Audio Video News

Onkyo Introduces Free HF Player App with 16,000-Band EQ In a move that Onkyo hopes will revolutionize how iOS users enjoy music on headphones and other compatible hi-fi systems, the company has introduced the HF Player app that enables playback of high-resolution audio files while giving listeners unprecedented control over how their music sounds.

The free audio player app features an interface that includes album artwork, playback controls, and an organizational structure that will be familiar to iOS users. Once the app has been pointed to the device's music library via a synch with an iTunes-equipped computer (an auto synch function is included), the user can start exploring the app’s phase-linear FIR equalizer, which offers 16,384 discrete EQ bands. The user shapes the desired frequency curve by moving a finger across the touchscreen. Presets can be created for a particular music genre, artist, album, or headphones.

Onkyo also enlisted a team of respected musicians to design EQ presets optimized specifically for Onkyo in-ear and on-ear headphones. The team comprises Chris Traynor (Helmet, Bush), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Jim Ward (Sparta, At the Drive-in), Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Tim Lopez (Plain White T's) and Steven McMorran (Satellite), along with groups Midi Matilda, Buckcherry, and Strange Talk. Presets created by these artists are included in the app.

Additional features include automatic upsampling from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz and selectable track crossfading.

Listeners seeking the ultimate in high-resolution audio performance can add an in-app HF Player Pack ($9.99) that enables the playback of FLAC, DSD, WAV, and AIFF files at resolutions up to 192 kHz with 24-bit sampling (files are loaded via a drag-and-drop operation on an iTunes-equipped PC prior to synchronization). The app extension also enables selectable upsampling from 44.1 to 192 kHz and provides an HD phase-linear equalizer with 20,000 bands of adjustment.