Ken C. Pohlmann

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Signals
Atmos at Home Is Huge
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Oct 14, 2014  |  0 comments
I am excited. I am thrilled. I am checking my credit-card balance to make sure I can afford an upgrade to the audio side of my home theater. When Leslie Shapiro and I reviewed the theatrical release of the Atmos mix of Oblivion in April, 2013 at soundandvision.com, we were blown away. We wrote, “If you wisely see this film in Atmos, you will experience true state-of-the-art sound design and theatrical playback. It’s an open secret that Dolby will roll out Atmos to home theaters. When will that day come?” That day has come. Hallelujah.
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Signals
Atmos-Enabled Products: Caution Ahead?
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Aug 19, 2014  |  4 comments
I am a huge fan of Dolby Atmos in commercial movie theaters. I routinely specifically choose to see movies in theaters that are Atmos-equipped, and will gladly pay a little extra if necessary. The immersion provided by Atmos playback, particularly from the array of ceiling speakers, is remarkable and in my opinion measurably improves the movie experience.

Thus I was overjoyed when the rumors of Atmos at home came true. The prospect of hearing Atmos soundtracks in my home theater suddenly made me excited about home-theater audio again. I could hardly wait for the specifications to be released, so I could install the necessary speakers, and buy whatever gear I would need. Now, comments from a Dolby heavyweight have made me a little nervous.

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Audio History
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jun 19, 2012  |  0 comments

It’s easy to think of sound recordings in the present tense. Thanks to modern marketing, we’re fixated on this week’s downloads, who’s doing well on America’s Got Talent, and what Lady Gaga is wearing. (Whatever happened to that meat dress, anyway?) But a very cool thing happens once something is recorded.

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Audio Quality Lives!
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Mar 26, 2012  |  0 comments

Everything runs in cycles, and audio has passed its nadir and is now trending back up. And high-fidelity audio — for heaven’s sake! — is moving back onto the radar screen. Consider these 10 points:

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CES 2019
Audio-Technica Cuts the Cord on a Popular Headphone, Showcases New Turntables
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 08, 2019  |  0 comments
Audio-Technica can always be counted on to arrive at CES with a plethora of new and interesting products, and again this year they didn't disappoint. Their list of newly arrived goodies includes a number of wireless headphones including a wireless version of its ATH-M50x, some keen turntables, and a series of phono cartridges.

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CES 2017
Audio-Technica Shows New High-End Headphones
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 05, 2017  |  0 comments
And you thought that headphones were all the same – just two cans with magnetics and stuff inside. Audio-Technica politely, but urgently, wants to update that notion with a plethora of new headphones. Two in particular caught my attention with their innovative conversion technology, and support of 24-bit/48-kHz wireless.

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CES 2016Signals
Audio-Technica Shows New High-Fidelity Headphones
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 06, 2016  |  0 comments
Everyone and their brother (and mother) are making headphones these days, but Audio-Technica has been doing it for far longer than most. They continue to refine their designs, and are showing five new or upgraded headphones in their High Fidelity line.

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Signals
Backstabbing for Beginners
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Dec 07, 2020  |  9 comments
Good morning students and welcome to Backstabbing for Beginners. In this class, you will learn how to betray like a pro. As we will see, there are many ways to screw over another party. But all backstabbing can be boiled down to two easy steps...
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Ballet Mécanique: Back To The Future
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Feb 05, 2024  |  3 comments
It may surprise you to learn that yesterday was not the past, and tomorrow will not be the future. In fact, it is the opposite. Yesterday will be the future, and tomorrow was the past. I would not make such a bold claim unless I have proof. And I have proof.

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Bass Cows from Hell!
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Dec 11, 2018  |  0 comments
Well, actually, that title should be Bass Cows from Mars! But in any case, in the long tradition of weird ways to show off your system's bass response, NASA has kindly obliged us with an especially weird way.

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