A team of geologists has found for the first time evidence that two ancient, continent-sized, ultrahot structures hidden beneath the Earth have shaped the planet’s magnetic field for the past 265 million years.
These two masses, known as large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs), are part of the catalog of the planet’s most enormous and enigmatic objects. Current estimates calculate that each one is comparable in size to the African continent, although they remain buried at a depth of 2,900 kilometers.
Low-lying surface vertical velocity (LLVV) regions form irregular areas of the Earth’s mantle, not defined blocks of rock or metal as one might imagine. Within them, the mantle material is hotter, denser, and chemically different from the surrounding material. They are also notable because a “ring” of cooler material surrounds them, where seismic waves travel faster.
Geologists had suspected these anomalies existed since the late 1970s and were able to confirm them two decades later. After another 10 years of research, they now point to them directly as structures capable of modifying Earth’s magnetic field.
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LLSVPs Alter the Behavior of the Nucleus
According to a study published this week in Nature Geoscience and led by researchers at the University of Liverpool, temperature differences between LLSVPs and the surrounding mantle material alter the way liquid iron flows in the core. This movement of iron is responsible for generating Earth’s magnetic field.
Taken together, the cold and ultrahot zones of the mantle accelerate or slow the flow of liquid iron depending on the region, creating an asymmetry. This inequality contributes to the magnetic field taking on the irregular shape we observe today.
The team analyzed the available mantle evidence and ran simulations on supercomputers. They compared how the magnetic field should look if the mantle were uniform versus how it behaves when it includes these heterogeneous regions with structures. They then contrasted both scenarios with real magnetic field data. Only the model that incorporated the LLSVPs reproduced the same irregularities, tilts, and patterns that are currently observed.
The geodynamo simulations also revealed that some parts of the magnetic field have remained relatively stable for hundreds of millions of years, while others have changed remarkably.
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“These findings also have important implications for questions surrounding ancient continental configurations—such as the formation and breakup of Pangaea—and may help resolve long-standing uncertainties in ancient climate, paleobiology, and the formation of natural resources,” said Andy Biggin, first author of the study and professor of Geomagnetism at the University of Liverpool, in a press release.
“These areas have assumed that Earth’s magnetic field, when averaged over long periods, behaved as a perfect bar magnet aligned with the planet’s rotational axis. Our findings are that this may not quite be true,” he added.
This story originally appeared in WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Most people have never heard of Satisfactory, a factory-building game where you create massive industrial complexes on an exotic world, or MASSAGE-2(A-B)b to be more specific. Few people are aware of the Pioneers who drive the plot, and they wear helmets with those unique wide, tinted visors sporting a hexagonal overlay. Turning that in-game accessory into something wearable requires some major skills, such as molding unique plastic sheets and endless sanding.
The solution is a bit unusual: huge full-face “sunglasses” sold online as a novelty fashion item, with a giant tinted shield that nearly mimics the shape and curve of the Pioneer helmet visor. Instead of having to sculpt a new faceplate from scratch, Punished Props Academy designed everything around this convenient starting point.
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They first applied painter’s tape to the visor of the shades to reduce glare, then used a smartphone app to capture a clear 3D image. That digital model was then loaded into Fusion 360 and used as a foundation for the remainder of the helmet shell. The remainder of the design developed organically from there, meticulously contouring to fit snugly around that visor. Symmetry tools ensured that both sides were identical, whereas cuts for the neck hole and face region were designed and pumped out with accuracy, all while keeping wall thickness consistent such that the final print did not feel heavy but was still solid.
Printing happened using a variety of machines, depending on what needed to be done. Larger elements were printed with ABS to increase robustness, while finer features, such as vents and trim pieces, were cast in resin to achieve sharper edges. Parts were separated into manageable portions to fit on conventional print beds, and then reassembled afterward. A little acetone vapor smoothing helped cover layer lines on the ABS pieces, then some automotive filler primer smoothed everything out even more before painting.
The visor itself required only minor modifications: after removing the cheap plastic arms and nasal bridge, they trimmed the shield to fit snugly inside the helmet hole, while a narrow lip around the edge offered plenty adhesive surface. They affixed a clear vinyl sticker created with a vinyl printer to match the hexagonal grid design of the game. The sticker stretched beautifully and smoothly across the curve without interfering with vision, since it allows you to see clearly even in bright light.
Next came ventilation, which involved covering the apertures on the cheeks and lower face with wire mesh, which they obtained in handy sheets from online providers. Tiny 3D-printed features masked the mesh’s boundaries while maintaining the industrial effect. A small blower fan hidden inside draws fresh air through the mesh and blows it across the inside visor to keep it from fogging up, which is useful for wearing at conventions for hours on end.
LEDs concealed beneath the vent holes cast a subtle glow that appears to highlight the game’s illuminated accents. The cabling connects to a simple battery pack, which keeps the entire contraption self-contained. Stuffing the interior with upholstery foam not only provides a more comfortable fit, but also keeps the electronics away from the back of your head, where they would otherwise be in the way.
