Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, Klipsch ® , the official headphone and portable audio partner of the McLaren ® Formula 1 team, is pleased to add The Fives McLaren® Edition powered speakers to its collection of co-branded products. The speakers combine McLaren Racing’s renowned design ethos and use of advanced materials with Klipsch’s legendary high-fidelity audio and technical innovation.
Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition powered speakers are extremely versatile, easy to set-up and use, and connect to virtually everything — including a TV via HDMI-ARC. They also include an integrated phono pre-amp, Bluetooth® wireless technology, digital optical, analog RCA, USB inputs and a subwoofer output. Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition powered speakers feature an advanced, high efficiency DSP amplifier for high-resolution audio (192kHz/24-bit decoding) from dedicated right and left speakers, as well as the supreme strength and ultra-low mass of carbon fiber for enhanced performance. Klipsch engineers designed the high-excursion carbon fiber woofer cone from scratch to ensure maximum output with minimal cone break up for detailed, deep, dynamic bass and decreased distortion. The result is a big, bold sound stage, and a better listening experience than the common sound bar.
Other enhancements include:
Hand painted super matte black paint finish with accents of McLaren’s signature papaya color
McLaren’s iconic speedmark logo
Signature papaya tweeters, control panel, nyylon braided speaker and power cables
Stability pad inspired by Formula 1’s intermediate racing tire tread
The Fives are compatible with Klipsch Connect, giving users access to customize EQ and subwoofer volume settings, dynamic bass, night listening mode, over-the-air firmware upgrades, a digital quick-start guide, and much more.
Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition powered speakers are available for 1,499€ per pair. For more information, visit the Klipsch website.
Last week saw the launch of the new Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds with ANC, the new buds offer an immersive frictionless experience which is powered by Bragi embedded AI and heard movements. With wireless technology becoming more and more popular in in ear accessories, brands are focusing and working on how they can make their buds more than just speakers. With proper research and development into other technologies, finding ways to integrate them into the in ear wireless headphones, helps the end user enjoy them more.
Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC are one off, if not the most innovative product that will be released to the market soon. It features dual-mic noise cancellation utilising both a microphone aimed at the outside and one in the front of the speaker for maximum noise cancellation. With the built-in Bragi operating system, that has embedded artificial intelligence, it allows for hands-free, advanced gesture controlled experiences. With Bragi Moves, accepting calls is as easy as nodding your head! This innovative operating system will enable new functionality over the life of the product. Another great new feature is integrated Dirac HD Sound technology which optimises sound performance digitally for clearer, richer and more balanced sound. With the wireless charging, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC can use any Qi-compatible charging pad or alternatively use a USB-C cable which is included. In terms of battery, the product offers up to 7-hours of battery life (5 hours with ANC), 21 hours in case (15 hours with ANC).
Like the previous Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earphones, and being their official headphone and portable audio partner they have also released a McLaren Forumla One edition off the ANC variant. They feature accents of the McLaren's signature papaya colour, real carbon fiber, and a co-molded outer shell that mimics the tread pattern of Formula 1's intermediate racing tire. Wireless charging is done via a dual position wireless charging pad which is included or via any Qi compatible charging pad or via the use of the USB-C cable which is included. The McLaren edition also features NuCurrent wireless charging technology which means the case will charge twice as fast as anything else on the market.
Every new and existing Klipsch True Wireless earphone is compatible with the Klipsch Connect App, which is available in eight languages and allow users to make product updates, EQ adjustments, access the quick start guide and troubleshoot, detect device battery status and manage noise cancelling settings. Homemation which is the exclusive distributor of Klipsch in South Africa anticipate these new headphones will be available in the country within the next few months, pricing will follow subsequently.
The tides are definitely turning in the world of Formula 1, what we thought would be a straight forward season for the Silver (or are they black now?) Arrows isn't really straight forward for Toto and Co. Those pesky Red Bull's are back with their leader Christian Horner to upset the apple cart, but they're only upsetting it for Mercedes-Benz and their loyal support base or which many only discovered F1 in the past 4 years because they rest of us are thoroughly enjoying the competitive nature that this season is throwing at us each and every race week. From strategies to tyre compounds, its been eventful to say the least and with "Super Max" extending his lead this past weekend to 32 points over current champion Lewis Hamilton, it ensures that this season is going to be guaranteed excitement all the way through. Lewis has to dig deeper and not just rely on thinking of the late Madiba everyday to get his 8th world championship title. While most would agree that his team need to do more to assist him, his fan base would argue that its the driver not the car, so whatever the case maybe, Mercedes -Benz in general need to find something special for the upcoming British GP at Silverstone to ensure Lewis stays in the race for that record 8th world title.
