Al Griffin

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Munich 2019

Al Griffin | May 11, 2019 | 0 comments

With a bamboo-encased cabinet supported by an A-frame stand, iFi’s Aurora, unveiled, appropriately enough, at an art gallery in Munich on Thursday night, doesn’t look anything like other wireless all-in-one speakers on the market.

Other Tech

Improving LCD TV

Al Griffin | Jan 06, 2005 | 0 comments

The popularity of flat-panel TVs with LCD (liquid-crystal display) screens was very much in evidence at CES 2005. From well-established names like Sharp and Toshiba to relative newcomers in the U.S. market like BenQ and Moxell, a good number of manufacturers displayed LCD models ranging from 15 to 55 inches.

Editor's Eye

In Search of the Perfect Audio Demo

Al Griffin | Aug 22, 2019 | 0 comments

In May I had an opportunity to attend High End in Munich, Germany, an event considered by many to be the world’s leading hi-fi show. It was the second consecutive Munich show I had attended, and this one was even more bustling with activity than the last. While the show does provide trade-only days, it’s primarily a consumer-focused event — audiophiles from all over Europe flock in to look at and listen to the latest gear, much of it on active display in rooms that pump out nonstop music.

3D Projector Reviews Projector Reviews

InFocus ScreenPlay SP1080 3D DLP Projector Review

Al Griffin | Oct 12, 2016 | 0 comments

2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $549

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Good value
Decent overall performance
Capable of high brightness
Minus
Brightness limits color accuracy
So-so contrast

THE VERDICT
While it’s not without compromises, the SP1080 delivers good overall home theater image quality for its very low price.

A home theater projector is designed for permanent installation in a light-controlled environment. A mini projector is meant for giving business presentations or toting to a vacation home. What is the line that separates the two categories? Until recently, it was price: A typical home theater model started at around $1,000 and shot up from there. But the InFocus ScreenPlay SP1080 seems intended to blur that line: It’s priced at a mere $549, or the same amount you’d pay for a high-quality mini projector. Consequently, home theater projection has now become almost absurdly cheap. But is this new InFocus any good? Let’s take a look.

Other Tech

Inside Blu-ray & HD DVD

Al Griffin | May 04, 2006 | 0 comments

When DVD appeared in early 1997, it didn't take much prodding for people to trash their collections of primitive VHS tapes and embrace the shiny new disc. The dramatic boost in picture and sound quality had a lot to do with it - when experienced on a widescreen TV along with 5.1-channel sound, watching a DVD was almost like sitting in a movie theater.

CES 2016 Ask S&V

Interacting with Panasonic’s 8K Tabletop Display

Al Griffin | Jan 09, 2016 | 7 comments

With TV makers focused on releasing 4K TVs with an expanded range of capabilities (HDR, wide color gamut, etc.) at CES 2016, the idea of a consumer 8K TV seems far off. Japanese broadcaster NHK has been demonstrating 8K for several years now at trade shows, however, and it plans to use the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as a platform to debut an 8K-res TV broadcast format.

CES 2015

IOGEAR Dock Enables Desktop 4K TV Connections

Al Griffin | Jan 08, 2015 | 0 comments

IOGEAR’s Universal Dock with 4K monitor support extends the capabilities of your desktop, laptop, or Ultrabook so it can connect to pretty much anything, 4K TVs included. Even if you neglected to take advantage of half of the connectivity options that it provides, you’d still get a gooey, good feeling knowing you have almost unlimited means to make a hook-up.

iPod Speakers Get Serious

Al Griffin | Aug 31, 2005 | 0 comments

The Short Form

klipsch.com/ifi / 800-554-7724 / $400 / Satellites 8.75 IN high / Subwoofer 10.75 x 10.75 x 14 IN, 25 LBS

Ask S&V

Is 35mm Film Good Enough for 4K on Blu-ray?

Al Griffin | Jun 12, 2014 | 3 comments

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Ever since I heard that 4K could become a mainstream reality, I’ve held off on making Blu-ray purchases thinking that a new, better format is just around the corner. I’ve also read that certain TV shows going forward will be shot in 4K, which makes me wonder about the long-term fate of content that wasn’t recorded at that resolution.

Ask S&V

Is a 5.1.2 Setup Sufficient for Atmos Surround?

Al Griffin | Jun 15, 2017 | 1 comments

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

A If I use two Dolby Atmos-enabled towers as the front left/right speakers in my system, will that be sufficient to experience the format when playing discs with Atmos soundtracks? — David Lambert / via e-mail

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