By Kira Grunenberg
Audiophiles everywhere rejoice!There’s a new mobile application out on the market for both Android and iOS consumers, that might just change the way people think about their listening to music via portable devices.Aphex Audio, a company that works with, and in, the business of “professional audio, recording broadcast, musical instrument, live and installed sound,” released their newest creation, the “Audio Xciter Studio,” just last week.The long and short of this app: Any digital recording, of any song on your device, gets an instantaneous and noticeable boost in sound quality when it’s played through the Xciter and there’s no technical knowledge needed to make it work. Sounds too good to be true? In this case, the wool is not being pulled over your eyes… or ears.
The user interface is nice. No surprises. Localized media files, (sans movies), will be brought up through the app and the actual handling of the features works almost identically to existing default music apps, with two major differences: the “X” button in the center and the settings option upon double tapping. These elements are what make the “magic” happen. Tap the “X” to hear music with or without the enhancements. That’s all there is to it. If you want more control over the changes, venture into the settings and you can go with the pre-sets or place the sliders yourself with the “Custom” setting. See the images below:Aphex takes great pride in this app and its advanced capabilities, assuring potential buyers that this is no mere EQ or volume enhancer. Hosting a support FAQ fully stocked with many of the questions one would expect to find with an app that sets its own bar so high, Aphex takes on inquiries with technology-backed (but easy to understand) answers. For example, here’s their response to the implication of, ‘just being an EQ.’ “ISN’T THIS JUST AN EQUALIZER LIKE APPLE OFFERS? No. Equalizers statically alter the frequency response of audio, meaning that they do not react to the audio itself. Audio Xciter is a smart circuit that dynamically reacts and constantly adjusts, in real-time, based on the audio signal being played, all without “latency” (lag). No EQ can do what Aphex has proven in studios and on stage with major artists and producers – and now, on mobile devices!
The other patented focus worth noting is that the Xciter’s simplicity and flexible support across all headphones, speakers and mobile devices, is due to the enhancement being implemented “on [a song's] audio signal, not the device, so it doesn’t matter what you plug into.” Frequencies across the spectrum get restored, immediately things become ‘less muddy’ and this will make everything -from rock, to country to audiobooks and podcasts- sound clearer; lessening the urge to crank your volume up.If you’re not a self-proclaimed audiophile but you’re still interested in what the Audio Xciter has to offer, there’s good news. As mentioned in the first post on the Xciter, Aphex offers a free version of the app that allows for 15 minutes of enhanced listening per day. You can upgrade within the app to the full “Studio Version” for unlimited use of the Xciter’s enhancement and the ability to self-customize the settings. Right now, the app is running a sale of $7.99 to celebrate its release, so give it a try and, if you like it, take advantage of the sale. There’s nothing to lose and lots to gain -starting with all the lost details in your digital recordings!