LATEST ADDITIONS

Work In Progress: Altec-Lansing A-Series Custom In-Ears
Michael Berk  |  Dec 05, 2011

We told you a few weeks back about Altec-Lansing's latest venture, a foray into the high-end in-ear monitor market. We're planning to give the new A-Series a spin as soon as we can - but it's not so simple a procedure as just bringing in a review unit.

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Ask S&V
Cambridge 840C vs. Oppo BDP-95
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 05, 2011
Between the Cambridge Audio Azur 840C and Oppo BDP-95, which sound better for music? I know the Oppo can play SACD, but is the difference significant? I have a Sunfire 200Wpc amp and Von Schweikert VR-4 Generation III speakers.

Pender Linwood

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Portable Player Reviews
Picking the Perfect Tablet
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Dec 05, 2011

PORTABLE ENTERTAINMENT. It started with the Walkman and was revolutionized by the iPod. Now with tablets, audio, video, and more merge into one uber-device of computing awesomeness.

We have a narrow set of criteria for tablets here at Sound+Vision. That it surfs the web, does email, can video chat, and so on is cool, but we're not Office+Meetings magazine. We - like most people, it turns out - want tablet-as-entertainment.

And surprisingly, that makes the choice easier than you'd think.

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AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite VSX-52 A/V Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 05, 2011

Audio Performance
Video Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $900 At A Glance: Elite build quality • AirPlay, control app, iDevice USB • Great sound for under $1,000

Do you prefer wine sold in a box or in a bottle? Boxed wine does have its advantages: It’s available in a greater variety of package sizes, it’s easier to carry to a picnic, and the lighter packaging reduces manufacturing cost, shipping cost, and carbon emissions. Yet most oenophiles prefer bottled wine for quality and selection. One is more practical, the other more aspirational. In theory, boxed wine can be as good as bottled wine—and here, as the knowledgeable oenophile is aware, our metaphor is in danger of breaking down over warring factors such as oxidation and shelf life. But in reality, the best wine producers and their most discerning and passionate customers prefer the bottle.

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Tower Speaker Reviews
Review: Magnepan Mini Maggie
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Dec 05, 2011

“This is the worst listening room I’ve ever heard,” Magnepan’s Wendell Diller said, half joking. It might have been less than half.

Honestly, I couldn’t disagree. We were sitting in my office, facing my computer and a newly setup Mini Maggie system. I don’t review speakers in my office, for good reason. It’s basically a cube with mostly bare walls: one of the worst acoustic environments possible.

And with any speaker — especially a planar magnetic speaker — the room is a huge part of the deal. So began my quest for a better room, better sound, and the perfect setup.

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Vote
Does Power Consumption Influence Which TV You Buy?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 02, 2011
Yesterday, Tom Norton posted a blog about how much power is consumed by plasmas and LED LCD TVs, and the difference is staggering. With TVs of similar size, the plasmas he measured consumed more power on average than the LED LCDs by roughly a factor of 5!

In general, plasmas carry a lower price tag than LED LCDs of comparable size. But if plasmas consume five times as much power, they cost five times as much to operate, so those initial savings can easily be wiped out and then some over years of use. Then there's the whole "green" argument, which I won't get into here.

Is power consumption of concern to you? Does it factor into your TV buying decision?

Vote to see the results and leave a comment about your choice.

Does Power Consumption Influence Which TV You Buy?
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Ask S&V
Replacing CRT RPTV with Flat Panel
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 02, 2011
I currently have a Sony KP-51HW40 51-inch CRT rear-projection HDTV. I find the picture quality stunning, with great contrast and solid blacks. Since it is a CRT-based display, I believe the black levels are better than most plasma sets. Is this correct? I ask because I'm thinking of upgrading to a 60-inch plasma, most likely the Panasonic TC-P60S30. I see from your review of the TC-P50S30 that it has what you call "reasonably good blacks" at 0.009fL. Is this black level much inferior (less black) compared with my Sony CRT? I am afraid of buying the Panasonic and having poorer blacks than what I am used to, because black level is very important to me. I am also curious about how the overall picture quality compares between both sets.

Daniel Hebert

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Tech2
What's a Winner?
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Dec 02, 2011

I need your help. Maybe you can explain something to me.

Why do we need winners? I'm not talking about sports and such; I mean with A/V gear, movies, video games, etc. How many articles and forum posts have you seen that proclaim one object the winner over another?

What is behind this desire to declare a winner when there's no competition being fought?

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Wireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Creative Labs ZiiSound D5x Wireless Speaker and DSx Subwoofer
Michael Berk  |  Dec 01, 2011

High-quality Bluetooth audio? I know what you're thinking.

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A/V Veteran
Watt's Up, Doc?
Thomas J. Norton  |  Dec 01, 2011
In response to my review of the new 60-inch Sharp Elite PRO-60X5FD LED-backlit LCD TV, a question arose in the online comments as to the power it consumes relative to the 60-inch Pioneer Elite PRO-141FD Kuro plasma I compared it to. The answer surprised me.
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