These final helmets made a big impression at Dragon Con, and they were teamed with similar denim jumpsuits and a lot of reflective tape to truly make the look stand out. People who tried them on reported better-than-expected visibility, no fogging from the fan, and even how pleasantly comfortable they were after hours of wandering the convention floor. [Source]
Affordable mini-LED TVs are getting more sophisticated every year, without adding to the price. The Hisense U65QF is no different, delivering great brightness, picture quality, and gaming for a budget-friendly price.
Getting a 75-inch TV can also be a bit of a pipe dream for some, but with this big discount ahead of the Presidents’ Day sales, a 75-inch TV doesn’t seem like a ridiculous idea.
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Budget mini-LED for even less
(Image credit: Future)
The budget mini-LED TV market is a really competitive one. Some of the very best TVs you can buy come from this group of TVs, with TCL and Hisense leading the way.
But while cheaper mini-LED had its flaws in the past, it’s getting better all the time. Limited viewing angles, poor contrast and blacks, and a lack of brightness are all things of the past.
The Hisense U65QF is an example of this evolution, delivering impressive detail, effective local dimming, and even demonstrating good motion handling for both sports and movies.
The U65QF also doubles as a great gaming TV, with features we expect to find in the best gaming TVs. 4K 144Hz, FreeSync Premium, Dolby Vision gaming, and ALLM are all supported, while also delivering great performance with fast-paced games.
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If you’re looking to get a big screen TV for cheap, you can’t really go wrong with the Hisense U65QF. And don’t worry: while you may compromise on price, you won’t on performance.
An Illinois man pleaded guilty to hacking nearly 600 women’s Snapchat accounts to steal nude photos that he kept, sold, or traded online, including accounts he compromised at the request of a former university track coach who was later convicted of sextortion.
26-year-old defendant Kyle Svara admitted in federal court in Boston to phishing access codes from hundreds of victims between May 2020 and February 2021, and accessed at least 59 Snapchat accounts without permission to download private photos.
According to court documents, Svara used social engineering tactics to obtain victims’ emails, phone numbers, and Snapchat usernames, then texted more than 4,500 targets requesting access codes while impersonating Snap representatives. Using these tactics, he successfully harvested credentials from roughly 570 victims and accessed at least 59 accounts without permission to steal compromising images.
Svara advertised his “services” on multiple online platforms, trading stolen content, offering to “get into girls snap accounts” for clients, and asking potential clients to contact him through the encrypted messaging app Kik.
One of his clients, former Northeastern University track and field coach Steve Waithe, hired Svara to hack Snapchat accounts of students at Northeastern and members of the women’s track and field and soccer teams. Waithe was sentenced in March 2024 to five years in prison for cyberstalking, cyber fraud, and sextortion after targeting at least 128 women.
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Between paid hacking jobs, Svara also independently hacked into the accounts of women in Plainfield, Illinois, and students at Colby College in Maine.
Svara now faces charges of aggravated identity theft (carrying a minimum sentence of two years), wire fraud (up to 20 years in prison), computer fraud (up to five years), and making false statements related to child pornography (maximum of eight years).
“When Svara was interviewed by investigators, he falsely stated that he did not know anything about hacking Snapchat,” the Justice Department said on Thursday.
“Additionally, he falsely stated that had no interest in child pornography and had never actively sought out or accessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Contrary to these statements, the defendant collected, distributed and solicited CSAM.”
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Svara is scheduled for sentencing in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy on May 18th.
Modern IT infrastructure moves faster than manual workflows can handle.
In this new Tines guide, learn how your team can reduce hidden manual delays, improve reliability through automated response, and build and scale intelligent workflows on top of tools you already use.
Bitcoin has fallen roughly 44% from its October peak, and while the drawdown isn’t crypto’s deepest ever on a percentage basis, Bloomberg’s Odd Lots newsletter lays out a case that this is the industry’s worst winter yet. The macro backdrop was supposed to favor Bitcoin: public confidence in the dollar is shaky, the Trump administration has been crypto-friendly, and fiat currencies are under perceived stress globally. Yet gold, not Bitcoin, has been the safe haven of choice.
The “we’re so early” narrative is dead — crypto ETFs exist, barriers to entry are zero, and the online community that once rallied holders through downturns has largely hollowed out. Institutional adoption arrived but hasn’t lifted existing tokens like ETH or SOL; Wall Street cares about stablecoins and tokenization, not the coins themselves. AI is pulling both talent and miners toward data centers. Quantum computing advances threaten Bitcoin’s encryption. And MicroStrategy and other Bitcoin treasury companies, once steady buyers during the bull run, are now large holders who may eventually become forced sellers.
Blenders, food processors and electric mixers — freestanding or otherwise — are all small kitchen appliances whose core function can be distilled into a simple concept: to combine. Yet they all independently exist, with different designs and seemingly for different purposes.