One cannot fault the work Red Bull Racing have done, with the inclusion of their new second driver, Checo Perez, he is proving to be a worthy of that seat while not only assist the team but also Max Verstappen in getting where they are now. It's all working beautifully for them and there is no better example than the Austrian GP which saw Max qualify on pole but found himself behind after a few pitstops but having the pace and the tyres to fight back for first spot and claim victory, much to the delight of his supporters in attendance. Also how great is it to see spectators back in the stands? I know we were grateful to have racing last year but a big part of the sport is having the fans present and getting that whole atmosphere on race day, its just such a mood lifter to have them back in the stands creating that vibe for the teams and the driver.
Another great aspect of this season is seeing the youngsters pull through, the likes of Lando Norris, Charles LeClerc, George Russell and Pierre Gasly all showing their metal and not afraid of giving it their all on the track. George was unlucky to miss out on his first points finish last week but after showing his worth while driving for Mercedes last year in a few races, we all know the potential talent that lies there. Norris has been simply sublime so far, out racing his much more experienced team mate Daniel Ricciardo for most of this season. Getting his Mclaren to 3rd position at the Austrian GP and finishing 5th the weekend before that only shows that there is grit behind that boyish charm. Many are ear marking him to take over the mantle from Lewis as Britains next great F1 driver and you can see why but if Russell finds himself a competitive car, it could be an interesting battle between those two.
I tweeted on Saturday that the less said about Ferrari, the better and truth be told they didn't have the worst race but as a life long fan, seeing that Red car finishing in 5th and 8th place does not feel great. Credit to Carlos for fighting for that 5th spot in what is a tough race for the Scudeira as the track is pace focused and didn't suit the car at all but the guys in Maranello have some serious head scratching to do. For the other teams like Aston Martin Racing, Alpha Tauri and Williams, they also have their work cut out watching the front runners dominate week in and week out but the mini battles that occur in the midfield do prove to be rather entertaining as well. It's these battles that add character to the overall race as it would just down right boring watching the top two teams win over and over again. The season is set up nicely and we're not even halfway through yet, I cannot wait to see how the rest of this race calendar plays out.
Last week many on my Twitter or Instagram saw me in a Zoom meeting with the Lando Norris of McLaren F1 Racing team but no one knew why, today I can reveal to you it was because of the launch of Klipsch all-new racing inspired wireless headphones, the T5 Gen2. It was my first Zoom online launch and quite honestly I was just keen to see what Klipsch were offering, so the whole thing with Lando joining us was a complete surprise to us all! It was pretty cool though as he talked about his first podium finish in Formula One and took us for a virtual walk around the garage at Spielberg race track but obviously the main thing was the product which was being launched, the T5 Gen 2. Having owned a pair of wired Klipsch headphones before and just recently purchased the T5 wireless headphones, I can confirm by myself that these products bring to you unrivaled sound quality, comfort and brilliant battery life so with the new Gen 2 True Wireless earphones it could only get better.
The purpose of the launch was also to announce Klipsch official partnership with the McLaren F1 team as their official headphone and portable audio partner. The two companies have collaborated to combine McLaren's unparalleled ethos and technical innovation with Klipsch's legendary high-fidelity audio and unparalleled comfort. The result is the Klipsch T5 ll True Wireless Sport McLaren edition earphones, engineered for extreme performance and designed to sty dry and in place through anything life throws at them.
Compared to the first gen T5 True Wireless, the Gen 2 is smaller, sleeker and has a wider range or comfort bud sizes to fit your ears with half sizes now coming along with it. So no longer just small, medium and large to fit into your ear canal, thus giving you a snug fit and ensuring that you will not have an issue of one falling out while you're doing your workout. The earphones feature a new signal boost antenna which delivers a high-quality seamless Bluetooth wireless connection. The T5 Gen2 are IP67 rated which make them dust and waterproof and they come in an attractive brushed metal case that holds up to a combined 32 hours of battery life with the earphones have an 8 hour battery life. The McLaren Sport edition comes in a case that is finished in carbon fiber. Both cases have a wireless charging base.
