 CD

To convert LP records to MP3s or CDs, you'll need a stereo with a working turntable and phono preamp you can plug into your PC via the Mic or line-in jacks, or a USB turntable with a built-in phono amp. You'll also need software designed to convert analog audio to digital and clean it up by removing ticks, pops, and surface noise. We've tried many such tools, yet we've often gone back to Golden Records Vinyl to CD Converter from NCH Software, which also converts tapes and other analog audio sources.

Before installing and setting up … Read more

2011 Geneva auto show: Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador (video)

Lamborghini has rolled out the successor to the top-of-the-stable Murcielago and it's a fascinating bit of fast technology: The LP 700-4 Aventador. Brian Cooley takes you inside--way inside--the newest, baddest Lambo.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 Geneva auto show)