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Desktop Speaker Reviews
Sony CAS-1 Compact Audio System Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 14, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Small-footprint amp and speakers
Streaming app
Hi-res capable
Minus
No analog line input
No S/PDIF input
No sub output

THE VERDICT
The Sony CAS-1 is a sleek and simple desktop system, optimized for input from computers and mobile devices, with sweetly addictive near-field imaging.

It’s been 21 years since the MP3 audio file format made its debut, 17 years since Napster revolutionized the distribution of digital music, 15 years since the iPod brought that music to a pocketable device, and 13 years since Apple made downloads legit with the iTunes music store. Computerized audio is now enjoying a vigorous middle age—old enough to support lots of audio products and system configurations, young enough for some of those products to be innovative. Outfitting your desktop with an audio system can cost as little as $13.99 for a pair of AmazonBasics powered speakers or as much as several thousand dollars for the highest-end speakers and integrated amps recommended by our sister site AudioStream.com.

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Audio Video News
Okay Google, I Want to Watch CNN Now
SV Staff  |  Feb 14, 2017
Amid the usual flurry of TV-related news at last month's CES—including word that Sony is getting back into the OLED game—almost everyone missed a potentially big part of Sony’s TV announcement: That its 2017 Android-powered 4K TVs will be the first televisions to support Google Assistant, Google’s answer to Amazon’s Alexa.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Sony Announces Pricing, Availability for 4K/HDR TVs
SV Staff  |  Feb 14, 2017
Sony has announced that the high dynamic range (HDR)-enabled 4K/Ultra HD TVs it introduced at CES will be available in March at prices starting at $1,000 for a 43-inch model and scaling up to $7,500 for a 75-inch set.
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Signals
The Hole in Blu-ray's Bucket
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Feb 14, 2017
Suppose you had a perfectly fine bucket. As you poured water into your bucket, you marveled at the way it perfectly held the water. Then one day a miscreant drilled a hole in your bucket, and put his own bucket under yours. No matter how fast you pour water into your bucket, it inevitably streams out the bottom. To make it even more frustrating, the hole just keeps getting bigger and bigger. All of which brings us to sales of DVD and Blu-ray.

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Audio Video News
HBO’s Silicon Valley Heading for Blu-ray
SV Staff  |  Feb 14, 2017
HBO has announced that Season 3 of the comedy series Silicon Valley is coming to Blu-ray April 11.
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Ask S&V
How to Use an External Amp to Create an 11.1 System
Al Griffin  |  Feb 13, 2017
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Denon AVR-X7200WA A/V receiver and a 9.2-channel speaker system. I recently bought an additional pair of height speakers and a Marantz five-channel amp to expand the system to 11.1 channels. How should I go about connecting the Marantz amp? —Dipin Patel / via email

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Editor's Eye
Ultra HD Settles In Along with UHD Blu-ray & HDR
Rob Sabin  |  Feb 13, 2017
Ultra HD is fast becoming our TV of choice, which bodes well for both UHD Blu-ray and high dynamic range technology.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Denon Introduces Improved Wireless Sports Earphones
SV Staff  |  Feb 13, 2017
Denon says the wearability, durability, and sound quality of its latest Bluetooth wireless sports earphones have been improved over previous models.
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Tech2
Audeze iSine 10: Weird Looks With a Wow Sound
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 10, 2017
Let’s face it; the vast majority of open-backed planar-magnetic headphones are far from portable. They’re huge, (most vaguely resemble Princess Leia’s hairdo) weigh so much that you can’t comfortably keep them in place while walking at a brisk pace, and usually require an amp. But what if you like going outside, and don’t have a Sherpa to assist you with a ton of audio gear? Audeze says they have the answer with the iSine10. They are … wait for it… in-ear open planar magnetic headphones. I know. I was skeptical too.
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The S&V Interview
The Neal Morse Band Progresses Into a Fine Sonic Dream
Mike Mettler  |  Feb 10, 2017
Neal Morse is a busy man. The former Spock’s Beard vocalist/keyboardist found much great success after embarking on a long and fruitful solo career 15 years ago. Morse also runs his own label, Radiant Records, and he somehow finds the time to front two other sonically adventurous progressive-leaning bands, Transatlantic and Flying Colors. Before venturing across the Pond for an upcoming European tour in March and April, Morse called me from his home studio in Nashville to discuss how the journey of how The Neal Morse Band's new double-disc release The Similitude of a Dream came together, where you can find the album’s special “yacht rock” moment, and why he just can’t get behind the concept of streaming.
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