LATEST ADDITIONS

The S&V Interview
Robbie Robertson on the 50th Anniversary of The Band’s Music From Big Pink
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 12, 2018
Photo: Elliot Landy (1968)

Released 50 years ago this past July 1, The Band's Music From Big Pink immediately set the world of popular music on its collective ear, and it's now being celebrated in a super-deluxe box set that includes a 24/96 5.1 mix of the album on Blu-ray. We get on the line with Band mastermind Robbie Robertson to discuss the secret to the overall intimacy of the Big Pink recording itself, the key elements that make the 5.1 versions of “The Weight” and “Chest Fever” instant benchmark reference tracks, and what Band album he’d be interested in having remixed in 5.1 next.

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Audio Video News
AT&T Adds 5 Cities to its 2018 Mobile 5G Launch Plan
SV Staff  |  Sep 12, 2018
AT&T announced plans on Monday to introduce mobile 5G service in parts of five additional cities, bringing the number of cities that will receive service this year to 12.
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Audio Video News
Verizon to Launch 5G in 4 Cities on October 1
SV Staff  |  Sep 12, 2018
Making good on a promise made last fall, Verizon yesterday announced plans to launch 5G broadband service in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento on October 1.
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A/V Veteran
CEDIA Expo 2018: Sifting Through the AV Nuggets
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 11, 2018
The 2018 edition of CEDIA Expo is now history and, although it may not be as grand as CES, it still left us with plenty to chew on.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Rotel’s New Surround Processor Does Atmos and DTS:X
SV Staff  |  Sep 11, 2018
Rotel’s newest surround sound processor decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks and offers a variety of high-performance features.
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Audio Video News
Survey: Internet-Only TV Households Reach 17%
SV Staff  |  Sep 11, 2018
The number of internet-only homes that do not subscribe to a traditional cable TV package has reached a new record high, according to new research from Kagan.
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Signals
The Case of the Unlikely Loudspeaker
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Sep 10, 2018
I was mystified, confused, and perplexed. The low-slung vehicle cruising in the lane beside me sure looked the business, and sounded the business too. As it briskly accelerated away from me, its low throaty roar was decidedly delicious. Something was amiss. Very amiss.

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CEDIA 2018
McIntosh Revisits Custom Installation with New Line
SV Staff  |  Sep 10, 2018
McIntosh returned to the custom installation category with a new line of high-performance amplifiers and in-wall/ceiling speakers at CEDIA Expo 2018, which wrapped up in San Diego on Saturday.
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Smart Speaker ReviewsGrace Notes
Cavalier Audio Maverick Smart Speaker: Fresh Air for Alexa
Leslie Shapiro  |  Sep 10, 2018
The Maverick from Cavalier Audio is a WiFi/Bluetooth speaker featuring Amazon’s Alexa voice control that seamlessly transitions from the home to portable with an elegant charging base. Alexa, pack your bags. We’re heading outside.

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Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews
Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Headphone Amp/DAC Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Sep 09, 2018

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dual mono DACs
DSD and MQA support
Can function as a preamp
Minus
Limited portability

THE VERDICT
Pro-Ject’s compact amp/DAC pairs especially well with modestly priced headphones, and it can also serve as a stereo preamp.

More people are listening to more diverse high-resolution audio formats through higher-quality headphones than ever before. But ideas about how to feed those headphones vary. The headphone amplifier/digital-to-analog converter, a popular hybrid product, is among the most tireless shape-shifters on the audio scene. I’ve reviewed Amp/DACs as compact as a USB stick and as big as a full-size rack component. At about 4 x 1.5 x 4 inches (WxHxD), Pro-Ject’s Pre Box S2 Digital falls somewhere in between. You wouldn’t carry it in a pocket, but it doesn’t take up much space on a busy desk.

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