LATEST ADDITIONS

Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Torque Releases New Filter Valves for its Tunable t103z In-Ear Monitors
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 20, 2015
Good news for audiophiles who like to take control of their music. A while back we reviewed a rather unique pair of in-ear monitors, the Torque t103z (MSRP $180). While they were a really good-sounding earphone, what made them stand out were the interchangeable passive filter valves—patented by Torque as PAVT, Passive Acoustic Valve Technology. When Sound&Vision initially reviewed the t103z, there were only three filter options. Now, we get a chance to listen to three new offerings from Torque Audio. For choosy music lovers (and who here isn’t?) this is great news.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Sony Announces 2015 4K Ultra HD TV Lineup
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 20, 2015
Sony has announced six new series of 4K Ultra HD TVs, four of which are available for pre-order with delivery set for May.

Continue Reading »
Tech2
Death Cab for Cutie’s “Kintsugi” and Why I’m a Terrible Music Reviewer
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Apr 18, 2015
I’m a big fan of Death Cab. I’ve got all their albums, yadda yadda, and several of them are among my favorites of all time (Plans is masterful). So you’d think I’d have been impatiently awaiting the March 31st release of their new album.

Except… I didn’t buy it until last week.

Why? I’m a terrible music reviewer, and not paying attention to new releases isn’t even top 5 why.

Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Maze Runner
David Vaughn  |  Apr 17, 2015
Picture
Sound
Extras
Thomas is disjointed and confused as he wakes up on a rising elevator not knowing who or where he is. When he finally regains his focus, he’s surrounded by a group of teenage boys and realizes he’s not in Kansas anymore. He’s in the Glade, an enclave surrounded by giant walls that hide a maze, a mostly off-limits area that’s protected by the Grievers—cybernetic organisms that come out at night and will kill anyone who has ventured into the maze and hasn’t exited when the sun goes down.
Continue Reading »
3D Projector ReviewsProjector Reviews
BenQ HT1075 DLP Projector Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Apr 17, 2015
2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,199

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Bright, punchy picture
Excellent color
Compact size
Minus
Mediocre blacks
High vertical offset with limited lens shift

THE VERDICT
You wouldn’t expect the type of performance this BenQ delivers for the price, but it will impress even a fussy videophile and blow away the newbie.

Flat-screen 1080p HDTVs have been dropping in price. Nonetheless, short of a blowout sale, a really big-screen set—say, 70 inches diagonal or larger, even in plain old 1080p, will probably set you back a minimum of $1,500. Compared with prices even two years ago, that’s cheap, but for most buyers it’s still significant cash.

What if you discovered that for less money you could get a picture that’s three or more times the size (by area) of that 70-inch flat-screen set? How does $1,200 sound?

Continue Reading »
TV Reviews
TCL FS4610r Roku LED/LCD HDTV Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 17, 2015  |  First Published: Apr 16, 2015

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Roku home screen accesses source inputs as well as streaming channels
Universal search results finds titles on most channels
Excellent value at under $500
Minus
TV picture can’t compare with high end models
No Ethernet port for wired network connection
Settings for closed captions and many other features require returning to home screen

THE VERDICT
TCL’s Roku TV may be the easiest TV to use for everyone in your family—a great second TV.

Roku is the king of streaming media players. Whether it’s the Roku 3 streaming box or an HDMI streaming dongle, no other streaming system can claim the same variety of channels or simple, intuitive graphic interface. TCL is one of several manufacturers that has integrated Roku into its TVs in some capacity, either with a Roku-friendly remote that can be mated with a Roku stick, or, in this case, a fully-integrated platform in the 48-inch model 48FS4610R ($500 list before discounting). While its picture quality can’t compare with high-end TV models, this is one TV that everyone in the house should be able use.

Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Do Online Streaming TV Offerings Make it Easier to Cut Cable?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 16, 2015
New online streaming TV offerings makes it tempting to cut the cord and cancel your cable, satellite, or telecom provider. Is it time and will it save you money?
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Vizio Launches M-Series UHD TV Lineup with Prices Starting at $600
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 16, 2015
Vizio launched the M-Series lineup of UHD TVs featuring full-array LED backlighting in nine screen sizes. Prices range from $600 for a 43-inch model to $4,000 for an 80-inch screen.
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
How Do I Use a Standalone Sub Instead of the Ones Built into My Tower Speakers?
Al Griffin  |  Apr 16, 2015
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I recently purchased a pair of Definitive Technology BP 8060 ST tower speakers with built-in subs. They are connected to my Sony STR-DH750 receiver. What would be the correct speaker setting if I used the 8060s as my front speakers (set to Large) and continued to use my Sony sub for LFE instead of the ones built into the Def Tech towers? The rest of my system consists of two Infinity rear surrounds and a center speaker, plus two Bose speakers mounted on the front wall that I use for height speakers. —Kevin Bolin / Houston, TX

Continue Reading »
Tower Speaker Reviews
GoldenEar Technology Triton Five Loudspeaker Review
Steve Guttenberg  |  Apr 14, 2015

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $1,998/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Sleek tower design
Huge soundstage!
HVFR planar magnetic folded ribbon tweeter
Minus
Black is the only finish

THE VERDICT
At less than $2,000 per pair, the Triton continues the GoldenEar value tradition with superb sonics at an attainable price.

I’ve known quite a few speaker designers and owners of high-end companies, but GoldenEar Technology’s CEO and co-founder Sandy Gross is the only one who’s an avid art collector. He paints a little, too, but mostly expresses his creative side through the sound of his loudspeakers. Gross has developed a keen ear as a decades-long veteran in the speaker business, co-founding Polk Audio and later Definitive Technology. In 2010, he launched GoldenEar Technology at the CEDIA show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X