Interview with #TeamKlipsch’s Al-Qaasimy (GIFC)

We caught up with Al-Qaasimy (Qimy), blistering wingback from Geylang International FC, and we are excited to have him talk to us about his career’s highs and lows, and the journey to where he is today.

Klipsch:
Thanks for taking time out Qimy. It’s really good to have you on board with us on #teamklipsch.

Qimy:
It’s great to be on board. Thank you for believing in local athletes.

Klipsch:
Let’s get the ball rolling. People see you as who you are today, in the national team and at the prime of your football career, how did all this start?

Qimy:
I started playing football at 10, in Tampines Primary School. We did well, really, as a team. And when I was 12, I got called up into the Singapore Combined Schools Team. You know when that happens, you start to take football seriously; not as a career yet, because at 13, you don’t think of careers, but people were starting to see that you could possibly have a talent in that area. Those thoughts got me to go for a trial in the Singapore Sports School, and I was the second batch of students to get enrolled in there! It was really cool, because I could pursue both my academics and my football. I spent 4 years there.

Klipsch:
Ah, were you playing at a national level already back then?

Qimy:
Yes yes, I was with the U13s all the way to U16s. I stayed in there even after I went to Republic Polytechnic, where I got my diploma. 

Klipsch:
Then you went to Young Lions?

Qimy:
I graduated from the Singapore Football Academy and got into Young Lions at 18. That was when I started to think to myself, this could possibly be my career.

Klipsch:
Tell us what happened at Young Lions! Everyone noticed you when you were playing there!

Qimy:
Haha, I played with Young Lions for 5 years, captained the team in the last 2 years. It was a dream come true! There were senior players there like Hariss in there, and they were a major inspiration in my career. Very grateful to have played alongside them.  It was also at Young Lions where I received my first national call up.

Klipsch:
So how did it feel like having your first call up?

Qimy:
OVERWHELMING! For me, to play for the Young Lions is already an amazing opportunity, but to play and represent Singapore… It’s a lifelong dream. I have grown up watching Baihakki, Shahril, and now to see them day in day out, joking with them, up till today, I find it really unbelievable. The biggest highlight would probably be my call up to play against Juventus. I was actually in tears when we sang our National Anthem. I was so moved, because it was the grand opening match of our Sports Hub, and I was representing my country against a football giant like Juventus! I really cannot believe I was playing football amongst the greats!

Klipsch:
How did it feel going up against Juventus?

Qimy:
Honestly, I was more overwhelmed by the fact that I am to play for Singapore. I was pumped up to play against Juventus, but to represent Singapore was the highlight of the day! I really wanted to show Juventus they are not here just for an exhibition match! We showed them respect, but we needed to show them what we were capable of! I really gave my everything! I think the Juventus players knew I was really serious. At half time, I asked Giovinco for his jersey at the end of the match. He said he would give it to me if I didn’t tackle him like I did on Patrice (Evra).

Klipsch:
You are never intimidated by any big names you are up against!

Qimy:
I carry this mentality, that it is just another day in the office. Don’t think too much about your opponents, think about ourselves! If you worry too much, it doesn’t help. What would help is that you focus on your strengths, be aware of your opponent and just give your best.

Klipsch:
That is really no bulls**t.

 Qimy:
(Laughs) I know!

Klipsch:
We’re sure it’s not always sunny days for you in football! Were there times of difficulties?

Qimy:
Definitely, it’s not always easy. I remembered when I was 18, I was really worn out from football! I was on the verge of hanging up my boots, giving up the dream. You know, find a job working behind a desk. My passion died down, because of the mundane routine everyday. Like, an athlete burn out you know? I felt like I missed out on friends, family time, and I felt bad about all that. But my family was supportive. My Dad was really worried and concerned about me. Thank God I got the Young Lions call up. It felt like God telling me to give it another try. If this works out, then it will be OK. Looking back, I am glad I held on, and all the determination and patience paid off.

Klipsch:
Would you have done the same thing if you could turn back time?

Qimy:
I am so glad to be where I am now! I am very happy to play in the national team and for Geylang International. And I have time to pursue my Bachelors’ during my free time. I have the best of both worlds. I am glad I ran after the football dream, and now I can work on both my football and my studies.

