John Sciacca

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John Sciacca | Jan 06, 2005 | 0 comments

By far one of the biggest challenges for most people installing a home theater system is wiring the speakers - especially the surrounds because they're typically placed quite a ways from the rest. Wireless connections are an obvious solution, and at this year's CES, several manufacturers offered systems taking advantage of 2.4-GHz wireless technology to feed the surrounds.

Other Tech

Lutron AuroRa Wireless Lighting Control System

John Sciacca | Dec 03, 2007 | 0 comments

Despite technological advances in every area, most homes are still limited to just two pieces of automation: garage-door opener and remote control. And while it's unfathomable to think of manually cranking a car's windows or locking its doors, people remain content to walk around their homes turning lights on and off - just like Thomas Edison did.

CEDIA 2015

M3B Delivers Affordable HDMI Matrix Via Coax

John Sciacca | Oct 17, 2015 | 0 comments

The one thing that nearly every home in the country has been wired with is good o’le RG6 coax cable. This is traditionally used for off-air antenna, cable TV or satellite video distribution, but now the smart guys at Metra Home Theater Group have introduced the M3B Metra Multimedia Broadcast system to utilize this existing cabling to create a low cost, incredibly scalable HDMI matrix distribution system.

Accessory Reviews Custom Installation Equipment Reviews

MantelMount MM860 Motorized TV Mount Review

John Sciacca | May 05, 2020 | 1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $1,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solves major TV installation issue
Solid build quality
Out-of-the-box automation
Minus
Limited horizontal swivel range
Awkward power/cable routing
Professional installation highly recommended

THE VERDICT
The MM860 costs more than many TVs, but it solves a common installation issue, performs reliably, and looks cool.

As long as architects design houses with a fireplace as the focal point of the living/family room, people will continue to mount their TVs above the fireplace mantel. But a problem with that location is that it situates the screen too high for comfortable viewing. And even though people know that height is going to be an issue, they often have no other obvious installation choice and are consequently forced to suffer life with TVOF (TV Over Fireplace) syndrome.

CEDIA 2017

MantleMount MM850 Knows How to Get Down

John Sciacca | Sep 09, 2017 | 0 comments

Due to room layout, many homeowners opt to mount their flat panel TV over the mantle above a fireplace. And while this might work with symmetrical design sensibility and produce the right feng shui flow for the space, it almost always puts the display too high, frequently producing odd screen reflections, causing neck strain, and making viewing uncomfortable. The simple – and obvious – solution is to use a mount that can lower the TV down to a more comfortable height while viewing, but then retreat to its position above the mantle when finished. That solution is what MantleMount is all about.

Other Tech

Marantz Brings Power-Line Networking to Audio

John Sciacca | Jan 06, 2006 | 0 comments

Marantz ZR6001 A/V receiver and ZR4001 DAvED power-line audio networking client

Other Tech

Marantz DaVed Power-Line Audio System

John Sciacca | May 01, 2006 | 0 comments

Marantz introduced its DAvED (Digital Audio via Electrical Distribution) system at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, and I was immediately wowed by the concept of sending audio over a house's electrical wiring. So I jumped at the chance to play with a pre-production sample.

Other Tech

Marantz IS301 Wireless iPod Dock

John Sciacca | Jan 19, 2010 | 0 comments

Key Features

$249 US.MARANTZ.COM

• Compatible with all A/V receivers and current

CES 2018

Marantz Unleashes HDMI 2.1-Upgradeable Flagship

John Sciacca | Jan 13, 2018 | 9 comments

What you are looking at here is Marantz’s new flagship pre-amp/processor, the AV8805. It also happens to be the next pre-amp I’m planning on buying for my personal AV rig! Read on to find out what this beast has under its hood….

CES 2020

Mark Levinson Makes Audiophile Ownership Less Expensive

John Sciacca | Jan 08, 2020 | 3 comments

There are those marquee brands in the high-end world that carry instant name cachet and immediately call to mind cost-no-object designs that most mortals can only aspire to owning. Dropping names like Krell, McIntosh, Trinnov, and Wilson Audio lets fellow AV aficionados know you’re familiar with truly high-end. Mark Levinson is a company that definitely belongs on that list of names, and with the company’s 5000 Series of products, they are trying to make membership in the audiophile owners’ club a bit less daunting, and also attract the next generation of music loving audiophiles.

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John Sciacca

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