You will be able to control just every aspect of the T5 ll True Wireless earphones from the Klipsch Connect App which is available for both Android and Apple devices, so you can calibrate and equalize to the perfect sound for your enjoyment. The app also gives you access to a quick start guide and troubleshoot as well as battery status of the earphones. Overall the T5 ll True Wireless headphones look like a winner if you're looking for a good set of wireless earphones, the McLaren Sport Edition are a must if you're using them for training and with the added customized look to them it makes them an even more attractive purchase. Also the McLaren Edition comes with a free wireless charging pad.
Key features of the Klipsch T5 ll McLaren Sport Edition True Wireless Earphones
Dust and water-tight earphones and case (rated IP67) with moisture removal system ensure earphones remain dry.
Six pairs of patented Klipsch ear tips, one pair of comply memory foam ear tips, and three sizes of no-budge ear wings ensure a customized, comfortable and secure fit.
The case charges via USB-C or wirelessly with the included on-position wireless charging pad.
Up to 32 hours of battery (8 hours in the earphones)
Best-in-class acoustic performance and four beam forming microphones with clear voice chat.
A seamlessly designed anodized metal signal-boost exterior antenna.
McLaren's hallmark Papaya Orange and carbon fiber accents, special edition brand book and serialized metal card of authenticity.
Recommended Retail Price for the Klipsch T5 ll True Wireless earphones are 199€ thile the McLaren Sport Edition the Klipsch T5 ll True Wireless are 229€.
This was meant to be a post on the 2020 Formula One season, this was meant to be a post on what we could expect in Melbourne, it was meant to be a post on who to watch out for this season and what we could expect but after this early mornings decision by authorities to cancel this weekend's opening Grand Prix in Abert Park, Melbourne, this post is now one of great sadness but also the reality the world is facing right now.
Yesterday a member of the Mclaren F1 team tested positive for the COVID-19 virus which this was was labelled a global pandemic due to the fast spreading nature of it. The virus takes up to 14 days to show up in tests so there could be many walking around and spreading it without even knowing. The virus which has claimed thousands of lives world over has forced a number of public events and sporting events to either cancel or carry on without any crowds. The virus attacks the respiratory system and with Formula One being such a high intensity sport with drivers losing so much liquids and weight during the race, one can only imagine what effect it could have on them. So the best option was taken to cancel.
This news does cast doubt on the next scheduled race on the calendar which takes place in Bahrain on the 22nd of March. Bahrain officials already notified the FIA that they plan to have no spectators present for the race a heavy knock but following similar decisions made by the Italian football league, this could be one way of still having sporting events carry on without the risk of contamination. The drivers all issued messages independently via their social media channels, stating their disappointment but also highlighting that it was a necessary decision to make. Until the World Health Organisation finds some sort of way to contain this virus, we can expect a lot more scenes like this throughout 2020.
The 2018 season of Formula 1 officially got under way this morning at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia. After what felt like an eternity, the break has finally ended and we can get back to some excited racing, well we hope it's exciting. Then again, it won't be hard to beat the new F1 logo and theme song, not sure what the hell they were thinking when they approved that! Anyway, enough of the bitching, lets see what we can predict for this years race calendar. From initial testing in Spain, it was clear that Mercedes-Benz are the team to beat again this year, with both Silver Arrows showing good speeds, even with that stupid halo on the car. While Ferrari were expected to close the gap on their arch rivals, it seems that Red Bull Racing who have the backing of Aston Martin now have come up as new challengers to the Germans.
From this mornings FP1, it was evident that RBR's are taking the challenge to Merc with both drivers just falling behind the Mercs and the Ferrari's rounding up the top 6. In FP2 however, Max Verstappen showed some great speed to pip Bottas into second fastest around the track, so from the onset, Red Bull look to be back and firing on all cylinders. A big question still hangs over their reliability over the entire race duration, as last year saw a few races which ended with just one or none of the cars making home. With it being on home soil, Daniel Ricciardo will also want to push his car and his team mate this weekend to score some good points at his home race.
Ferrari have been rather quiet about many things ever since testing began in Feb, their speeds haven't been the greatest and there are many already writing the Italians off in terms of their chances of competing against Mercedes let alone winning the championship. Last year saw them get off to a flyer with Vettel winning in Australia and going on to lead the drivers championship up and until the mid-season break after which all went sour for the team in red. While both Sebastian and Kimi aren't showing fantastic times in testing and practice, over a race distance, things might be a little different, so the Tifosi hope. With Red Bull Racing upping the anti, Ferrari definitely have their work cut out for them as they now have 4 cars to fight off on the grid, one things for sure, they definitely have the talent behind the wheel to keep them in the reckoning.