If you found yourself eye-rolling at the headline here, ask whether you can actually delineate each of their unique characteristics and how they actually do what they do. And if you’re a cooking and baking newbie with little idea to begin with, welcome in.
If you’ve ever had to justify the need for myriad appliances (perhaps with someone like a roommate or spouse who shares kitchen space with you) or if you’re newly outfitting a kitchen and wondering what might be necessary and what might end up being merely decorative for your cooking repertoire, getting into the nuance of these appliances is important.
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For the purposes of kitchen relationship harmony, then, or to enable you to justify another small appliance purchase — to yourself or anyone else — here’s an examination of the difference(s) between a blender, food processor and stand mixer.
Blender: How does it work?
A blender is a true power machine, whipping ingredients into a fine consistency but with little control or precision.
John Carlsen/CNET
Blenders typically consist of a heavy base with a motor and a plastic or glass jug with a set of rotating blades at the point where the jug connects with the motor. The blender combines whatever ingredients you add with a singular goal: to liquefy. The history of the blender, in fact, begins with its function as a milkshake maker. A vortex created by the rapid rotation of the blades creates a vacuum that pulls whatever is in the jug toward the blades, pulverizes it, then funnels it back up, ad nauseam, until you hit stop.
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Our favorite small smoothie blender, the Ninja Twister, is next to a full-sized model.
David Watsky/CNET
If you’ve ever put various components in the blender and had the mixture quickly come to a standstill, clinging desperately to the sides of the jug out of the reach of the blades, the catch-22 of a blender’s function is that it usually needs a little liquid to begin with in order to effectively kick off the liquefaction. Certain solid items that are light or have small pieces, such as nuts or bread cubes, can be put in the blender; however, in this case, the blender’s function is to grind.
Perfect for the blender: smoothies, shakes, cocktails, sauces, gravies, fluid nut butters, wet batters for pancakes, crepes or coatings.
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Blenders are best for mixing ingredients into a smooth consistency. They’re not as good for course mixtures like pesto and salsas.
David Watsky/CNET
Ideal foods to make in a blender
Smoothies
Protein shakes
Frozen drinks
Soups
Sauces and dips
Nut butters
Baby food
Pancake batter
Food Processor: How does it work?
Food processors are similar to blenders but offer more precision and even mixing of coarse ingredients.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Like a blender, a food processor often relies on blades, but may also employ discs or other inserts specific to the job you’re asking it to do. The container in a food processor is more of a bowl or cylinder than a jug, and liquid and gravity are less important to its proper operation. While it can be considered an appliance that combines various ingredients — as with salsa or hummus — it typically does so by chopping everything together, though not as finely as a blender, and can also be used strictly for that purpose on a single item.
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A good food processor can make recipe prep much easier.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Various food processor attachments may also allow you to shred, slice, julienne, or juice, with a wide entry channel that enables you to add ingredients and push them through the attachment, which is typically mounted at the top of the bowl. Some models may also include inserts that attach to the motor base that whip or knead. Though a blender typically results in more of a fine puree than a food processor can do, a food processor is more versatile in terms of the various shapes and textures that are possible with its use.
Perfect for the food processor: grating or chopping solid ingredients such as vegetables or cheese, chunky or thick sauces such as pesto, hummus, or salsa, thick nut butter, pasta or pastry dough.
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For precise control over a mix’s consistency and coarseness, a food processor is ideal.
Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty
Ideal foods to make with a food processor
Chopped vegetables for sofrito, mirepoix, etc.
Pesto and sauces
Hummus and dips
Shredded cheese
Nut butters and nut flours
Cauliflower rice
Energy balls and no-bake treats
Breadcrumbs
Ground meat
Stand mixer: How does it work?
Stand mixers are a baker’s best friend, but these machines can do more than mix dough and batter.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Stand mixers are strictly mixing devices that can combine ingredients, but don’t break them down into smaller pieces via blades. On a stand mixer, a heavy base holds a bowl in place while a motor rotates an attachment such as a paddle, dough hook or whisk. (Hand mixers perform the same function, but your hands are both the element that keeps the bowl in place, and that which holds the motorized attachments.)
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GE Profile launched a smart stand mixer in 2023 that weighs ingredients as you add them.
GE Profile
At higher speeds, a stand mixer can also introduce air into the mixture. The action of a stand mixer is gentler and easier to control than that of a blender or food processor, making it ideal for cake batters that require minimal mixing, where the goal is simply to combine. Armed with a dough hook, however, the mixer can also strong-arm gluten development for crusty breads.
Stand mixers may also have various attachments available to increase their utility, including ice cream makers, pasta rollers, meat grinders, spiralizers, juicers, and even choppers that start to creep into food processor territory.
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Perfect for the stand mixer: dough for bread, pizza, pasta, and cookies, all batters, icing and frosting, meringue or whipped egg preparations, whipped cream.
