Al Griffin

Music and Soundtrack Features
Apple Music: Spatial Audio Relations
Mike Mettler,  |  Sep 17, 2021  |  2 comments
Back in May 2021, Apple significantly boosted the appeal of its Apple Music streaming service with the addition of two new features: Lossless Audio (including high-res versions for some albums and tracks) and Spatial Audio. While the term "Spatial Audio" might indicate that Apple has created a completely new surround sound music format, it's essentially Dolby Atmos—the same immersive, object- based mixing technology used for movie soundtracks.
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Can I Stream Hi-Res Audio Over Bluetooth?
Al Griffin  |  Sep 15, 2021  |  0 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have tried streaming Amazon Music HD to my Marantz SR7015 receiver over Bluetooth from my iPad using the receiver’s HEOS app. The app shows resolutions all the way up to 24 bit/192kHz — something I didn’t think was possible with Bluetooth! Will I get the same resolutions if I make a hardwired connection from iPad to AVR using an AudioQuest DragonFly Red USB DAC? —Paul Giovino, via email

Continue Reading >
New Products
JVC Launches New 8K Projector Lineup
Al Griffin  |  Sep 02, 2021  |  0 comments
JVC’s projector line is getting a refresh, with three new models ranging in price from $9,999.95 to $24,999.95. All models employ the company's BLU-Escent laser diode light source—a feature previously available only in the flagship DLA-RS4500—along with its proprietary 8K/e-shift technology. They are also outfitted with 8K60p/4K120p-capable HDMI inputs (48Gbps)—a first for a home theater projector, according to JVC.
Continue Reading >
Editor's Eye
CEDIA 2021: The Incredible Shrinking Expo
Al Griffin  |  Aug 30, 2021  |  3 comments
The highly-anticipated 2021 “reunion” edition of CEDIA Expo has been hit hard by worries over the rapid-rise of the Covid-19 Delta variant.
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Can I Use Dipole Speakers in a Dolby Atmos Setup?
Al Griffin  |  Aug 18, 2021  |  5 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Way back when surround sound at home was the new big thing, installing dipole surround speakers at either side of the main listening position was recommended. Are dipoles still the optimal surround speaker choice now that technology has transitioned to object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos? —Steve Benoff, Beaumont, CA

Continue Reading >
Projection Screen Reviews
EPV Screens DarkStar UST 2 Efinity Projection Screen Review
Al Griffin  |  Aug 11, 2021  |  0 comments

Performance
Setup
Value
PRICE $2,799

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Highly immersive image from 123-inch screen
Easy assembly
Five-year warranty
Very good value
Minus
Requires high brightness projector for best performance

THE VERDICT
If you're looking for an ultra-large screen to pair with your ultra short throw projector, the DarkStar UST 2 Efinity offers impressive performance and value.

With ultra short throw (UST) projectors available from a growing list of companies including Epson, LG, Hisense, Optoma, Vava, and now Samsung, it's clear that the category has become firmly established. That's no surprise given the ergonomic and screen real estate- per-dollar benefits such models offer, but getting the best picture quality from a UST setup requires a specific screen pairing. We've frequently discussed ambient light rejecting (ALR) screens in Sound & Vision and have reviewed a fair number of them. But a UST projector requires a specialized type of ALR screen—one like the DarkStar UST 2 Efinity from EPV Screens.

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Confused: How Do I Connect a DAC to My AVR?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 29, 2021  |  0 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I own a Marantz SR6013 A/V receiver and use it for both video switching and audio amplification. For video, I mostly watch Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. For music, I mostly stream from the Tidal service using the Marantz receiver’s built-in HEOS app. I would like to buy an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports MQA but am confused about the connections and the control app. After checking out my Marantz AVR’s back panel, I see two coaxial and optical digital inputs, but no digital outputs to connect the DAC, so maybe using an external DAC with the AVR is not possible. Am I missing something? —Rod McClaskey, via email

Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Help! I Have Legacy Gear & Want to Stream in Hi-Res
Al Griffin  |  Jun 22, 2021  |  3 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q My partner and I want to get set up for high-resolution audio and are hoping to use the Tidal service for better-than-CD-quality streaming. We have a Sherwood stereo integrated amplifier from the 1980s, along with big, beautiful, fantastic-sounding speakers and we don’t want to give those up. I’ve tried researching the huge range of available tech options but just don’t know how to make it work. We use Android devices and own a Fosi Audio DAC-Q4 [digital-to-analog converter/headphone amp]. We also have a spare computer that can be used to run Tidal. —Victoria Baker, via email

Continue Reading >
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Godzilla
Al Griffin  |  Jun 18, 2021  |  1 comments
Picture
Sound
Extras
As the first film to launch the MonsterVerse, a "cinematic universe" featuring enduring monster movie icons, this 2014 reboot of the Godzilla franchise set the template for several movies to come, including Kong: Skull Island and the late-pandemic sensation, Godzilla vs. Kong. Here's the deal: After escaping a nuclear weapons assault (cloaked by authorities as a "nuclear test") in the 1950s, Godzilla went deep underground.
Continue Reading >
Editor's Eye
Back to Basics
Al Griffin  |  Jun 10, 2021  |  0 comments
Yes, it had to be done. Consider it a form of spring cleaning. The “it” is in this case is a streaming service — HBO Max to be specific — that I decided to drop. My video streaming plate had become over-filled during the pandemic as I spent much of my free time at home, and now that I was vaxxed up and ready to re-engage (as much as possible) with the world, I made the decision to dump at least one service. It’s not that I wanted to lose it — in the final days of my active subscription, I of course happened upon a new original series, Mare of Easttown, that was right up my alley — but something had to give, and it was going to be HBO Max.
Continue Reading >

Pages

X