Mercedes-Benz F1, the poster boys of the past few years of Formula One, it seems like their golden boy Lewis Hamilton can do no wrong but we've seen brief flashes of his frustration last season when things don't go his way. His biggest competitor this season might come in the form of his Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas. Both having the same car, same engine, could this be the year that Bottas doesn't play second fiddle and take the challenge to Hamilton? We've seen it a few season ago when Nico Rosberg did so, it didn't bode well with the Englishman as he even cited favouritism in the camp, to give the German the edge over him. Whatever the case, if Bottas does in deed go full tilt, we hope we don't see a case where both cars take each other out as we did in previous seasons with Lewis and Nico. No doubt though, Mercedes-Benz are the team to beat again this year, it will be interesting to see how the season pans out though.
Wrapping up the rest of the teams, there are some that could cause disruptions to the top 3, Force India, Williams, Torro Rosso and Sauber Alfa Romeo come to mind. These teams are not only there to make up the grid but could prove to be vital in determining race results, they might have some surprises up their sleeves as well. One which team that many hope have a few surprises is Mclaren, the bright orange, Renault powered car that will be fizzing around the track this year, piloted by fan favourite, Fernando Alonso and second driver Stoffel van Doorn has been showing some pace so far, with the cars finishing in the top 10 at the end of FP2. So who knows, maybe this year might see them scoring some decent points.
Regardless of which team and driver you support, I'm sure we are all just glad that Forumula One is finally back, nothing can be read into the first few races because as last year went to prove, leading the championship for half the year doesn't mean anything if you can't follow it up in the second half. Pressure is on for me to pick a race winner for this weekend, seeing that I nailed it against all odds last year. With rain expected for the weekend, that could throw a massive spanner in the works, if it were dry I would have gone for Bottas to pip his partner, but in the wet, we can't really be sure who will be strong so I'm going for my exact pick from last year, Vettel to bring the car home in first place on Sunday.
Geneva is no doubt the biggest and most popular motorshow of the calendar. Motor manufacturers save their best for this show and that is why it has the most unveiling's of high end cars. This year was no different, all the big names were present to show off their latest, greatest and powerful machines and there were some surprises by some. Aston Martin had a good few models on display, the Bertone Designed Rapide was one that caught the eye and the Jet which is a concept station wagon. Over on Koenigsegg's stand, the Agera S Hundra was causing quite a stir whilsts Bugatti had yet more varients of the Veyron. Toyota lifted the sheets on the 86 drop top which was spotted in Cape Town not long ago, the two tone interior looks stunning so I hope they keep that for the production model. Another car that will be hitting our shores soon is the A45 AMG, its an abosultely stunning redesign of the model and sure to set the hot hatch market alight. Now from all that the show had to offer, here is my top 5 picks.
5. 2013 Porsche 911 GT3
The GT3 has always been my favourite of the Porsche line up, besides it being a track car, it just looked the part. The new model has the subtle yet defining looks of the new 911 with the extra beef that comes along with the GT3.
4. Rolls-Royce Wraith
Not going to start with how its pronounced because I am not entirely sure myself but what I can tell you it is one bad ass car! Rolls Royce's are made for one to be driven in, this one is a luxury coupe, something you'll picture a member of the mafia driving around in. Its got plenty muscle under the hood but more than enough comfort inside that's fit for the Queen!
3. Mclaren P1
The P1 is Mclarens ultimate supercar, the British company took a lot of its inspiration behind this car from its formula one division in the quest to make it the best drivers car for both road and track. It certainly looks the part, styling is similar to the MP4-12C but given an extreme twist.
2. Lamborghini Veneno
I dont think many expected this, especially from the guys from Italy. All of us waited in baited breath for the company from Maranello to unleash their beast to the world but in a shock turn of events, Lamborghini left most of the crowds jaws on the floor with this one. Its their most powerful car and only 3 of them will be made at a hefty price tag. Obviously they're already sold but not like we could afford it anyway.
1. Ferrari LaFerrari
The men from Maranello teased us over a period of months with sneak peeks of the car that takes over from the Enzo. The F70 or as we know now, "LaFerrari" was finally shown in all its glory and my word was it worth the wait. Yes the name seems kinda not thought of but it epitomizes what the company is. The V12 engine pushes out a staggering 936bhp! The car looks amazing and its everything a Ferrari fan had wanted.