If kneading dough is your least favorite part of making bread, a stand mixer will step in gallantly.
Adam Gault/Getty Images
Ideal foods to make in a stand mixer
Bread and yeast doughs
Cake batter
Cookie batter
Whipped cream
Meringues
Frosting
Mashed potatoes
Pasta dough
Shredded chicken or pork
Pizza dough
Crossover use between them: The mashed potato experiment
Mashed potatoes can be made creamy with just a few seconds in the food processor.
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Pamela Vachon/CNET
Naturally, there are things that could be accomplished in any of these appliances, given desired outcomes. Egg whites or cream can be whipped, batters can be mixed, and certain doughs can be formed in all three of them. This is not a case against a stand mixer, however. Though its function tops out at “mix,” it is still the necessary appliance for certain types of cake or cookie doughs. Not to mention the lack of blades and its stainless-steel bowl, which makes it much easier to clean.
I made mashed potatoes in all three
Making mashed potatoes illuminated each machine’s strengths and weaknesses.
Pamela Vachon/CNET
To best illustrate the outcomes of these various appliances when given the same task, I chose mashed potatoes, which can be successfully achieved by either liquifying, chopping, or simply mixing its components. Potatoes were cubed and boiled, and then (because I’m not a monster) put to the test along with a splash of milk and a dab of butter.
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Food processor: required just a few pulses to turn cubed potatoes into mashed potatoes. I like them with a little texture, but a few more pulses would give you a smooth puree.
Stand mixer: requires the most time but allows the most volume. You’ll never get a silky puree if that’s what you’re going for, and you may end up with some larger chunks, but this method could most easily feed a crowd without the elbow grease of hand mashing.
Blender: required extra milk in order to get going, and in very short order turned cooked potatoes into something that more resembled pancake batter than mashed potato, a strong consideration if you’re actually making gnocchi.
It’s not just Spotify that has a year-end wrap-up feature — Apple Music does too, and it’s year round! Here’s how to get your Apple Music Replay playlist, today.
Apple Music Replay 2026
Spotify has a unique feature called Spotify Wrapped that shows off your top artists, songs, and genres of the year. It is a trendy function that gets shared all over social media at the end of each year, but Apple Music fans need not miss out. In fact, the 2025 Replay playlist has already been released and updates every week. In iOS 26, Apple Music Replay is built into the Music app, so no more jumping out to Safari. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
In the rarefied upper tier of high-end audio where prices are unapologetic and expectations are brutal, Esoteric sits comfortably alongside Nagra, Luxman, and TAD. This is not aspirational hi-fi; it’s reference-grade gear for listeners who already know the difference. Esoteric has built its reputation on an almost obsessive approach to engineering, and its CD players and transports remain the benchmark by which competitors are judged, often reluctantly. The evolution of its two best-selling components into the new XE Series is less about reinvention and more about refinement at the highest level.
Drawing directly from the company’s Grandioso flagship philosophy, the $13,000 N-05XE Network DAC Preamplifier and $13,500 S-05XE Class A Stereo Power Amplifier reinforce a familiar truth in this price bracket: Esoteric rarely misses, and when it updates a “core” product, it does so with intent.
Esoteric N-05XE Network DAC Preamplifier: One Box, No Compromises
The N-05XE is Esoteric doing what it does best: taking an already serious component and reworking every circuit that matters without breaking what made it successful in the first place. Positioned as the most compact “do-it-all” solution in the company’s lineup, the N-05XE combines a network streamer, reference-grade DAC, fully balanced dual-mono preamplifier, and a genuinely capable headphone amplifier in a single chassis—without diluting the design brief. This is also the only Esoteric product that integrates all of these functions into one platform, and the new XE revision refines every stage while preserving its core architecture.
At the heart of the N-05XE is Esoteric’s next-generation Master Sound Discrete DAC G2, derived directly from technologies developed for the Grandioso N1. Rather than relying on an off-the-shelf DAC chip, Esoteric uses a fully discrete, FPGA-based multilevel ΔΣ architecture with a 64-bit/512Fs modulator. Separate FPGA algorithms are optimized independently for PCM and DSD playback, while a newly developed low-noise register network and high-precision MELF resistors improve linearity, imaging precision, and noise performance.
The DAC section is fully dual-mono, with left and right channels completely isolated across analog stages and power supplies, and it is clocked by Esoteric’s proprietary high-precision “Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player.”
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Network duties are handled by the new Esoteric Network Engine G4, which supports optical network connections via an SFP port in addition to standard Ethernet. A large, dedicated linear power supply is used exclusively for the network engine, contributing to a smoother, more organic presentation that Esoteric openly likens to analog playback.
The platform supports native DSD up to 22.5 MHz, PCM file playback, and server functionality via two USB drive connections. File support is broad and practical, covering DSF, DSDIFF, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MQA, MP3, and AAC. Streaming support includes TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon, Spotify Connect, and QQ Music, with control handled through Esoteric’s Sound Stream app or third-party OpenHome-compatible applications.
