Leslie Shapiro

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Streaming Device Reviews
TiVo Premiere
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 29, 2011  |  0 comments

As entertainment options become more and more plentiful, so do the variety of ways to access and enjoy them. Even without cable, the possibilities seem practically endless. Could there be one box that takes all these options and makes it simple, easy and fun to access it all?

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Torque Releases New Filter Valves for its Tunable t103z In-Ear Monitors
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 20, 2015  |  0 comments
Good news for audiophiles who like to take control of their music. A while back we reviewed a rather unique pair of in-ear monitors, the Torque t103z (MSRP $180). While they were a really good-sounding earphone, what made them stand out were the interchangeable passive filter valves—patented by Torque as PAVT, Passive Acoustic Valve Technology. When Sound&Vision initially reviewed the t103z, there were only three filter options. Now, we get a chance to listen to three new offerings from Torque Audio. For choosy music lovers (and who here isn’t?) this is great news.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Torque t402v Convertible On-Ear/Over-Ear Headphone
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 15, 2015  |  0 comments
Choice is good. My laptop can convert to a tablet. My hiking pants convert to shorts. My car converts to a stargazing roadster. And my Torque t402v on-ear headphones convert to over-ear headphones. Even better than that—the sound converts from balanced headphones to bass-heavy beasts.
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Grace Notes
True-Fi Headphone Calibration Software More Popular than Ever
Leslie Shapiro  |  Sep 24, 2018  |  0 comments
Ever get a pair of headphones that you love for their style or comfort, but you’re just not in love with the sound profile? Sonarworks True-Fi makes it easier than ever to get “reference” studio-quality sound for over 200 headphone models.

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Grace NotesAudio Video News
Turn it Up! Spotify Lowers Streaming Volume
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 14, 2017  |  2 comments
Few people probably noticed a subtle change to Spotify that started a few weeks ago. In keeping with a standard already adopted by Tidal, YouTube and iTunes, Spotify has lowered the volume of its streams...
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Grace Notes
Turning the Page: The Rise of the Audiobook
Leslie Shapiro  |  Oct 10, 2016  |  0 comments
There’s a little-known corner of the audio world—one filled with drama and fantasy, science fiction and nonfiction. A world where anything is possible, and where many audiophiles rarely tread. It’s the world of audiobooks. And while the music industry may be struggling financially, the audiobook is exploding.
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Grace NotesAudio Video News
Unwrapped: THX "Deep Note"
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 04, 2018  |  0 comments
In honor of its upcoming 35th anniversary, THX hit Twitter with a post that sent music and movie fans alike into a tizzy. THX just released the written musical score of the THX logo theme, satisfying fans and showing us all how wonderfully simple, yet brilliant the piece is. 35 years ago, in time for the premiere of “Return of the Jedi,” Dr. James “Andy” Moorer created the THX musical icon, and it became one of the most recognizable scores in movie history. Now, we can finally see what they were talking about.

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CES 2016Grace Notes
Urbanears Takes it to the Streets With New Active Lineup
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 06, 2016  |  0 comments
Urbanears is known for edgy, stylish headphones and it's exciting to see cool-looking headphones and earbuds that can handle the toughest workouts while looking good and sounding better.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
V-MODA Zn In-ear Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 07, 2015  |  2 comments
V-MODA is forcing me back to high school chemistry and I don’t like it one bit. I guess most people probably know that Zn stands for zinc without having to break out a periodic table, and the properties of zinc are great for making acoustic devices. The new Zn in-ear monitors are the first in-ears released by V-MODA in four years, and they’re aiming for the modern audiophile with a blend of features that balance convenience and luxury.

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Streaming Device ReviewsTurntable Reviews
Victrola Stream Carbon Turntable Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 02, 2023  |  42 comments
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Easy streaming to Sonos
Automatically turns on
Included Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

Minus
App is finicky
Lacks phono output
Dust cover feels cheap
Complex music can overwhelm codec
Expensive

THE VERDICT
The Victrola Stream Carbon Turntable is a fun, convenient, albeit expensive way to stream directly from vinyl into the Sonos ecosystem. With RCA line outputs, it's also a simple, solid turntable for a traditional analog system.

If you've wandered by some iterations of Victrola turntables on the shelves in Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, or Crate & Barrel, you wouldn't set high expectations for the sound quality of those suitcase record players. However, in a bold move, Victrola hit the market with the Stream Carbon Turntable VPT-3000 (MSRP $799), designed for the serious vinyl enthusiast who also craves the convenience of streaming into their existing Sonos ecosystem.

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