LATEST ADDITIONS

SmartStream
Android TV to Get More Apps, 4K But Can It Keep Up With Roku?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 17, 2015  |  First Published: Jun 04, 2015
Announcements of new apps and the release of two new Android TV stand-alone boxes fuel hopes that more people will be enticed to try an Android TV.
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A/V Veteran
Show Report: T.H.E. Show Newport
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 16, 2015
Last time around I wrote about my experience in viewing Dolby Vision projection, part of Dolby’s Digital Cinema initiative. It features a laser projector from Christie Digital designed specifically to offer higher dynamic range in a theatrical venue. The result was spectacular, but there was an additional reason for my trip back to California. The annual Orange county Hi-Fi show was held on the last weekend in May, and I spent three days there.

The OC show is more properly known as T.H.E. Show (The Home Entertainment Show) Newport Beach (though it was actually in Irvine). “Home Entertainment” is really too broad a term to describe its emphasis. It was, with only one or two exceptions, an exclusively two-channel audio show. There are a number of similar shows in the U.S. and Canada each year—far more than as little as three years ago. The reason for the growth of these shows is the shrinking number of dedicated audio dealers. Yes, the Best Buys, Targets, Costcos, and Walmarts of the world sell their share of audio-only gear. But with rare exceptions (most prominently the Magnolia shops located in or near a select number of Best Buys), the type of audio gear you’ll find in such stores rarely interests audiophiles.

In wide swaths of the country serious audio products simply cannot be auditioned anywhere...

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Projection Screen Reviews
OutStandingScreens OSS Drive-In 16 Outdoor Projection Screen Review
Darryl Wilkinson  |  Jun 16, 2015

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $549

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Stupidly simple setup/takedown
Machine-washable screen material
Front- or rear-projection configuration
Minus
Thin (though strong) aluminum poles

THE VERDICT
Affordable, easy to set up, and convenient to transport, this huge screen has an awesome picture and provides more fun than just about anything else you can do outdoors with your clothes on. What more could you want?

Not everyone is as keen on outdoor televisions as I am. In fact, most people with whom I’ve discussed the subject have walked away convinced that I was a blithering idiot—or, at least, more of a blithering idiot than I’d previously proven myself to be. On the other hand, the folks who’ve had the chance to watch a movie or a playoff game on one of the outdoor TVs I’ve tested over the years have invariably come away from the experience with a totally different (ahem) outlook. For those of us who have watched TV au naturel, there is nothing ridiculous, extravagant, or abnormal about it. It’s just one heck of a good time.

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Audio Video News
Eye on AV: This Just In...
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 16, 2015
Dolby Atmos Comes to Tablets via Lenovo’s Tab 2 A10 ($199) and Tab 2 A8 ($129), with 10- and 8-inch screens and Android OS. The surround effects work with any headphones...
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Vote
How Are AV Buying Decisions Made in Your Household?
SV Staff  |  Jun 16, 2015
Geoff Morrison’s recent blog, ”Death to the 'WAF' (Wife Acceptance Factor”), got us thinking about how household buying decisions are made when it comes to AV gear. Select the scenario that best describes the situation in your household and, as always, we encourage you to leave a comment to explain your choice, talk about exceptions, etc.
How Are AV Buying Decisions Made in Your Household?
I make all AV buying decisions on my own without consulting my spouse/significant other. I am male.
40% (390 votes)
I make all AV buying decisions on my own without consulting my spouse/significant other. I am female.
1% (7 votes)
I make most AV buying decisions on my own but consult my spouse/significant other on big-ticket purchases. I am male.
42% (402 votes)
I make most AV buying decisions on my own but consult my spouse/significant other on big-ticket purchases. I am female.
0% (3 votes)
I consult my spouse/significant other before purchasing any new AV gear. I am male.
17% (162 votes)
I consult my spouse/significant other before purchasing any new AV gear. I am female.
0% (3 votes)
Total votes: 967
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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Torque t402v Convertible On-Ear/Over-Ear Headphone
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 15, 2015
Choice is good. My laptop can convert to a tablet. My hiking pants convert to shorts. My car converts to a stargazing roadster. And my Torque t402v on-ear headphones convert to over-ear headphones. Even better than that—the sound converts from balanced headphones to bass-heavy beasts.
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Tech2
Death to the “WAF” (Wife Acceptance Factor)
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Jun 14, 2015
The “Wife Acceptance Factor” has to go. It’s archaic, misogynistic, and the wrong way to think about our hobby.

As enthusiasts, we need to abolish the acronym “WAF.”

Here’s why.

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The S&V Interview
Graham Parker Squeezes Out Hi-Res Audio Sparks
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 12, 2015
Graham Parker has a surefire way of ensuring his longtime backing band The Rumour understands exactly how to execute the arrangements of his new songs: “You have to kick them a lot, very hard!” he says with a devilish laugh. He is, of course, joking (I think). Parker and The Rumour are quite in sync on Mystery Glue (Cadet Concept/UMe), as evidenced by the hard-edged wink/nudge narrative of “Pub Crawl,” the rollicking swing state of “Railroad Spikes,” and the silver-screen teardown on “My Life in Movieland,” which features Parker going to Tinseltown with (yes) a killer kazoo solo. Parker, 64, called from across the Pond to discuss his overall sonic goals for Mystery Glue, how and why his voice has improved over the years, and what he thinks of his earliest work. His passion for quality ain’t manufactured or just another sound.
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HDTV Tech
State of the Arc: Curved Screens Are Here, But Why?
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 11, 2015
Are curved screens going to take over the world? If you walk into one of the 500 Best Buy stores featuring Samsung’s impressive Entertainment Experience display area, you might think so at first glance. Stylish curved-screen TVs are front and center in the ultramodern space, displayed under glowing “Curved UHDTV” signs that beckon you to come over and take a closer look.
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Ask S&V
Why Is My HDMI Connection Unreliable?
Al Griffin  |  Jun 11, 2015
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have TVs connected to both of my Onkyo TX-NR636 receiver’s HDMI outputs and am finding that I need to have both sets switched on before the receiver will pass any video content. Any suggestions on what settings to look for?—Chris Hauer

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