The preamplifier stage is a fully dual-mono, dual-balanced design using eight independent circuits—left and right, hot and cold—derived directly from Esoteric’s Grandioso preamps. A dedicated power supply for the attenuator ensures stable, low-noise volume control, while Esoteric’s HCLD high-current buffer amplifier guarantees consistent performance whether the signal is routed to balanced outputs, single-ended outputs, or the headphone amplifier. ES-Link Analog connectivity is included, allowing current-signal transmission to compatible Esoteric amplifiers for maximum signal integrity.
Headphone listening is treated seriously here, not as an afterthought. The N-05XE features a completely redesigned dual-mono, parallel single-ended headphone amplifier capable of delivering 1,200 mW + 1,200 mW into a 32 ohm load. Outputs include both a 4-pin XLR and a 6.3 mm single-ended jack, with support for headphones ranging from 16 to 600 ohms—comfortably covering everything from efficient dynamics to demanding high-impedance planar and dynamic designs.
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Connectivity is extensive and logically laid out. Digital inputs include XLR, two RCA coaxial, two optical, USB Type-B, and a front-panel USB-C port that allows direct connection of smartphones and digital audio players. An ES-Link (XLR) digital input is provided for direct connection to Esoteric SACD transports. Analog inputs include balanced XLR/ES-Link Analog and single-ended RCA, while outputs are available via XLR/ES-Link Analog, ES-Link Analog pre-out, and RCA. A 10 MHz BNC clock input enables integration with Esoteric’s G-05 external master clock. Bluetooth is also onboard, supporting LDAC, LHDC, and aptX HD for high-quality wireless playback when convenience wins out.
From a mechanical standpoint, the N-05XE uses a high-rigidity aluminum chassis with careful attention paid to vibration control. A semi-floating top panel enhances spatial openness, while Esoteric’s patented pinpoint isolation feet are designed to improve focus, imaging, and soundstage stability. Fit and finish are exactly what you expect at this level, and the unit is proudly manufactured in Tokyo.
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Measured performance is equally serious. The N-05XE offers a frequency response of 5 Hz to 30 kHz (-3 dB), a signal-to-noise ratio of 109 dB (A-weighted), and total harmonic distortion of 0.001 percent at 1 kHz. Power consumption is rated at 30 W, dropping to 0.3 W in standby.
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Physical dimensions are 445 x 131 x 377 mm (width x height x depth), which translates to approximately 17.5 x 5.2 x 14.8 inches, including protrusions. Total weight is 13.6 kg, or about 30 pounds.
Esoteric S-05XE Class A Stereo Power Amplifier
The S-05XE is Esoteric’s latest refinement of its Class A stereo power amplifier platform, built around the same straightforward, low-compromise design philosophy used in the company’s Grandioso amplifiers. Rather than chasing higher output ratings, the focus here is on linearity, channel separation, and stable power delivery in a fully dual-mono layout. The result is a Class A amplifier intended to deliver consistent performance, low noise, and controlled dynamics in real-world systems.
The amplifier operates in pure Class A and is rated at 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 60 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with a bridged (BTL) mode providing 120 watts into 8 ohms. Output stages use high-power bipolar transistors arranged in a three-parallel push-pull configuration, and Esoteric applies minimal negative feedback to preserve transient behavior and avoid over-correction. The design is intended to balance resolution and drive without relying on excessive circuit complexity.
Power supply design is central to the S-05XE. A large 1,000 VA toroidal-core transformer feeds a dual-mono power-supply smoothing circuit, with left and right channels electrically isolated. Energy storage is handled by “Grandioso-grade” custom capacitors, using four 10,000 µF capacitors per channel. This approach supports stable voltage delivery and consistent channel performance under load.
Signal input is handled by a newly developed fully symmetrical balanced input buffer amplifier designed to reduce noise and maintain signal integrity. The S-05XE provides balanced XLR and single-ended RCA inputs, along with Esoteric’s ES-Link Analog current-signal input for direct connection to compatible Esoteric source components. A triple drive mode switch allows the amplifier to operate in stereo, bridged, or bi-amp configurations, and a DC trigger enables coordinated power control when used with matching Esoteric components such as the N-05XE.
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The mechanical structure is designed to support thermal management and vibration control. The chassis incorporates Esoteric’s patented isolation feet, a semi-floating top panel, and a wave-shaped heat sink to reduce resonance while dissipating heat generated by Class A operation. The top panel design draws from the dual honeycomb grille used on Grandioso amplifiers. As with Esoteric’s other reference components, the S-05XE is manufactured in Tokyo.