Klipsch:
We really salute you, you went after your dream. You’re really a local hero…

Qimy:
I am just really grateful to be where I am today.

Klipsch:
So, you had tough moments off the pitch, but who would you think is the toughest opponent you had on the pitch?

Qimy:
Definitely Giovinco. He’s so small, silky and tricky. Definitely was the livewire of Juventus in that game. I had to chase him everywhere during the game… I had a tough time against Evra and Pogba too. I also remembered being up against the U21 France Football Team. We were up against Kingsley Coleman and Kurt Zouma! That was a tough one too.

Klipsch:
Do you think Singapore will have that kind of quality one day?

Qimy:
I don’t know to be honest! This year, S League’s crowd has improved. Quality improves when viewership and support improves. Behind the scenes, the players’ passion has always been there. But the support we receive acts as a form of motivation for us. Our players work hard. And when we hear haters, it can be quite hurtful, things they say and do. At the end of the day, we are local Singaporean sons trying to give our best! We’re really happy and motivated when we hear our fans. In Geylang International, we have a team of Ultras. Supporters. Every game they are singing, winning or losing, they sing. They mean a lot to us.

Klipsch:
Thanks for being so honest with us Qimy! We are so happy to have someone like you in Team Klipsch!

Qimy:
Same here definitely! Music is such a big part of my life. I listen to music everywhere; when I’m driving, in my room, while eating, before games, before training. Music makes my world revolve. Music can make me happy, make me sad, make me angry. I grew up with music. And to listen to music with Klipsch, it’s just amazing! The kind of quality of music I am getting now, it really gets me going!

Klipsch:
We’re glad Klipsch is doing your music justice. Thanks for taking time out to talk to us! Here’s to a great second half of the season with Geylang International FC!

Qimy:
Thanks guys!

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Al-Qaasimy currently endorses Klipsch. To piss off the neighbours, he uses the Klipsch Soundbar R10B for his home and Klipsch Groove portable speaker for his travels with the national team. For his personal listening, he dons the Klipsch R6 On-Ears and R6i In-ears. Listen like a champion, listen like Qaasimy, listen with Klipsch.

FAQ: Reference R-15PM Powered Monitors

The Klipsch Reference R-15PM powered monitors may look like something you’ve seen before from Klipsch, but they’re a whole different beast and a whole new product category for the 70-year-old company.

While boasting the ever-popular copper-and-black motif of the Reference Series, the R-15PM powered monitors actually house custom-designed amplification, making them the first powered monitors to come out of the Klipsch laboratories and the most feature packed powered monitor on the market today.

As we covered in our previous blog, there are a slew of reasons to get the Reference R-15PM powered monitors. However, with this new product, you may find yourself asking questions. Luckily, we have the answers.

Here are frequently asked questions about the R-15PM powered monitors.

Where can I buy the R-15PM?

TC Acoustic Webstore
TC Acoustic Showroom
Analogue+ @Robinsons Heeren Lv 4
Takashimaya @ B1
Tangs @ Lv 3
(more to come, of course)

Why is having two speakers better than an all-in-one solution?

Undoubtedly, you will have noticed that the market is flooded with basic all-in-one solutions that pack the turntable + speakers together. This isn’t going to get you the acoustic performance that two speakers would.

Having two speakers apart from each other allows for better stereo separation by opening up the soundstage and giving you a more immersive experience. Speakers too close together will not play in true stereo. Recording engineers put a lot of energy into making a stereo mix. Don’t let them down.

Do I need an AV Receiver (AVR) with the R-15PM powered monitors?

No, all of the functions and connections of an AVR are built right into the R-15PM. The right channel monitor incorporates a powerful custom designed low-noise stereo amplifier to maximize system performance and eliminate the need for external amplification. This also eliminates any guesswork associated with pairing your speakers to the correct amp..and the blown drivers that occur during that process.

Should I use the R-15PMs with an AV Receiver (AVR)?

You could easily take the line out of your AVR and plug it into the line in of the speaker and it would work just fine. But why would you want to?

What can I connect the R-15PMs to?

The R-15PMs are incredibly versatile, connecting easily to turntables, televisions, cell phones, laptops, and more thanks to RCA phono/line level inputs, USB digital audio input, digital optical port, 3.5mm jack and Bluetooth® wireless technology.

