LATEST ADDITIONS

The S&V Interview
15 Minutes with Harman’s Audio Guru Sean Olive
Bob Ankosko  |  May 10, 2016
"The problem is that the current standard audio specifications for headphones and loudspeakers are almost useless in terms of indicating how good or bad they sound." —Sean Olive

Harman International, the multibillion company that supplies infotainment technology to automakers around the world and owns such storied audio brands as JBL, Infinity, Revel, Mark Levinson, and Lexicon, to name a few, dates back to 1953 when Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon founded one of audio’s most iconic brands, Harman Kardon. The pioneering brand, which introduced the world’s first hi-fi (and later stereo) receiver, started with a commitment to pursue high-quality sound. That commitment endures through the work of Sean Olive, a 23-year Harman veteran...

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Definitive Technology Announces New Bipolar Speaker Lineup
SV Staff  |  May 10, 2016
Definitive Technology today announced a redesigned fourth-generation version of the front/rear-radiating BP10 bipolar tower speaker it introduced 25 years ago.
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Signals
iXOOST Wants to Rev You Up
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  May 10, 2016
Referring to the sound of the 12-cylinder engines in Ferrari cars, conductor Herbert von Karajan said it was, "a melody that no conductor would ever be able to reproduce." Considering that the maestro was not modest when speaking of his abilities, that is quite a compliment. He was right, of course; some engines, tuned with the right exhaust, yield a glorious sound. With further tuning, apparently they can also yield glorious music.

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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Audioengine HD6 Wireless Speaker Review
Michael Trei  |  May 09, 2016

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $749 pr

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Easy, comfortable sound
Bluetooth with aptX, AAC
Simple to set up and use
Superb finish
Minus
No USB or Wi-Fi
A bit too large for desktop use

THE VERDICT
The easy-to-live-with HD6 looks great and can deliver high-quality, true stereo sound with a minimum of fuss and clutter.

In the decade since they launched their first powered speaker, Audioengine has become embedded in my mind as the no-brainer recommendation whenever friends ask about getting better sound on their desktop. Dozens of both audiophile and non-audiophile friends have bought A5 and A2 amplified speakers at my suggestion—and so far, nobody has been disappointed. They’re affordable, easy to buy, and easy to set up, and they look great.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 Wireless Earbud Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 09, 2016
Absolute power corrupts absolutely; lack of power is just freakin’ annoying. The new Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 is a wireless, sweatproof earbud that solves the lack of power problem in a unique and clever way. The carrying case has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides the power for up to two recharges, giving the Backbeat GO 3 an extra 13 hours of playback. That’s the kind of power a girl could get used to.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
NAD Announces New Digital Amp and Music Player
SV Staff  |  May 09, 2016
NAD Electronics has announced plans to expand its Masters Series product line. The M32 digital integrated amplifier ($3,499) will join the line in June, followed by the M50.2 digital music player ($3,999) in August.
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Audio Video News
How’s Your Hearing?
SV Staff  |  May 09, 2016
Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the U.S., affecting more than 36 million Americans today, according to the American Academy of Audiology.
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Tech2
A Guide to Mother's Day Gifts She'll Actually Use
Lauren Dragan  |  May 06, 2016
Sunday is Mother’s Day, and everybody is making lists of gift ideas for moms. The thing is, a lot of these lists assume Mom is:

1.) Old and out of touch.

2.) Someone who wants flowers or leopard print on everything. (We’re going to save my rant on this for another day.)

I am a mom and am neither of these things. None of my mom friends are either. Neither, for that matter, are most of friends’ moms. So, with that in mind, here are some tech-related gift ideas for a mom that aren’t on the lists I’ve seen, and that I can recommend personally. And, bonus, they’re not crazy expensive, and can be shipped anywhere within a few days. So read on! You still have time!

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Ears On
How Intrusive Is Your AV Gear?
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 06, 2016
Audio products bring us joy. They also get in the way. (That goes double for hard-copy software. And triple for LPs, much as we love them.) In fact, though the magazine's reviews discuss fidelity, features, and even ergonomics, they rarely discuss how a product might bulk large in your home. Reviewers simply assume that readers will consider the product category, look at the picture, maybe check the dimensions, and reach their own conclusions. But intrusion is a major way in which products relate, or fail to relate, to us.

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Other Tech
Guide To Hi-Res Audio - Finding Hi-Res Music
SV Staff  |  May 06, 2016
Finding Hi-Res Music: Hi-Res Audio is becoming more plentiful and easier to find online. Here’s where to go and what you’ll discover there.

Heard of Hi-Res Audio? While most folks argue the merits of Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Pandora, enlightened music lovers busily seek out other online sources for their music fix. These destinations are generally small Websites that specialize in selling albums and individual song downloads in Hi-Res Audio formats. But just what is Hi-Res Audio?

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