Measured performance includes a frequency response of 5 Hz to 100 kHz (+0 dB/-3 dB into 8 ohms), a signal-to-noise ratio of 104 dB (IHF-A, XLR), and total harmonic distortion of 0.007 percent at 1 kHz into 8 ohms at 30 watts. Gain is specified at 28.5 dB in stereo operation and 34.5 dB in BTL mode. Power consumption is rated at 215 watts, dropping to 195 watts with no signal. Loudspeaker compatibility is specified at 4 to 16 ohms in stereo mode and 8 to 16 ohms in BTL mode.
Physically, the S-05XE measures 445 × 191 × 443 mm (17.5 × 7.5 × 17.4 inches, width × height × depth including protrusions) and weighs 25.6 kg, or approximately 56.4 pounds.
The Bottom Line
The Esoteric N-05XE and S-05XE are aimed squarely at listeners who want a reference-grade two-channel system without turning their rack into a small industrial park. The N-05XE stands out because it consolidates network streaming, a fully discrete flagship-derived DAC, a true dual-mono balanced preamp, and a serious headphone amplifier into one chassis, something Esoteric doesn’t do anywhere else in its lineup. The S-05XE complements it with a true Class A, fully dual-mono power amplifier that prioritizes control, balance, and long-term stability over headline wattage.
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At $13,000 for the N-05XE and $13,500 for the S-05XE ($26,500 total), this pairing is not inexpensive, but context matters. When you factor in the level of integration, connectivity, build quality, and the likelihood that neither component will feel obsolete anytime soon, the value proposition starts to make sense, especially when compared to multi-box alternatives from brands operating in the same tier. This system is for experienced listeners who want fewer compromises, fewer boxes, and long-term confidence, and who understand that in this corner of high-end audio, “affordable” is relative—but not meaningless.
Hoang Pham has spent his career trying to ensure that some of the world’s most critical systems don’t fail, including commercial aircraft engines, nuclear facilities, and massive data centers that underpin AI and cloud computing.
A professor of industrial and systems engineering at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and a longtime volunteer for IEEE, Pham, an IEEE Life Fellow, is internationally recognized for advancing the mathematical foundations of reliability engineering. His work earned himthe IEEE Reliability Society’s Engineer of the Year Award in 2009. He was recognized for helping to shape how engineers model risk in complex, data-rich systems.
Hoang Pham
Employer
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Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
Job title
Professor of industrial and systems engineering
Member grade
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Life Fellow
Alma maters
Northeastern Illinois University, in Chicago; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and SUNY Buffalo.
The discipline that defines his career was forged long before equations, peer-reviewed journals, or keynote speeches. It began on an overcrowded fishing boat in 1979 when he was fleeing Vietnam after the war, when survival as one of the country’s “boat people” depended on endurance, luck, and the fragile reliability of a vessel never meant to carry so many lives. Like thousands of others, he fled from his war-torn country after the fall of Saigon, which was controlled by communist North Vietnamese forces.
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To mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon in 1975, Pham and his son Hoang Jr.—a Rutgers computer science graduate turned filmmaker—produced Unstoppable Hope, a documentary about Vietnam’s boat people. The film tells the stories of a dozen refugees who, like Pham, survived perilous escapes and went on to build successful lives in the United States.
Pham was born in Bình Thuận, Vietnam. His parents had only a little formal education, having grown up in the 1930s, when schooling was rare. To support their eight children, his parents ran a factory making bricks by hand. Despite their limited means, his parents held an unshakable belief that education was the surest path to a better life.
From an early age, Pham gravitated toward mathematics. Computers were scarce, but numbers and logic came naturally to him. He imagined becoming a teacher or professor and gradually began thinking about how mathematics could be applied to practical problems—how abstract reasoning might improve daily life.
His intellectual curiosity unfolded amid frequent danger. He grew up during the Vietnam War, when dodging gunfire in his province was routine. The 1968 Tet Offensive exposed the full scale of the conflict, making it clear that violence was not an interruption to life but a condition of it.
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Pham recalls that after the Communist takeover of South Vietnam in 1975, conditions worsened dramatically. Families without ties to the new government, especially those who operated small businesses, found it increasingly dangerous to work, study, or apply for jobs, he says. People began vanishing. Many attempted to escape by boat, knowing the risks: imprisonment if caught or potentially death at sea.
A successful escape
In June 1979, at the height of Vietnam’s typhoon season, Pham’s mother made an agonizing decision. She placed Pham, then 18 years old, onto a small, overcrowded fishing vessel in the hope that he might reach freedom.
The boat, which was designed to carry about 100 people, departed with 275.
Pham’s 12-day journey was harrowing. He was confined to the lower deck, which was packed so tightly that movement was nearly impossible. Seasickness overwhelmed many passengers, and he remembers losing consciousness shortly after departure. Food was scarce, and safe drinking water was nearly nonexistent. Violent storms battered the vessel, and pirates loomed.
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“Every moment felt like a struggle against nature, fate, and internal despair,” Pham says.
