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Audio Video News
Finding Deep Note: The Story Behind THX’s Famous Sonic Swell
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 29, 2015
You’ve heard it on THX-certified DVDs and Blu-ray Discs and in THX theaters. It’s the perfect crescendo, that indescribably fantastic swell of sound that’s been wowing movie-goers for more than three decades. We recently spoke with Dr. James “Andy” Moorer, composer of the “THX Logo Theme,” to get the story behind the iconic flourish, which debuted in the THX trailer Wings, shown before the 1983 premiere of a movie you might remember—Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi.
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Audio Video News
Research Links Musical Taste with Cognitive Style
SV Staff  |  Jul 28, 2015
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have linked musical taste to cognitive style, or the way you think.
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Vote
Do You Own a Portable Bluetooth Speaker?
SV Staff  |  Jul 28, 2015
For better or worse, portable Bluetooth speakers have become one of audio’s hottest commodities, capturing a huge share the billion-dollar portable speaker business. Do you own one and, if so, how often do you use it? Take a moment to tell us which scenario best describes your situation. And don’t forget to leave a comment explaining your choice.
Do You Own a Portable Bluetooth Speaker?
Yes, I use it in or around the house a few times a week.
36% (270 votes)
Yes, I use it in or around the house almost every day.
13% (98 votes)
No, I do not own a Bluetooth speaker but plan to buy one.
12% (88 votes)
No, I do not own a Bluetooth speaker and have no plans to get one.
39% (287 votes)
Total votes: 743
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Signals
Do Tortillas Make Good Records?
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jul 28, 2015
Some people think that digital audio is cold. That's debatable. But it's almost universally accepted that analog audio is cool. It is also funky, weird and apparently makes people say and do strange things. Digital audio comprises binary data offering relatively few opportunities for freakish mischief. Analog audio, on the other hand, offers endless possibilities. For example, I am sure you have noticed that flour tortillas fit nicely on a turntable platter.

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Audio Video News
Limited-Edition Queen Turntable Will Rock You
SV Staff  |  Jul 27, 2015
Rega was approached by the legendary rock band Queen to produce a limited edition turntable to coincide with the September release of Queen: The Studio Collection, an 18-piece 180g vinyl LP box set from Virgin EMI Records, according to Sound Organisation, which distributes Rega and other European audio brands in the U.S.
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Audio Video News
Soundbars About More Than TV Sound, Study Finds
SV Staff  |  Jul 27, 2015
More than half (55 percent) of the people who own a soundbar use it for listening to music, podcasts, and other audio-related content in addition to watching TV, according to a new survey from The NPD Group.

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Tech2
5 Games from E3 that might actually be good
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jul 25, 2015
E3, the yearly video game expo, was last month (yeah, I had other cool stuff to write about first).

I didn’t go, because I don’t hate myself.

A bunch of cool games were announced, and now that we’ve got a bit of distance from the sturm und drang of the show, I figured it was worth taking a look at what to look forward to in the coming year.

A short list, with trailers…

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
GoodFellas 25th Anniversary
Chris Chiarella  |  Jul 24, 2015
Picture
Sound
Extras
If not the first movie to expose the true inner workings of organized crime—in contrast to Coppola’s seminal, romanticized The Godfather—GoodFellas is arguably the most influential, and the most enduring. It is also one of Martin Scorsese’s most popular films, a near-perfect intersection of source material and cinematic execution. Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family recounted bona-fide gangster Henry Hill’s rise from two-bit mob gopher to prolific felon, as well as his ultimate downfall, and the many escapades in between. Adapted with ample violence and profanity, GoodFellas (renamed to avoid confusion with contemporary TV series Wiseguy) is also incredibly funny, often darkly so, for a more deeply entertaining tale.
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Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
Acemile Theatre Box Bluetooth Speaker Review
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 24, 2015

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact design
Impressive build quality
Simple to set up and use
Spacious, full-bodied sound with a kick
Minus
No remote control
Not ideal for driving rock
Not practical for use as a soundbar

THE VERDICT
The little Theatre Box will surprise you with its bold, big sound.

Sinatra is crooning in the background. “I like New York in June, how about you? I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?”

Frankly (sorry, couldn’t resist), I like what I’m hearing from the small box sitting on the filing cabinet in my home office. Impressive how clear and present the Chairman is on this Capitol recording (“How About You?”) released 59 years ago (Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!). Even more impressive, his voice is coming from a speaker that’s about half the size of a shoebox.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
American Sniper in Dolby Atmos
David Vaughn  |  Jul 24, 2015
Picture
Sound
Extras
American Sniper introduces us to Chris Kyle, on his first tour of duty in Iraq as he’s protecting an advancing Marine patrol. Through the scope of his sniper rifle, he spies an Iraqi mother as she hands a grenade to her preteen child with the intention of killing as many Americans as they can. Kyle must choose to take the life of this kid or risk losing his brothers in arms. To Kyle, the choice is clear: He must protect the troops at any cost. And so we can understand why he went on to become the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, with 160 confirmed kills during his four tours.
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