Do I need additional cables to connect to my TV, computer and turntable?

No, all of the cables you need are included in the box. See above!

How do I connect my turntable to the R-15PMs?

It is super easy to connect the R-15PM to a turntable thanks to the speaker’s built-in phono pre-amp.

1. Connect the RCA cables (red + white) from the turntable to the back of the R-15PM
2. Ground the turntable to the R-15PM’s ground screw (or not, depending on which results in a lower level of hum from the speakers)
3. Ensure the switch on the back of the R-15PM is set to “Phono”
4. Plug the turntable and R-15PM into power outlets
5. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
6. Put a record on

It’s that easy. Enjoy!

How do I connect my TV to the R-15PMs?

Just There are three different ways to connect the R-15PMs to a television. (We told you these puppies were versatile!)

Line Input

1. Connect the RCA cables (red + white) from the television to the back of the R-15PM
2. Ensure the switch on the back of the R-15PM is set to “Line”
3. Plug the television and R-15PM into power outlets
4. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
5. Turn your television on
6. Make sure your television is set to PCM out (when available)

Optical

1. Connect the Optical cable from the television to the back of the R-15PM
2. Plug the television and R-15PM into power outlets
3. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
4. Turn your television on
5. Make sure your television is set to PCM out (when available)

AUX

1. Connect the 3.5mm cable from the television to the back of the R-15PM
2. Plug the television and R-15PM into power outlets
3. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
4. Turn your television on
5. Make sure your television is set to PCM audio out (when available)

How do I connect my computer to the R-15PMs?

You have two options to connect your laptop/desktop (Windows or OS X) computer to your R-15PM.

USB Audio

1. Connect the USB cord from the computer to the back of the R-15PM
2. Plug the R-15PM into power outlets and make sure your computer has power
3. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
4. Play audio on your laptop

Headphone Jack

1. Connect the USB cord from the computer to the back of the R-15PM
2. Plug the R-15PM into power outlets and make sure your computer has power
3. Turn on the power switch on the back of the speaker
4. Play audio on your laptop

Where should I place my R-15PMs?

As we mentioned earlier, stereo separation is important into getting you closer to the experience the recording engineers intended. The general rule of thumb is to place the speakers at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock to your listening area.

Can I stream audio to my R-15PMs?

Of course! The R-15PM has built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology, so you can easily stream from your phone, tablet, computer, whatever. If you are a Google Chromecast Audio user, you will be happy to note that there is an aux port on the back of the R-15PM, so you can start casting right away.

Does the R-15PM come with a remote?

Yes. You won’t need to get up from the couch just to turn up the volume from your speakers. Use the handy, dandy IR remote that comes with every pair of R-15PMs. It gives you easy access to system features such as dedicated source selection, track controls and play/pause.

Can I connect a subwoofer to the R-15PM?

If you want to add some boom boom to your setup, consider connecting a Klipsch subwoofer to your R-15PMs via the sub port on the back of the speaker. We recommend our Reference R-10SW or Reference R-12SW.

Wait, are the R-15PM powered monitors the same thing as the R-15M bookshelf speakers?

While they may look the same at first glance, the R-15PM powered monitors and R-15M bookshelf speakers are vastly different both on the inside and outside.

Acoustically, the R-15PM and R-15M are not the same, despite both having a 1″ aluminum diaphragm compression driver mated to 90° x 90° square Tractrix Horn and 5.25″ copper spun magnetically shielded IMG woofer. While the R-15M needs to be paired with an AV receiver, the amplification of the R-15PM is built right into the speakers. We custom-engineered this amplification, ensuring that it is the perfect match.

Physically, you may have noticed that the R-15PM does not have the R-15M’s screw holes on the front of the speaker that hold the R-15M’s grille in place. The R-15PM does not come with grilles. One R-15PM speaker also has a LED indicator, displaying the connected device. All the source inputs are located on the back of the R-15PM.

Whatever your content may be, the R-15PM powered monitors pack a powerful punch.

