LATEST ADDITIONS

Projector Reviews
LG PF85U Portable LED DLP Projector
Al Griffin  |  Mar 31, 2015
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,199

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Crisp, bright image for a portable projector
Accurate color
Provides built-in Smart TV and streaming features
Minus
So-so black levels and picture contrast
Visible DLP rainbow effect
Limited installation options

THE VERDICT
LG’s portable PF85U has cool features and impressive picture quality for a portable projector, but its performance isn’t exactly up to snuff for regular home theater use.

LG’s PF85U DLP projector brings some interesting things to the table (literally, in many cases). It’s compact, portable, and driven by an LED light source. It has built-in Wi-Fi, LG’s Smart TV interface, and its streaming options include Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon Instant Video. At $1,199, it’s priced attractively for a 1080p-res projector with decent light output.

Continue Reading »
Signals
Angels on My Shoulders: To 4K or Not to 4K
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Mar 31, 2015
I’m shopping for a new TV. Should I buy an older technology that performs well and costs very little, or a newer technology that is better but costs more? Specifically, I’m trying to decide which LCD to buy—HD or 4K? Two angels have landed on my shoulders. As you might expect, they have very different points of view...
Continue Reading »
Sweepstakes
Audioengine's B2 Bluetooth Speaker Sweepstakes
SV Staff  |  Mar 30, 2015
Register to win an Audioengine B2 Bluetooth Speaker (MSRP $299) we are giving away.

According to the company:

"The audio quality of most Bluetooth products isn't usually very inspiring and their limited range can be frustrating. The B2 solves these problems by implementing the aptX codec, which is a high-quality audio converter designed specifically for audio. The B2 also has special circuitry and a precision-tuned antenna to extend the wireless range, providing much more versatility than other Bluetooth speakers."

[This sweepstakes is now closed.]

Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Trials and Tribulations with an Outboard Phono Preamp
Al Griffin  |  Mar 30, 2015
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Denon receiver. Since the receiver has no phono input, I purchased a Pfantone AMP2 phono preamp so I could play records through it. The preamp works, but the volume level is low, even with the Denon’s volume turned all the way up. A friend suggested that the preamp simply doesn’t have the power to provide full stereo sound. Is this correct, or is there some other explanation? —Shaun Herron / via e-mail

Continue Reading »
Tech2
Not Reviewing Bob Dylan’s “Shadows in the Night”
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Mar 27, 2015
I am a HUGE Bob Dylan fan. I have all his studio albums, most of his live albums, and all the “Bootleg” collections except for the most recent (it’s on the list).

So the arrival of a new Bob Dylan album is met, by this fan, by no small amount of excitement.

But Shadows in the Night, well, um… I don’t know what to make of it.

That not true. I know exactly what I think of it. I don’t like it. Does that make it bad?

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation How-ToAudio Video NewsHome Movie Theaters
Atmos Makeover: A Space Odyssey, Part 1
David Vaughn  |  Mar 27, 2015
Here at Sound & Vision we’ve given quite a bit of coverage to Dolby Atmos so far, and rightly so. Editor Rob Sabin has called it “the most discernible advance in home theater sound since the introduction of lossless digital audio formats on Blu-ray. And it’s one that leaves Dolby Pro Logic IIz and DTS Neo: X (height and width-channel surround formats) in the dust.”
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
What’s My Best Option for Storing Music in the Cloud?
Al Griffin  |  Mar 26, 2015
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I am trying to figure out if I can use Dropbox to store both my Rdio Favorites collection and iTunes library. I have a huge iTunes library—around 600 GB. I would like to give a few friends and relatives access to the music. Is this possible?  —Jim Gold

Continue Reading »
The S&V Interview
Keyboard Master Howard Jones Engages in Hi-Res Audio Practices
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 25, 2015
To borrow a song title, things can only get better for Howard Jones. Known for such indelible synth-driven ’80s hits like “What Is Love?,” “No One Is to Blame,” “New Song,” and “Everlasting Love,” Jones has focused his efforts in recent years on his inherent talents as a songwriter and arranger, not to mention his knack for creating multimedia-driven live experiences. All of his musical gifts are on fine display with Engage (dtox music and arts), a two-disc CD/DVD set that features a vibrant 5.1 mix on DVD by Robbie Bronnimann, Jones’ longtime sound designer. Jones, 60, and I connected across the Pond to discuss the Engage project, the possibility of future high-resolution remixes of his storied catalog, and his thoughts on vintage analog gear. Jones is one man who knows how to put his dream into action.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Dish Subscribers Get Showtime Anytime and Other Streaming Improvements
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 25, 2015
At long last Dish subscribers can watch Showtime Anytime on media players and mobile devices. Here are the details.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Pioneer Announces Affordable Atmos AV Receivers
Bob Ankosko  |  Mar 24, 2015
Pioneer today announced that four new AV receivers, ranging in price from $400 to $700, will hit stores in April. The announcement marks the first products to be released under the new Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. corporate umbrella.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X