tech65 » x-minimax http://www.tech65.org voice of technology Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:23:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 CreativeCommons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) 2006-2012 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ daniel@tech65.org (Tech65) daniel@tech65.org (Tech65) Technology, Singapore, Gadgets, Computers, Software, Hardware 1440 http://www.tech65.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/t65mainwhite-144.pngtech65http://www.tech65.org 144 144 http://feeds.feedburner.com/65bits Tech65 Pte. Ltd. is Singapore's Technology Source. With a deep bench and the broadest expertise online, we cover the tech news that is most relevant to you. With a focus on the Singaporean audience, but an eye to the wider world, our reporting provides a distinctly local flavour that appeals beyond our shores.Tech65.org is our flagship website, serving as the central repository of all our video, audio and photo content. We are also especially proud of our flagship audio podcast, 65bits, a bi-weekly podcast aimed at giving you the absolute essential tech news. Technology, Singapore, Gadgets, Computers, Software, Hardware Tech65 Tech65 daniel@tech65.org no no Gear65 #43 – XM-I X-Mini Max 2http://www.tech65.org/2009/11/13/gear65-43-xm-i-x-mini-max-2/ http://www.tech65.org/2009/11/13/gear65-43-xm-i-x-mini-max-2/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:29:23 +0000 Daniel http://www.tech65.org/?p=732

The highly anticipated X-Mini Max 2 is finally here! Will XM-I be able to maintain the high expectations we have on these small capsule speakers thanks to their original X-Mini 2? You’ll just have to find out by watching this week’s Gear65!

Link: X-Mini Official Website

]]> http://www.tech65.org/2009/11/13/gear65-43-xm-i-x-mini-max-2/feed/ 1 XM-I X-Mini Max II Unboxhttp://www.tech65.org/2009/10/21/xm-i-x-mini-max-ii-unbox/ http://www.tech65.org/2009/10/21/xm-i-x-mini-max-ii-unbox/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:00:15 +0000 Daniel http://www.tech65.org/?p=713

We finally got our hands on the X-Mini Max II, the highly anticipated stereo capsule speakers by Singaporean company XM-I. These stereo speakers are based on the X-Mini II that we reviewed a while back, and they certainly sound like X-Mini IIs, except being stereo speakers they bring a better dimension to the music you play on them.

Of course, like the X-Mini II, we’ve done an unboxing video the moment we got the unit. Stay tuned for Gear65′s full X-Mini Max II review!

UPDATE 27th October 2009: The guys at XM-I have gotten back to me and informed me that the package I got is not the final version although the speaker is. They are aware that the case in the packaging you see in the video where I have trouble fitting the speakers into was the wrong case, and assured me that they are rectifying the issue as far as the final retail package is concerned.

In any case (no pun intended), I think it’s a small issue, since you’re buying it for the speakers, which have served us well during the Windows 7 Social Party.

]]> http://www.tech65.org/2009/10/21/xm-i-x-mini-max-ii-unbox/feed/ 1 Playing with the X-Minimax Portable Speakers..http://www.tech65.org/2009/03/19/playing-with-the-x-minimax-portable-speakers/ http://www.tech65.org/2009/03/19/playing-with-the-x-minimax-portable-speakers/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:39:41 +0000 NTT http://www.tech65.org/?p=452 While we were doing the Gear65 review for the X-Minimax, I thought I would try to do an audio review of the X-Minimax and compare the sound with another pair of speakers.. So I did a face-off between the X-Mini-max and a pair of Altec Lansing I use as my standard speakers.

Here is the setup.

On my desk, I have setup the 2.1 Altec Lansing 121i. The two speakers right in front, seperated by ~30cms, and the sub-woofer on the side. The EQ was set to the values I generally use for listening, with both Bass and Trebel set to the middle. I placed the X-Minimax on top the Altec Lansing speakers during the test.

I was using my MacBook as the audio source with my output volume set to 50% in the OS X System Prefences.

I placed my Zoom H4, in the center between the two speakers, and ~30 in front. It was pointed directly at the speakers and had it’s sensitivity set to Medium, using the builtin condenser microphones for capturing the sound.

I recorded the following things with this setup.

1. I played back the start of episode 108 of 65Bits through the two speakers and recorded them using the H4.

2. I played back start of the track El Campo by Derek K. Miller through the two speakers and recorded them using the H4.

3. I played back another section of the track El Campo by Derek K. Miller through the X-Minimax, with the volume in OSX set to 90% and recorded it using the H4. This was to test the distortion at high volume on the X-Minimax.

