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The Connected Life
How to Avoid AV Information Overload
John Sciacca  |  Jul 29, 2014
One of the most disappointing things I face is spending time going over different options for someone’s new home’s entertainment and automation system and having them leave my showroom saying, “Wow! Now I’m even more confused than when I started!” (More disappointing is the, “Oh, I wish I’d come to you to do my system!” regret that comes when they can’t get the other guy/company to come back to finish or service the system.)
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Audio Video News
Klipsch Adds First Soundbar to Reference Speaker Series
SV Staff  |  Jul 28, 2014
Klipsch has added the R-10B soundbar to its Reference Series of speakers, marking the first time a soundbar has been offered under the company’s Reference moniker.

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Grace NotesAudio Video News
Bose Lawsuit Aims to Take a Bite Out of Apple’s Beats
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 28, 2014
Bose, the pioneer of noise-cancelling headphones, has filed suit against Apple’s latest and largest acquisition, Beats Electronics. Bose alleges that the Beats Studio and Studio Wireless headphones use noise-cancelling technology that infringes on five patents held by Bose. They have also filed with the International Trade Commission requesting a cease-and-desist on sales and imports of Beats in the US. They are requesting an undisclosed amount of compensation for damages. Considering how long the Studio line has been available, did Bose wait until it could go after the deeper pockets of Apple?

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SmartStream
Qplay Calls it Quits
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 25, 2014  |  First Published: Jul 23, 2014
The Qplay app and adapter will cease to function after July 25, 2014. Was Qplay a bad idea?
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Tech2
Star Citizen Alpha/Early Thoughts
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jul 25, 2014
If you haven’t heard about Star Citizen, you must have been living under a rock. Or don’t care about video games. Or don’t care about video games and have been living under a rock. Enjoy your rock cave.

From Chris Roberts, the brilliant game designer and lets-not-mention-that-directorial-debut, Star Citizen is what every fan of Privateer, Wing Commander, Space Rogue, and every other space sim have always wanted.

At least, that’s the promise.

Now, I and other backers (damn right I have them my dollars), have had a chance to try out an early alpha snipped of the game: space combat.

I have thoughts.

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Audio Video News
Poll: 5.1 Rules in the World of Surround Sound
SV Staff  |  Jul 25, 2014
With Dolby Atmos looming on the horizon we asked how Sound & Vision readers do surround and learned that nine out of 10 of those who responded have either a 5.1/5.2 (59%) or 7.1/7.2 (30%) setup. The complete breakdown is below.
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AV Receiver Reviews
Yamaha RX-V377 AV Receiver
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 25, 2014  |  First Published: Jul 24, 2014
Audio Performance
Video Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price $300

At A Glance
Plus
Five amp channels
Virtual Cinema Front
Darkish tonal balance
Minus
Bargain-basement speaker terminals
No wireless or network audio features

The Verdict
The Yamaha RX-V377 is an accessibly priced entry-level receiver with most of the essential features and mercifully dark-toned voicing.

If you think surround sound is just for the well-to-do, think again. The Top Picks page on this site is loaded with compact 5.1-channel speaker systems, starting at $520 for a setup based on the Pioneer SP-BS522 monitors, designed by loudspeaker guru Andrew Jones. Cheap Blu-ray players abound, these days. All you’d need to do is add another $300 for something like the Yamaha RX-V377 receiver, reviewed here, and your starter system weighs in at under a grand (and those are list prices).

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Audio Video News
Play-Fi Wireless Audio Standard Gains Momentum
SV Staff  |  Jul 24, 2014
DTS today announced that the McIntosh, Sonus Faber, and Wadia brands owned by Fine Sounds Group will introduce products featuring its Play-Fi wireless audio standard later this year.
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Ask S&V
Do I Need a Receiver with a Phono Input to Play Records?
Al Griffin  |  Jul 24, 2014
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I need to replace an old receiver that has a phono input for my turntable. Do I need to get another receiver with a phono input, or can I just use the receiver’s Tape or Aux inputs instead?—David L. Waller 

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The S&V Interview
Steve Lukather on the Second Coming of Toto
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 23, 2014
“Our music has stood the test of time,” observes Toto guitarist/vocalist Steve Lukather. “We’ve had this long ride, and now it’s starting all over again.” Luke, as he’s known to his friends, has an excellent point. Toto, whose members past and present honed their impressive chops as studio musicians, have long been the favorites of audiophiles the world over, best evidenced by the ongoing impact of Toto IV (1982) and tracks like the ebb-and-flow magical rush of “Rosanna” and the percussive continental vibes that fuel “Africa.” (And Toto IV is all the more aurally satisfying thanks to its fully encompassing 5.1 mix, done by Elliot Scheiner on SACD in 2002.)

The band’s international impact has never been greater, as evidenced by the success of Live in Poland (Eagle Vision). Poland, which was shot at the Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland while the band was on the road overseas for its 35th Anniversary Tour in 2013, bulleted right to the top of the DVD charts this past Spring (though it is, of course, best experienced on Blu-ray). Poland showcases how Toto is as formidable a collective onstage as it is in the studio. Toto will be hitting the road to co-headline a U.S. tour with Michael McDonald starting August 2. Here, Lukather, 56, and I talk about Poland's success, his ongoing passion for sound quality, and the reasons for the band’s perpetual cultural impact. From where I sit, Toto won’t be passing the reins anytime soon.

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