TechTicker: Pro-Ject HiFi at a low price, Roon banishes music, Nomad Stand One Max, new Sony TWEs and more

PRO-JECT: NEW SPEAKER BOX 5 E & PRO-JECT AMP BOX S3 CI
With the Speaker Box 5, Pro-Ject has had a bookshelf speaker with great sound at a low price in its range for 15 years. The speakers, which are available in black, white, red and walnut, are also one of Pro-Ject founder Heinz Lichtenegger’s favorite products. But now it was time for a technical upgrade. – The new Speaker Box 5 E is the result.

The Speaker Box 5 E has a housing made of 19 mm thick MDF, and its drivers are fixed with Allen screws (instead of Spax). Perhaps a small thing, but it is very important for stability and is rarely found even in much more expensive boxes. The chassis of the 5 E are completely new. A silk dome tweeter is used, and a driver with a glass fiber reinforced membrane is used as the bass-midrange driver, which is said to reach surprisingly deep into the bass cellar. New drivers also mean that the crossover had to be completely redeveloped. To achieve this, high-quality components for this class are used.

Pro-Ject also has suitable electronics in its range for its little darlings and recommends, for example, the brand new Amp Box S3 CI for an unobtrusive installation. This is a micro stereo power amplifier for individual, professional custom installation solutions. The ultra-compact Amp Box S3 CI delivers up to 2×37 watts at 4 ohms with very low distortion and can be controlled by control solutions such as Crestron or Control 4.

The highlights of the Amp Box S3 CI:

RS232 interface
Professional speaker outputs
Signal detection: power on and auto standby
Level, bass and treble controls
Audiophile PCB concept and sophisticated topology
Low interference and high signal-to-noise ratio
Ultra-compact
Stereo input (RCA) + stereo loop output (RCA)
Trigger input and output
Metal housing protects against vibrations and interference
Available in silver or black

Of course, the Speaker Box 5 E also harmonizes with any other amplifier from the extensive Pro-Ject portfolio, or with amplifiers from other brands.

The Speaker Box 5 E is now available in black, white and red and costs 349 euros per pair. The walnut version is 50 euros more expensive. The Amp Box S3 CI is also now listed in the Audiotra.de store for 349 euros.

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ROON: USERS CAN NOW ALSO BAN MUSIC
How often have I wished for this in recent years? There should be a way to exclude certain songs, albums or even artists from music streaming without deleting them from your own library. Example: I’m not a big fan of Lana Del Rey. As popular as she is, I don’t like her voice or singing. And the music is somehow too shallow for me. But when streaming the latest playlists, like my Daily Mixes in Roon, Lana appears with great regularity. Often there’s a certain song that I find particularly annoying and skip straight away.

Apparently I’m not the only one who finds this annoying. Roon has now reacted to this and released a corresponding new feature with the latest update: the “ban button”, as I like to call it. Depending on the view – playlist with individual tracks, album view, artist view – a track/album/artist/composer/composition can now be excluded from playback via the context menu (three-dot menu).

Even better, the banned music won’t be recommended anywhere Roon suggests music. It won’t appear in New Releases for You, Recommended Artists, Recommended Albums for You, Staff Features, Similar Artists, or any of Roon’s recommendation carousels. Banned music is essentially quarantined in Roon. This also means that Roon will offer more music that actually suits your tastes.

When asked if the music is now banned from the Rooniverse once and for all, Roon’s description responds with a devilish “Yes, muahahaha!” – but of course he’s not serious. Banned music can still be accessed if searched for. Roon writes: “If you carefully press play on a track you’ve banned, you’ll hear it. If you copy one of Roon’s New Music Friday playlists to your library and a banned artist is included, it will play. (… ) Banning doesn’t stop you from being intentional, regaining control, or giving music you don’t like another chance.

Small cause, big effect. – Very cool. Thanks Roon!

Addendum shortly before the editorial deadline: The function is not yet fully developed. For me, banned titles and artists are still displayed in the daily mixes. Roon is aware of the problem and is already working on it.

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NOMAD STAND ONE MAX 3-IN-1 CHARGING HUB INTRODUCED
There are loads of charging stations for MagSafe or Qi-enabled Apple devices in Germany. And yet manufacturers are constantly bringing out new versions of these gadgets. Nomad has now presented a particularly elegant representative of this genre with the Stand One Max.