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Adapted from The Klipsch Joint: http://www.klipsch.com/blog/faq-reference-r-15pm-powered-monitors/

Team Klipsch: Singapore Drummer Tamagoh’s Playlist

Tamagoh is renowned drummer percussionist in the scene today. He is often lauded for his ability to transfer any drum set he finds at any venue to sound musical and tasteful. That goes down to his hours of hardwork and determination, often spending time till wee hours in the morning in his workplace, practicing his craft.

Tamagoh using the XR8i while playing for Sandy Lam, a superstar singer from Hong Kong

Coveted by both local and international musicians alike, we are proud to have Tamagoh on #teamklipsch, someone who exudes excellence and diligence. Listen like Tamagoh, listen with Klipsch. No excuses, no bulls*t, just pure quality.

Tamagoh showing off his new XR8i

Check out Tamagoh’s 12 favourite Jazz Standards Playlist here:

1. Caravan – Duke Ellington
2. Airegin – Sonny Rollins
3. Footprints – Wayne Shorter
4. Like Someone in Love – Jimmy Van Heusen
5. Joshua – Victor Feldman/Miles Davis
6. Take Five – Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond
7. Groovin’ High – Dizzy Gillespie
8. All Blues – Miles Davis
9. Four – Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson
10. Oleo – Sonny Rollins
11. Memories of Tomorrow – Keith Jarrett
12. Someday my Prince will Come – Larry Morey/Frank Churchill

Enjoy listening to what the greats listen to!

#teamklipsch

Turntable Setup Guide for Passive and Powered Speakers

A growing number of people are investing in the reborn industry of vinyl music. Whether it be the warm and textured sound or the tactile experience, vinyl is having quite the comeback and turntables are popping up in households around the world.

Some people may be content with some cheap all-in-one-solution for their turntable setup. Affordable all-in-ones typically do not have very good reputation as they have the tendency to ruin records from the amount of force that is applied to them by the stylus. However, if you’re reading this blog, you aren’t satisfied with “good enough.” You want audiophile-grade sound from your turntable.

This doesn’t mean that you ought to be intimidated by the prospect of a proper performance-grade turntable setup. We’re here to make things simple (and sound great) with our turntable setup guide for both passive and powered speakers.

First of all, you need to decide whether you are going to go with powered or passive speakers. Powered speakers like the Klipsch Reference R-15PM powered monitors have internal amplification, while passive speakers like the Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-160M bookshelf speakers require external amplification.

From there, it’s really quite simple…

How to Set Up Passive Speakers With a Turntable

You will only need a few things to set up your passive speakers correctly with a turntable: a receiver, phono pre-amp, RCA cables and a pair of speakers. While there are more components to setting up passive speakers than powered speakers, the process really isn’t much more involved. (If you need help choosing a pair of speakers for your turntable, please click here.)

1. Connect the turntable with the RCA cables to the preamp. (Some turntables require grounding.)
2. Connect the pre-amp to the amp with RCA cables.
3. Connect the amp to the speakers.
4. Drop the needle and enjoy!

How To Set Up Powered Speakers With a Turntable

Not to brag, but the R-15PM power monitors are pretty awesome. Besides having internal amplification, they have a built-in phono pre-amp. Most powered speakers still require a separate phono pre-amp. In any case, internal amplification and the built-in phono pre-amp eliminate the need for two separate components – a receiver and discrete phono pre-amp.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to connect R-15PM powered monitors to your turntable

1. Connect the RCA and ground cables from the turntable to the R-15PM
2. Ensure the switch on the back of the R-15PM is set to “Phono”
3. Plug the turntable and R-15PM into power outlets
4. Put a record on and enjoy!

This is the easiest way to setup a turntable with quality speakers.

Turntable Setup and Configuration

Depending on what turntable you have, the amount of setup and configuration will depend on the specific turntable you select. Some turntables come set up straight out of the box while others involve a great deal of tweaking. Of course, there are also turntables that give users the option to upgrade components like the phono cartridge.

We won’t go into the nitty-gritty of every possible turntable setup because we already dove into the anatomy of the turntable, but there are some basics you need to know.

First of all, there are two primary types of turntables: belt drive and direct drive turntables. Simply put, belt drive turntables are for those listening to records while direct drive turntables are what you would see DJs using.