The boat eventually washed ashore on a remote island off the Malaysian coast. Arriving at a refugee camp offered little relief; food and clean water were scarce, disease spread rapidly, and nearly everyone—including Pham—contracted malaria. Death came almost nightly.
After two weeks, Malaysian authorities transferred the refugees to a transit camp, where the United Nations provided basic rations. Still, the asylum seekers’ futures remained uncertain. It is estimated by the U.N. Refugee Agency that between 1975 and the early 1990s, roughly 800,000 Vietnamese people attempted to escape by boat. As many as 250,000 did not survive the harrowing journey, the agency estimates.
Starting over with nothing
In January 1980, at age 19, Pham learned that someone in the United States had agreed to sponsor him for entry, he says. He soon boarded an airplane for the first time and landed in Seattle.
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His troubles weren’t over, however. He arrived in a city blanketed by snow, wearing thin clothing and carrying only a spare shirt. The frosty weather was not his greatest concern, though. During his first two months, he spent most of his time in a hospital, recovering from malaria and other diseases. And he spoke no English.
Still, Pham—who had been a first-year college student in Vietnam—refused to abandon his goal of becoming a teacher, he says. He enrolled at Lincoln High School in order to gain English proficiency and position himself to enter an American college. One teacher allowed him to test into a calculus class despite his limited English—which he passed.
“That moment told me I could survive here,” Pham says.
Pham’s research direction crystallized in 1988 while searching for a dissertation topic. He was reading the January 1988 issue ofIEEE Spectrum and had a flash of inspiration after seeing a classified ad posted by the U.S. Defense Department’s Naval Underwater System Center (now known as the Naval Undersea Warfare Center). The ad asked, “Can your theories solve the unsolvable?” It focused on the reliability of undersea communication and combat decision-making systems.
The ad revealed to him that institutions were actively applying mathematics and statistics to solve engineering problems. Pham says he still keeps a copy of that Spectrum issue in his office.
After completing his Ph.D., he joined Boeing as a senior specialist engineer at its Renton, Wash., facility, working on engine reliability for the 777 aircraft, which was under development.
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He worked there for 18 months, then accepted a senior engineering specialist position at the Idaho National Laboratory, in Idaho Falls, where he worked on nuclear systems.
His desire to become an instructor never left him, however. In 1993 he joined Rutgers as an assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering.
Today his research focuses on reliability in modern, data-intensive systems, including AI infrastructure and global data centers.
“The problem now isn’t getting data,” he says. “It’s knowing which data to trust.”
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Charting his IEEE journey
Pham joined IEEE in 1985 as a student member and credits the organization with shaping much of his professional life. IEEE provided a platform for scholarship, collaboration, and visibility at critical moments in his career, he says.
“If my journey holds one lesson,” he says, “it is this: Struggle builds resilience, and resilience makes the extraordinary possible. Even in darkness, perseverance lights the way.”
Back in the 1970s, there were cars that identified their drivers as very special people. These were the cars that delivered either super-high performance, exotic show-car styling, the highest levels of opulent, over-the-top luxury appointments, or an intentional combination of these traits. If you were behind the wheel of one of these cars, you definitely drew the crowd’s attention. The drivers of these cars were well aware of the appeal their vehicles held.
The specific cars in this article are from several European countries. Two are from Italy, two are from Great Britain, and one is from Germany. One of them can claim to be the original exotic car, one takes the crown as the ultimate luxury car of its day, and one is a thoroughbred sports car that had both a successful racing career and what appeared to be a starring role in a trend-setting TV show. One of these cars used advanced technology to deliver the performance of Italian exotics while remaining a daily driver without compromise, as long as you avoided terminal oversteer. And one combined luxury and high performance into a unique blend that to this day is still associated with the public’s favorite fictional secret agent. Enjoy our diverse selection of “Living the Dream” cars.
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1974-79 Lamborghini Countach
Let’s start with one of the most outrageously styled and high-performance exotic cars of the 1970s and beyond — the Lamborghini Countach, which turned 50 years old in 2021. Although it debuted at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini did not put it into production until 1974. The very first Countach, the LP 400 chassis 0001, was made from 1974 to 1978 in a quantity of 152 cars. It was followed by the Countach LP 400 S, which featured the now-familiar fender flares, huge rear wing, large front spoiler, and telephone-dial-styled wheels. Produced from 1978 through 1982, 235 examples of the LP 400 S were made. These two models, made in the 1970s, were followed by three more powerful versions of the Countach, which endured until the car was discontinued in 1990.
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Powering the LP 400 was a 3.9-liter V12 engine with 375 horsepower, mounted behind the driver and driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Motor Trend performance testing of a Countach LP 400 generated a 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 162 mph. Fun fact — the Countach was the first Lamborghini to have its body produced in-house. Before this, Lamborghini used outside coachbuilders.
