John Sciacca

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CES 2020
New LG Soundbars Benefit from Meridian DSP
John Sciacca  |  Jan 10, 2020  |  0 comments
While Meridian’s line-up of digital speakers might be out of your budget, you can still enjoy some of the company’s sonic digital wizardry which is featured in the new line of LG premium soundbars. These bars leverage a long-standing partnership between LG and Meridian Audio and apply Meridian’s in-depth understanding of psychoacoustics and world leading DSP expertise, incorporating key technologies such as Bass & Space, Image Elevation, and Meridian Upmix Technology to boost low-frequency reproduction, widen the soundstage, and ensure a more lifelike listening experience by elevating the perceived height of lead instruments and vocals — extra important when the bar is positioned beneath a display.
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CES 2020
Meet Oval’s Five-in-One Smart Sensor
John Sciacca  |  Jan 10, 2020  |  0 comments
There were no shortage of startups in the smart-home category at CES, but cruising up and down the aisles of Eureka Park in the Sands Expo Convention Center, I stumbled across Oval, a new all-in-one sensor that makes it an exciting entry into the crowded DIY smart-home sector.
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CES 2020
JBL L82 Classic Makes Old New Again
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
Who doesn’t remember the iconic Maxell tape ad with the guy sitting in the chair and his martini being blown away by great audio? The speakers in that ad were JBL L100s, an all-time best seller for JBL, and a 3-way model originally released in 1970. A couple of years ago the company resurrected this design by introducing the L100 Classic, a retro-styled design with updated technology that quickly became a surprise hit. This year JBL is introducing a new model to this retro-styled line, the L82 Classic Bookshelf.
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CES 2020
UHD Alliance Garners Support for Filmmaker Mode
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  1 comments
Remember awhile back when Tom Cruise and Top Gun: Maverick director Christopher McQuarrie took to the Internet to blast on the ill-effects of using motion smoothing to ruin movies by turning them into video mush that looked like a telenovela soap opera? Well, the UHD Alliance (UHDA), comprised of nearly 40 member companies, is out to make Cruise’s dream come true by getting more manufacturers and industry professionals on board to support a new Filmmaker Mode setting that will ensure you are watching movies as closely resembles the filmmaker’s intention and to the best of your display’s capability.
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CES 2020
Klipsch Stresses Audio Performance in New Soundbars
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
Speaker manufacturers are catching on to the fact that just because someone is buying a soundbar doesn’t mean that they want to sacrifice a quality audio experience. Klipsch released three new bars at CES, with all models crafted from wood and utilizing horn-loaded technology to look and sound like the brand’s acclaimed Reference speakers and deliver a premium soundbar experience.
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CES 2020
Audio-Technica Aims High with $399 Turntable
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
With a slate of affordable, entry-level turntables in its stable, Audio-Technica is rolling out the new AT-LPW50PB, a new belt-drive deck sitting at the upper-range of its line meant to provide a more affordable path to high-end audio listening.
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CES 2020
Klipsch Teams with McLaren on Performance Headphones
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
There are hundreds (thousands?) of different headphone models floating around Las Vegas at CES this week, but only Klipsch Audio is the official headphone partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Racing team, and the two brands have teamed up to produce three new headphones that not only have unparalleled quality, but also excellent design crafted from the finest materials for serious performance. And all models are accentuated with McLaren’s signature color: Papaya Orange.
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CES 2020
Hogar Offers Smart Home Brains and Beauty
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
There have been lots of developments over the years in the category of smart lighting control, but most of these smart controls don’t really look much different or nicer than a classic paddle switch you can pick up for a couple of bucks at your local Home Depot. Hogar Controls feels that the modern smart home deserves something that looks better than just an ordinary light switch, and the company’s new Prima Touch Switch line offers a sleek designer finish that makes your modern home actually look modern!
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CES 2020
Flex Automation Bridges Control4 and Z-Wave
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
Control4 is the preferred automation system by many custom installers (myself included), and while the company offers some Z-Wave integration, it is meager at best, interfacing with only a very small handful (less than 15) of devices. For users that want to tap into the hundreds of widely available and unique Z-Wave components, Flex Automation debuted two new devices to bridge the control gap.
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CES 2020
Enclave Unveils THX-Certified Soundbar Killer
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
Soundbars are perfect problem solvers for many as they provide a greatly improved listening experience over the anemic audio offered by nearly every modern flat-panel display. Many opt for a soundbar because they require no additional hardware like an AVR, usually require just a single-wire connection to the display, need no extra controls, and are affordable. But what if there was a way to get all of these soundbar benefits while still enjoying far better sound, with actual front channel separation and true surround sound? That’s the promise Enclave Audio is delivering with its new CineHome wireless audio systems.
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