LATEST ADDITIONS

Ask S&V
DAC Connections: Asynchronous USB Input vs. Ethernet
Al Griffin  |  Nov 07, 2013
Q Can you explain what it is about an asynchronous USB DAC input on a receiver that would enable it to sound superior to an Ethernet connection streaming the same file over a home network? —Chris Hebner / Delano, MN

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Audio Video News
End of an Era as Blockbuster Shuts Down Remaining Stores
SV Staff  |  Nov 07, 2013
Blockbuster, the name that became synonymous with video rental and represented an empire of 9,000 stores at its peak, announced plans to close the remaining 300 company-owned stores in the U.S. by early January.
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Audio Video News
Hanging at Sonos Studio in Los Angeles
Kim Wilson  |  Nov 06, 2013
You are no doubt familiar with the Sonos Wireless Home Audio system, as we’ve written up many reviews of their products in the magazine. What you might not know is that they have a facility in Los Angeles called the Sonos Studio, which opened in June 2012.
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Ask S&V
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Cables
Al Griffin  |  Nov 06, 2013
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com.

Q I have a legacy AV receiver (Integra DTR-7) and am considering replacing it with a separate preamp/processor and amplifier. I’ve noticed that some preamps only have RCA outputs, while other, more expensive preamps also have balanced XLR outputs. Is there a noticeable difference in the sound quality when using balanced XLR cables versus unbalanced cables? The length of the cables needed to connect the two units would only be 1 meter. —Ed Mendelson / via e-mail

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SignalsAudio Video News
Chromecast Opens the Music Box
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Nov 05, 2013
The wildly popular Google Chromecast just got even better. It has added Pandora Radio and Hulu Plus to its list of supported content. And, the best may be yet to come.

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Audio Video News
Behind the Scenes at Bang & Olufsen
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 04, 2013
A visit to Bang & Olufsen’s headquarters in Struer, Denmark provides a rare look inside the AV company know for trendsetting design.
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New Products
New Gear
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 04, 2013
LG's Google TV, an in-wall soundbar from Niles, Screen Innovations' edgeless screen, a compact stereo amp/DAC from AudioControl, and more
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Other Source Component ReviewsPortable Player Reviews
Belkin Dyle Mobile TV Receiver
Michael Antonoff  |  Nov 04, 2013
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price $100

At A Glance
Plus: Watch broadcast TV while commuting • Steady reception in motion • Works without Wi-Fi or a mobile data plan
Minus: Limited channels • Reception spotty in buildings and locking in stations can be frustrating

The Verdict
Lets you watch TV while on the on the go but programming options are limited and reception is not a sure shot.

Though the picture quality of over-the-air TV can surpass cable, you’re likely to get no reception at all in a moving vehicle. That’s because broadcast DTV was conceived for stationary screens—not today’s legion of mobile devices.

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Editor's Eye
OLED Is Here, and TV Will Never Be the Same
Rob Sabin  |  Nov 01, 2013
The accompanying OLED stories mark our first up-close look at a display technology that goes by an acronym best pronounced as “Oh-lead,” and one that stands for the future of television. That’s a bold statement, and the time line should perhaps be qualified as “near-future” inasmuch as anything can happen in the developing world of display technology, and taken in its entirety, the future is known to be a very, very long time. But I dare say we’ve waited a long time to this point just to see OLED’s promise, and having now witnessed it firsthand, I’m having a hard time guessing what could better it short of a holographic display with equal image quality or something that does just what OLED does for a whole lot cheaper.
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HDTV Tech
So...What’s an OLED?
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 01, 2013
After years of speculation and skepticism, drooling and disappointment, longing, frustration, and pensive excitement, Organic Light-Emitting Diode televisions are finally available. OLED (oh-lead, if you like), is the first true next-generation HDTV technology since LCDs emerged from their nascent toy stage and started stomping all over plasma TVs.
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