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1971-79 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible
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The Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible was made from 1971 until 1996, outlasting its coupe counterpart by 14 years. This iconic symbol of financial success was owned by luminaries such as Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Elton John, Tom Jones, and Dean Martin, with Frank Sinatra also owning one. Named for the roads running along the Côte d’Azur in France, the Corniche Convertible was a luxurious, comfortable yacht that cruised on land. In the words of the Robb Report, the Corniche was, “…the automotive equivalent of lighting a Cuban cigar with a hundred-dollar bill.”
The Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible was derived from the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, which featured a contemporary monocoque body. Coachbuilt by hand at London’s Mulliner Park Ward, the Corniche Convertible measured 17 feet long, weighed nearly 5,000 pounds, and took months to build. The Corniche Convertible’s 6.75-liter V8 engine’s output was described as “adequate,” as Rolls-Royce liked to say. Its three-speed automatic transmission sent its power directly to the rear wheels. Rolls-Royce performance estimates for this vehicle included a 0-62 mph acceleration in 11 seconds and a top speed of approximately 124 mph.
Needless to say, luxurious accommodations abound in the Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible. From the gorgeous wood dash and door trim to the sumptuous Connolly leather seats to the heavy carpeting underfoot, you are treated to a truly upscale experience. The standard equipment list also included air conditioning and power windows. These were items that were definitely not included on all luxury cars back in the 1970s.
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1968-73 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
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The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was Ferrari’s top dog and most powerful road car to date, with 352 horsepower from its front-mounted 4.4-liter V12 engine and a top speed of 174 mph. Produced from 1968-73, it was called by Road and Track at the time, “…the best sports car in the world…” Unofficially named for Ferrari’s 1-2-3 sweep of the 1967 Daytona 24-hour race, most Daytonas (1,284 of 1,406) were coupes or Berlinettas in Ferrari lingo, while the rest were Spyder versions, identified as the 365 GTS/4. If you were behind the wheel of one of these, you stood out, both in terms of style and street cred.
Another interesting historical footnote about the 365 GTB/4 Daytona is that it won the second running of the unsanctioned Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, driven by famous racer Dan Gurney and auto journalist Brock Yates. This was an “outlaw” cross-country race that went from New York City to Los Angeles, which Gurney and Yates completed in an incredible 35 hours and 54 minutes. Another bit of notoriety was achieved by what appeared to be a 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spyder that was featured in a starring role in the 1980s TV series “Miami Vice,” but it wasn’t a Ferrari at all.
The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona was also successful as a racing car. Its outstanding durability made it an excellent endurance racer. At the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ferrari Daytona claimed the top five spots in its class.
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1976-79 Porsche 911 Turbo
The Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera, also known as type 930, was first shown to the public as a concept at the 1973 Frankfurt International Automobile Show. While it was released by Porsche for the 1975 model year, none of these first-year cars, which were both under-braked and under-tired, came to the U.S. We got the 1976 model, which ran through 1977 and was then replaced with the slightly renamed 911 Turbo, which had a larger, 3.3-liter engine (up from 3.0 liters) and an air-to-air intercooler to cool the intake air after its trip through the turbocharger. The 911 Turbo 3.3 was available in the U.S. through the 1979 model year, but thanks to emissions regulations, wouldn’t return until 1986.
The Porsche 911 Turbo, in either version available through the 1970s, was a performance legend but could be difficult to handle at its limits, which earned it a nickname, “The Widowmaker.”Car and Driver tested its 1976 911 Turbo Carrera, with 234 horsepower, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 13.5 seconds at 105 mph, and an observed top speed of 156 mph. Roadholding came in at .93g. This was very impressive for 1976.
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The Porsche 911 Turbo will take its place as the first production sports car to be fitted with a turbocharger. It delivered performance comparable to the Lamborghinis and Ferraris of the day, while retaining the 911 hallmark of everyday practicality. Driving a 911 Turbo puts you in a special category.
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1969-72 Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS followed the Aston Martin DB6. The DB6’s predecessor, the DB5, had already become well known as James Bond’s ride in the early Bond films and also appeared in later ones. The DBS also starred in a Bond film, 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” starring George Lazenby. Aston Martin celebrated the film’s 50th Anniversary by making a limited edition of 50 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggeras. Fun fact — after the DBS appeared in its single film role, a full 18 years would go by before Bond would next drive an Aston Martin in a 007 film.
The DBS was originally powered by the same 4.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine used in the DB6, as the planned V8 engine was not yet ready. The DBS was heavier than the DB6, as it was designed as a GT capable of comfortably seating four. The DBS V8 featured a 5.3-liter V8 engine with Bosch fuel injection and four overhead cams producing 320 horsepower, good for a 0-60 mph run in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 160 mph. This made the DBS V8 the fastest four-seat production car in the world. You could think of the Aston DBS V8 as a cross between the Rolls-Royce Corniche and the Ferrari Daytona — furnished in Connolly leather, with well-built seats and plush carpeting inside, but also possessing the performance to humble anything else on the road in its day. Driving one made you feel special.