Recordings.

All were compressed as MP3 at 320kbps using LAME.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the X-Minimax does much better than expected compared to the Altec Lansing 121is. The low frequencies are obviously missing, but that’s comparing a Sub Woofer with the X-Minimaxs. But you can see the high end and the clarity captured very well by the X-Minimax. The stereophonic image helps a lot in that. Also you can see that even with the output is very high, the X-minimax doesn’t distort even a little bit.

Overall, I wouldn’t say that the X-Minimax is a replacement for your desktop speakers, or anything close to a great pair of headphones. But if you are someone who travels a lot, and would like to share your audio with people around you (with their consent ofcourse), or just listen without headphone, this is a great piece of gear. The power and quality it offers at this size and portability is really amazing.

Having said all this I will encourage everyone to not blast out your favourite tunes on these guys, just because they don’t distort, such that everyone in MRT or Bus can hear you!!! It’s your music, and we’d prefer if you keep it to yourself.

Also, do check out Episode 12 of Gear65 where we do a video review of the X-Minimax.

]]> http://www.tech65.org/2009/03/19/playing-with-the-x-minimax-portable-speakers/feed/ 0 0:01:04 While we were doing the Gear65 review for the X-Minimax, I thought I would try to do an audio review of the X-Minimax and compare the sound with another pair of speakers.. So I did a face-off between the X-Mini-max and a pair of Altec Lansing I use [...] While we were doing the Gear65 review for the X-Minimax, I thought I would try to do an audio review of the X-Minimax and compare the sound with another pair of speakers.. So I did a face-off between the X-Mini-max and a pair of Altec Lansing I use as my standard speakers. Here is the setup. On my desk, I have setup the 2.1 Altec Lansing 121i. The two speakers right in front, seperated by ~30cms, and the sub-woofer on the side. The EQ was set to the values I generally use for listening, with both Bass and Trebel set to the middle. I placed the X-Minimax on top the Altec Lansing speakers during the test.I was using my MacBook as the audio source with my output volume set to 50% in the OS X System Prefences. I placed my Zoom H4, in the center between the two speakers, and ~30 in front. It was pointed directly at the speakers and had it’s sensitivity set to Medium, using the builtin condenser microphones for capturing the sound. I recorded the following things with this setup. 1. I played back the start of episode 108 of 65Bits through the two speakers and recorded them using the H4. 2. I played back start of the track El Campo by Derek K. Miller through the two speakers and recorded them using the H4. 3. I played back another section of the track El Campo by Derek K. Miller through the X-Minimax, with the volume in OSX set to 90% and recorded it using the H4. This was to test the distortion at high volume on the X-Minimax. Recordings. All were compressed as MP3 at 320kbps using LAME.Conclusion. In conclusion, the X-Minimax does much better than expected compared to the Altec Lansing 121is. The low frequencies are obviously missing, but that’s comparing a Sub Woofer with the X-Minimaxs. But you can see the high end and the clarity captured very well by the X-Minimax. The stereophonic image helps a lot in that. Also you can see that even with the output is very high, the X-minimax doesn’t distort even a little bit. Overall, I wouldn’t say that the X-Minimax is a replacement for your desktop speakers, or anything close to a great pair of headphones. But if you are someone who travels a lot, and would like to share your audio with people around you (with their consent ofcourse), or just listen without headphone, this is a great piece of gear. The power and quality it offers at this size and portability is really amazing. Having said all this I will encourage everyone to not blast out your favourite tunes on these guys, just because they don’t distort, such that everyone in MRT or Bus can hear you!!! It’s your music, and we’d prefer if you keep it to yourself. Also, do check out Episode 12 of Gear65 where we do a video review of the X-Minimax. Blog Tech65 no no Gear65 #12 – X-Mini Max speakershttp://www.tech65.org/2009/03/12/gear65-12-x-mini-max-speakers/ http://www.tech65.org/2009/03/12/gear65-12-x-mini-max-speakers/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:26:09 +0000 Daniel http://www.tech65.org/2009/03/12/gear65-12-x-mini-max-speakers/

Whenever we talk about small portable speakers, NTT (our audio engineer) would be the first to say they’re surely going to sound bad because of their size. Strangely, when XMI showed him the X-Mini Max, he actually liked it! I mean, it’s still nothing compared to those audiophile speakers out there, but for its size, it’s actually really loud and clear! What do I like about them? The fact that they’re small, that NTT likes them ( = quality), and most importantly, it’s made and designed in Singapore!!

Links: XMI’s website

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