The high-quality 3-in-1 charging station for iPhone, Watch and AirPods, available in black or white, allows the use of both the iPhone and the Watch in so-called standby mode, which is activated when the devices are attached to the magnetic holder in landscape format while charging. Thanks to MagSafe and Qi2 technology, the manufacturer promises faster charging with up to 15 W. The Apple Watch is also supported with “Fast Charging”.

The Nomad Stand One Max can now be ordered for 160 euros in the manufacturer’s shop.

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SHURE SM4 HOME RECORDING MICROPHONE FOR VOCAL AND INSTRUMENT RECORDING
Shure has developed a new microphone specifically for home recording: The SM4 is a versatile large-diaphragm condenser microphone for vocal and instrument recordings. Thanks to many helpful features such as effective high-frequency shielding, musicians of all kinds can use it to create professional-quality recordings – regardless of their setup or level of experience.

The most important features of the Shure SM4 according to the manufacturer:

Natural audio reproduction: Thanks to the 1-inch brass dual capsule, the SM4 delivers clear, precise lows and smooth, detailed highs. The uniform cardioid pattern ensures excellent off-axis noise cancellation and the large “sweet spot” reduces the proximity effect.
Patent-pending Interference Shielding Technology: Shields annoying RF interference from common wireless devices such as smartphones, laptops and Wi-Fi routers. This exclusive system features a built-in pop filter and a woven Faraday cage that protects the microphone capsule and enables clear sound recording.
Effortlessly get mix-ready audio: The integrated pop filter ensures clear and plosive-free recordings without low-frequency noise, making post-production easier. Compression or EQ can be adjusted to suit your taste without overemphasizing low-frequency noise, which can affect recordings and mixes. In addition, the SM4 can be connected to any interface and guarantees professional recordings, regardless of the environment.
Exceptional flexibility for vocal and instrument recording: The SM4 is designed to capture a wide range of sound sources: from soft vocals to loud instruments such as drums, guitar amps and brass – thanks to exceptional SPL processing of 140 dB – the equivalent of a jet engine.
Legendary reliability and camera-ready design: With its robust metal construction and exceptionally high sound pressure level, the SM4 delivers the quality that Shure has been famous for for decades. The slim, unobtrusive design does not obscure the performer or the environment

The Shure SM4 is now available for 229 euros (RRP). A swivel microphone mount and a zipped bag are included in delivery. Also available: the SM4 home recording kit for 289 euros. In addition to the microphone, it contains a microphone shock mount, a magnetic pop filter and a carrying bag.

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SONY INTRODUCES TRUE WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES WF-C510
The new WF-C510 True Wireless In-Ears from Sony are said to be compact and have great endurance. Compared to their predecessors, the new models are even more compact – including the charging case. As Sony’s smallest closed headphones to date, the WF-C510 are said to offer a more stable hold even in smaller ears. According to Sony, the WF-C510 were developed based on extensive ear shape data that the manufacturer has collected since the introduction of the world’s first in-ear headphones in 1982. In addition, the sensitivity of different ear types was tested in order to achieve an ideal shape that is comfortable for many people. – This is the description. The rounded design and matte texture are said to make wearing them even more comfortable. In addition, the new headphones have been equipped with a flat and wider surface that promises better usability.

In terms of endurance, Sony promises up to 11 hours of uninterrupted sound for the WF-C510. A 5-minute quick charge should be enough for another hour of music fun. The headphones support Sony’s Multipoint Connection, which allows them to be paired with two Bluetooth devices at the same time. In Ambient Sound mode, you can also hear ambient noise while listening to music, so you can stay in touch with your surroundings. And if the “Focus on Voice” function is activated, unwanted ambient noise is suppressed during music playback and only human voices can be heard. An app with numerous setting options is of course also included.

With “Quick Access” you can use Spotify Tap to play music with just a few taps. With Fast Pair and Swift Pair you can pair the WF-C510 headphones with other devices. If necessary, just the left or right earphone can be taken out of the charging case and used alone. The WF-C510 are also water-resistant according to protection class IPX44.

The WF-C510 in-ear headphones will be available from September in blue, yellow, black and white for 59.99 euros.

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PRO-JECT DEBUT EVO 2: ANOTHER NEW TURNTABLE
ATR (audiotra.de), the German distribution partner of Pro-Ject, has presented a new version of the popular entry-level record player Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 in addition to the Pro-Ject innovations mentioned above. First-class materials and the highest manufacturing quality thanks to assembly in Europe should make these record players not only an excellent audiophile partner for the record collection, but also a real eye-catcher.