AKG K812 headphones, JBL LSR 3 Series monitors, Nord Lead A1 and Propellerhead Reason 8 all featured in Future Music magazine’s ultimate guide to music gear in 2014.
Regarding the AKG K812 headphones, “Presented on a lovely laminated wood stand, the 812s are very comfortable and the build quality is superb. Everything here is of a superior quality, including the price, but most notably the sound quality. Our overall impression was that they deliver accurate information and, as for the frequency response, you get a very balanced sound across their 5Hz-54Hz range”.
Regarding the JBL LSR 3 Series, “With their unique tuned waveguides, the 3 series monitors from JBL give the same off-axis detailed accuracy you’d expect from a coaxial design. We looked at the 8-inch and 5-inch models , with the latter really impressing when paired up with the LSR310S subwoofer”.
Regarding the Nord Lead A1, “First impressions were about its diminutive size compared to the rest of the Nord stable; the same goes for the price point. The bright red case, sturdy rubberised dials, hard plastic buttons and stone-effect mod wheel/wooden pitch bend are all standard Nord issue. But the A1 was designed to be more compact, portable and easier to program than the Lead 4, and it is. If you want the Nord sound at a low price point then look no further”.
Regarding Propellerhead Reason 8, “A refined interface and streamlined workflow make it more fun to use than ever, and the new Softube-powered amps and ever-growing range of Rack Extensions make this the most powerful version of Reason yet”.
The full feature can be found in the January 2015 issue of Future Music magazine on sale now.
