GM claims its new Terrain has other SUVs beat when it comes to fuel efficiency, and they’re citing active noise cancellation — a concept near and dear to audiophiles everywhere — as one of the driving factors that puts it 4MPG above the competition. Basically, the Terrain’s enlisted a new one-touch “Eco mode” that allows its four-cylinder engine to run at a lower torque, decreasing engine speeds, and thus saving gas. The thing is, this increased fuel efficiency comes with a “low-end frequency boom,” which is where the noise cancellation sets in: two microphones built in to the car’s headliner detect the boom, prompting a frequency generator to pump counteracting sound waves through Terrain’s speakers. Simply put, GM’s just getting rid of an unpleasant hum. So a quieter car isn’t necessarily a greener car, but we’ll take a more fuel efficient SUV any day. If you’re picking up what GM’s laying down, check out the full PR after the jump.

Continue reading GM shows off Terrain SUV with noise cancellation, says silence equals fuel efficiency

GM shows off Terrain SUV with noise cancellation, says silence equals fuel efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you considering putting in a surround sound system on your personal computer? If that’s the case, you are really in luck. Audiophiles and system fanatics as well can love the results of surround sound, whether they’re enjoying music, doing recordings, or participating in a video game.

Just what quite a few new users don’t understand is that it’s going to take more than just a top quality set of speakers along with a functioning computer to create excellent sound. A 5.1 surround sound card is usually essential. Without this, the home theater system’s speakers and subwoofer mean nothing at all.

What is a 5.1 surround sound card? Essentially, it is precisely what regulates your audio system. The 5.1 shows that you have installed all five speakers and 1 subwoofer. These 5 speakers usually are installed strategically through the entire room in your home, resulting in the desired surround sound results. The subwoofer is a vital add-on to any kind of stereo system, because it amplifies softer, lower sounds, such as bass notes or background noise.

Why is a 5.1 surround sound card very important? This is largely since this is what the sound equipment plugs into, instead of a system receiver. A top quality sound card often means the difference between crisp, beautiful sound and crackly, distorted music. Additionally , it may modify the functionality of both the computer and also the speaker system as well. Anyone who has ever suffered random fade outs, silences, and sound distortions will confirm that. It may well additionally make it hard to operate the computer as well. A 5.1 surround sound card additionally plays a part in stopping smaller quality problems as well, including tinniness, crackling, sound warps, and other annoyances.

Furthermore, sound cards also modify the quality of the headsets as well. If you have a set of surround sound earphones, then it is easy to understand why the quality of the sound card will be essential to using this device. This is because, such as the surround sound speakers, the headsets attempt to make the same music illusions, other than they are all being blared straight into your ears.

Typically, the prominent sounds are played on one side while the background noises are on the other. In many cases each side of the headphone does have it’s bass speaker or subwoofer as well to create the most intimate result. Bearing this in mind, it’s not hard to see why a poor sound card could destroy the experience of these headsets?It might be very easy to listen to even the tiniest of disturbances. Glaring audio warping can be just like a trumpet blast. Discover more today about how a 5.1 surround sound card will benefit you!

Gadgets, boys toys, and stuff like that are what made life pleasurable. They do bring joy to anyone who receives them as gifts or just buys for personal collection. The doohickeys are lotsa great! It’s a 4 in one thing. Gadget pens are extraordinary. They not only write but light your way or shock you. You can get one value for four. Who needs separate stuff!

For the computer whiz, pc gadgets for your entire computer needs. Components are not only meant for audiophiles. PC gadgets for the computer crazy abound. Even a USB Desc vacuum! You cannot beat that! The boys would love to get this stuff instead of socks.

For the avant-garde, the USB bouncer can just be your thing. Nobody but nobody can get close. The bouncer is a guard to ensure the safety of your personal computer. All the little paraphernalia you have in and around your computer desk will be protected. It is battery operated and has a built-in sensor to detect movements. “You’re not coming anywhere here lookin like that.” You just have to run for your life.

Gadgets have a way making life easy and delightful. They are great buys for the great help you need. As boys toys are for the letting out of the inner child in all of the boys. Let loose the boy in you with the sling shot catapult. The trendy looking catapult equipped with softball bullet is great for indoor fun. Here you would not know how to separate the boys from the men.

All set to fly right out of the box. This RC plane is great for indoor flights. It is packed with notable achievement of micro technology. All you need is drop in 8 AA batteries and you are off. Pass zoom mop heads and piles of papers. Little boys and big boys sharing the fun. How comfortable!

The site brings in together many absolutely incredible ideas and thingamajigs for big boys and little boys as well – those who love gadgets and boys toys. And they would never have a vicarious thrill again. Wouldn’t it feel great to shoot that catapult right from your hands or fly your own plane? How about complete gizmos for your beloved computer? Life would never be the same again. It is like having your own nanny to take care of things.

Next time you buy gifts for the big boys and the little boys in your life, think fun and extraordinary. Gadgets and boys toys as gifts can send the recipients shoot up into heaven. All your guys, little or big, can share the fun of racing cars, flying planes, shooting catapults and just helping each other discover the different uses of pen gadgets, pc gadgets, keyrings and others. Oh what fun it will be!

It is like Christmas is here everyday. Since Christmas spells fun and excitement, so do the giving of gifts of gadgets and boys toys to all the men who deserve to have them. The joy and delight can never be erased from the hearts of these little big men who are just grateful of a good deed.

By Evan Ackerman

A couple years ago, we posted about some self-described “audiophiles” who pitted premium Monster Cables against soldered coat hangers to see if there was any audible difference. And shockingly, shockingly, there wasn’t. Those cables were analog, and in the world of digital signals, cables should make even less of a difference, but that hasn’t stopped companies from betting that people are rich and dumb and trying sell you on them. After the jump, check out the rest of the above graphic, which makes it perfectly clear that you only buy expensive HDMI cables if you hate starving children.

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