Technolust: Things we really want
In the world of tech, new products are always being introduced. As entrenched as we are in the gadget-sphere, there's a never ending chase of the next greatest thing.
Introducing Technolust, a weekly column where the staff tells you, on a personal level, what they're currently coveting. It could be as simple as a set of tools, or a new graphics card and four new SSDs in RAID 0. Heck, throw in a new 4K projector for good measure.
We invite you to share yours too! It could point the direction in things we should be covering. So, of all the things I want, here are my first three nerdalicious picks.
A feast for these eyes
Behold Dell's UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K display. Considered to be the pinnacle of image fidelity, Dell's UP2715K was actually featured in this year's Dream Machine build. I've long been a fan of Dell's UltraSharp line of displays for their image quality, build quality, and Dell's pretty darned good support for displays.
When Dell's 3007 WFP came out, I was all over that beast. Unfortunately, the unit I got came with some discoloration on one of the corners. It was ever so slight, but I noticed it and couldn't stop looking at it. Dell was happy enough to overnight me a replacement with a return label packed in the box for me ship back my wonky unit.
For me, the UP2715K has it all: pristine sharpness thanks to its 5120x2880 resolution, and Dell's PremierColor for out-of-the-box color accuracy that's actually very good even without professional calibration. Plus, it's well built and doesn't feel like it was clobbered together using cheap plastic. If you do a lot of twitchy gaming, the UltraSharps may not be suitable for you since you'll likely demand higher refresh rates. In terms of image quality though, the UP2715K sets the standard.
What do I use now? I have a Dell UltraSharp U3011, which I have to admit has served me really well and is still pretty darned good as far as high-quality displays go. But if you've ever worked with high-pixel-density displays, the UP2715K really is a substantial improvement in image quality. Right now, I'm just waiting to see if Dell will release a 5K display at 30-inches or greater. That would be ideal.
So what would the Dell UltraSharp UP2715K provide me that I'm not getting now?
Not much really, just a more tack-sharp image which I suppose is quite substantial in its own right. I'd lose 3 inches off the screen, but with the right resolution scaling I would gain more actual usable real-estate. And as a minor nitpick, I actually prefer the more industrial look of the U3011 to the designer lines of the UP2715K.
The table of my dreams
As for what I actually have at home to do my computing on? I use a dinner table that I picked up from IKEA several years ago. I have an office but until now, haven't found a suitable computing desk large enough for my needs. I use multiple displays and have a bunch of other devices on the table that I like to keep around me when I work. My current state of table affairs, though, is pretty terrible. It's a dinner table, so a tad too tall, and my chair can't slide under it without the arm rests smacking into a side support beam.
I've done research into standing desks, and although they're great for your back and promoting healthy body circulatory activities, they don't offer much space. So the best kind of desk for me is one that looks like a normal big desk, but can be elevated to standing heights.
Enter the Air Pro desk. This is the big daddy of elevating desks. Made by NextDesk, which is known for making exceptional work desks that are height adjustable, the Air Pro is essentially the company's flagship. It costs a whopping $3,378 without any of the fancy options and in standard jet-black gloss finish. If you want a matte black finish, the price increases to $3,975. NextDesk learns from the best in the automotive options industry.
The Air Pro can sit as low as 24 inches off the ground or stand as high as 50.5 inches. Its quad motors can raise or lower the desk at 1.7 inches per second using the side controller. Even with motorized legs on all for corners, the Air Pro is strong: able to very comfortably support 630 pounds of weight. The entire desk is made of aluminum with a glass top.
Of course the Air Pro is on the excessive side, but hey, why not? NextDesk offers other models, including the more tame Encore, which starts at a much more palatable $1,097—still substantial as far as computer desks go.
If you're interested in configuring one—yes, they're completely configurable with heaps of options—you can truly make one your own with attachments, different finishes, cable management features, and other options. L-shaped models are also available for space gluttons, and NextDesk will even custom-design one for you.
So what would the NextDesk Air Pro provide me that I'm not getting now?
Height adjustment features. I can sit or stand whenever I'd please without sacrificing desk space. Do I really need the fanciness of the Air Pro? Probably not. But if it's going to be in my personal space for a long time, it might as well look good. I'd also be able to roll my chair in a bit more and sit closer to the desk.
Where all gadgets meet
My PC and my home theater are tightly integrated. Everything is networked, even the home theater receiver. All my sources: PS, Xbox, Wii U, NUC, and spare gaming PC are plugged into a receiver. My current unit is a Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH, which is a very good receiver in its own right, but it's a few generations old now in the Pioneer lineup. Yes, there are great options from Denon, Marantz, and others that climb up into the price stratosphere, but I'd be happy just to pick up Pioneer's new Elite SC-99.
It's got all the latest audio decoding features, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, as well as the usual, such as DTS-HD, Dolby Digital TrueHD, and supports both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. But the real kicker for me is the class D3 amplifiers that deliver high power output really efficiently. The receiver stays cool and doesn't buck under stress. For audiophiles, the SC-99 is equipped with dual SABRE32 DACs from ESS Technology, which support a 192k/32bit format—yes, 32 bit!
A little known factoid: The Intel HD Audio specification calls for 32 bit sampling rates, but few if any manufacturers implement the full spec.
Connections are a nonissue with the SC-99. The unit has a whopping eight HDMI inputs, enough for every device I can think of, along with two HDMI outputs. Another nice feature is a USB input that allows you to connect a PC and let the receiver act as a USB sound device just like an external sound card.
I've been a fan of Pioneer's products since the days of the Kuro Elite TVs, which sadly are no longer available. During that time, and maybe even still today, the Kuro plasmas set the standard for black-level performance. The Kuro line was Pioneer's statement in just how good image quality can be; those who are serious about image performance will attest to the Kuro's reputation.
So what would the Pioneer Elite SC-99 provide me that I'm not getting now?
Extra HDMI inputs, Spotify streaming without a PC, Dolby Atmos (although I'd have to upgrade my speakers), and better components. I'm not interested in the WiFi stuff as much since my house is wired for Ethernet in every room, and I prefer wired connections anyway. Having direct USB-DAC input is really nice. You can use the SC-99 as a sound device and attain higher resolution and sampling rates than you could if you only used SPDIF.
Once I get my grubby hands on these things I'll be a happy camper. Maybe.