Leslie Shapiro

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Headphone Reviews
Review: SOL Republic Master Tracks
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 17, 2013  |  0 comments

Two years ago, not a soul had heard of SOL Republic. Last summer, that all changed as everyone watching the Summer Olympics frantically googled to see what brand of headphones were seemingly permanently attached to swimmer Michael Phelps' head whenever he was out of the water. Overnight, SOL Republic went from "what's that?" to "must have." Can their latest design keep up with the hype?

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Grace Notes
Movie Premiere: World War Z
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 21, 2013  |  0 comments

Suddenly, just when you thought the world was safe, it's full of zombies. They are everywhere – on your game console, your phone, cable TV, and now even on the big screen. Metaphor for the fragility of modern civilization, and just plain fun to shoot at, zombies are cool. So it takes someone even cooler than zombies, namely Brad Pitt, to kick some zombie butt.

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Grace Notes
Movie Premiere: Pacific Rim
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 12, 2013  |  0 comments

Entire cities have been obliterated by giant, rampaging monsters. Despite heroic efforts, the human race is losing the struggle. The situation is grim. In a last ditch effort to save civilization, the Pan Pacific Defense Corps sends forth the last of its skyscraper-sized robots to battle the monsters. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

 

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Grace Notes
Review: Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ear Headphones Page 2
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 14, 2013  |  0 comments

Sennheiser has long been a fixture in the professional audio and high-end audiophile market. I've used my Sennheiser HD 595 and HD 600 Open Dynamic headphones for many applications - in the studio for reference monitoring, for sound quality consulting, and for audio forensics. When Sennheiser announced the Momentum series, I was instantly curious about these affordable, fashionable, and (somewhat) portable headphones. Would they live up to the brand's reputation?

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Headphone Reviews
Mark Levinson No. 5909 Wireless Headphones Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 26, 2023  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Reference-quality sound
Excellent connectivity options
Exceptional ANC

Minus
Annoying voice confirmation
Short On-Head detection setting
Audio disabled while charging

THE VERDICT
The first headphones from legendary audio specialist Mark Levinson, tuned precisely to the Harman Curve, the No. 5909 are both exceptional sounding and have excellent ANC properties.

They say money can’t buy happiness. Without a doubt, it can buy the $999 Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphones, and without a doubt, these make me happy. The Mark Levinson No. 5909 headphones are the first headphones from this elite division of Harman. These over-ear headphones feature adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, USB-C wired connections and wireless Bluetooth.

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Headphone Reviews
JVC HA-A25T "Marshmallow" True Wireless NC Earbuds Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 19, 2023  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $69.95

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Budget price
ANC and Ambient modes
Memory Foam tips
Minus
No-frills packaging
Treble response lacks clarity
ANC could be stronger

THE VERDICT
The JVC HA-A25T ranks among the top budget True Wireless earbuds I've tried, performing well as practical earbuds for the gym or office and won’t cause heartbreak if you misplace one.

I will just come right out and admit this: I am an audio snob, perhaps brought on by my early childhood years listening to my dad’s Quad Electrostatic speakers or the 25 years spent in professional recording studios. I know good sound quality and I like it. So when I was handed a pair of $70 JVC Marshmallow HA-A25T Noise Canceling True Wireless Earbuds, I scoffed. Will they be able to overcome my bias?

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