There are also automatic and manual turntables. Automatic turntables simply require you to press a button and the turntable will lift the tone arm and place it on the record. Manual turntables require you to physically place the tone arm on the record.

You may have noticed that we showed off a Klipsch turntable at CES 2016 and, if you’re in Canada, you can already purchase a turntable bundled with the Klipsch R-15PMs as part of the Klipsch Music Crate. Don’t worry, it will be coming to the United States and rest of the world very soon!

Anyway, the Klipsch turntable is a manual, belt-driven turntable created in partnership with Pro-Ject. It sounds great and also offers an extremely easy setup.

The Klipsch turntable comes set up right out of the box, meaning that you will not have to mess with the tracking force or counterweight adjustments. It comes with a moving magnet Ortofon OM 5E cartridge.

Regardless of the type of speakers or turntable you choose, a proper turntable setup is extremely important in delivering quality sound; however, it shouldn’t be considered a daunting challenge.

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Post taken from Klipsch Joint

http://www.klipsch.com/blog/turntable-setup-guide-passive-powered-speakers/

Klipsch R6i On-Ear: Anyone can afford great sound!

Klipsch releases a brand new headphones that is simply going to blow your mind!
In more ways than you think.

Finally, legendary sound for everyone.
Easy on the ears, easy on the pocket.

When we tried them on, we understand why.

LEGENDARY SOUND

If you know Klipsch’s priorities, you would already understand that sound quality and comfort are the top-most important factors of any product in its line-up. Klipsch lives by the quote, “If it doesn’t sound good, we don’t want to have a part in it.”

The bass response from the R6i On-Ear continues to pack a punch while maintaining the integrity of precision. Many headphones are proud of their overwhelming amount of bass. But at the same time, many ignorant digital natives fail to understand that getting a generous amount of low frequency inside your eardrum doesn’t mean good quality bass. It is the ability to produce a certain amount of bass response without contaminating the essence of how the music is intended to be experienced. Having said this, R6i On-Ear delivers a good balance of bass while ensuring you don’t only hear boom boom boom bhadambrooooommm. Yes, moving on. We tested this with “I Will Remember” by Toto and “Firestone” by Kygo.

The R6i-On-Ear produces a warm and natural tone, liken to the Klipsch signature sound since the very beginning. Headphones that are sold at higher value does not seem to achieve this properly. We’ve tried many other brands of headphones of similar price range. What we found was that some of them were definitely clear, as they promise to be, but they lean towards brighter tones. This may be unpleasant at higher volumes. Many headphone’s mid frequencies also lack life and balance vis-a-vis treble and bass. A good way to truly test the headphones is to listen to your favourite acoustic-vocal song. We used the song “Realize” by Colbie Caillat and “Sometimes When We Touch” by Olivia Ong.

FOR EVERYONE
Klipsch seems to have heard the cry of the Southeast Asian nations: “Sounds very good, but why so expensive?!”

The Klipsch R6i On-Ear is only going for SGD 199 today. This is the first pair of Klipsch headphones that are priced below SGD 200. Furthermore, the quality of these headphones do not decrease despite the more affordable tag. Coupled with a one-to-one exchange 1 year warranty… we think there’s not much reason left to complain about. Definitely more affordable than any other Klipsch headphones and other headphones of the same quality out there.

EASY ON THE EARS
Very comfortable. It’s light-weight, compact and sits nicely on the ears. The memory foam cushion on the ear cups ensures that you can wear them for long hours without feeling significant heat build-up or hard edges pressing against your ears. One of our testers is a bespectacled geek. He told us that he did not like headphones because it hurts after a while. But we coerced convinced him into trying it anyway – for 2 hours. Our tester said he was surprised that he did not need to remove the headphones nor remove his spectacles in the period of testing. So, glasses-wearing friends, you’re in for a treat!

EASY ON THE POCKET
Enough said about this. Click here to proceed to our webstore and get it at SGD 199!

We love the Klipsch R6i On-Ear headphones and we couldn’t believe how affordable, yet powerful these set of headphones are.
We recommend everyone who has not yet owned a pair of headphones to make this your first and everyone who is using ‘budget’ headphones to switch to this pair of headphones. These will be your next gadget best friend.

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Webstore: https://store.tcacoustic.com.sg/
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Twitter: @klipschSEAsia