LATEST ADDITIONS

The S&V Interview
Andy Summers on His One-Man Sonic and Filmic Synchronicity
Mike Mettler  |  Oct 08, 2015
Is it fair to say everything little thing Andy Summers does is magic? It certainly seems that way, as the onetime Police guitarist is experiencing a late-career renaissance, having recently dropped a diverse instrumental album, Metal Dog (Flickering Shado), and narrated an acclaimed documentary about his former band, Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police (Cinema Libre). Summers, 72, and I recently spoke about creating those signature Metal Dog soundscapes, becoming a voiceover artist, and the (sorry) arresting nature of The Police's unique chemistry. His not-so-secret journey makes us all see light in the darkness.
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Audio Video News
DTS Play-Fi Shows Off Its New Friends
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 07, 2015
Mention wireless connectivity in consumer electronics and the first names that come up are Bluetooth, AirPlay, DLNA, Wi-Fi, and Sonos. But another player is making major inroads. That's DTS-owned Play-Fi, which spreads lossless audio through a home Wi-Fi network. Since its introduction a few years ago with a handful of modest Phorus-brand speakers, Play-Fi has expanded its partnerships to include some high-profile names in the audio industry, while expanding the functionality of its platform.
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AV Receiver Reviews
Cambridge Audio CXR120 A/V Receiver Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 07, 2015

Audio Performance
Video Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Nuanced, open, uncolored sonics
Stream Magic module
Auto setup imposes no room correction
Minus
Bluetooth requires adapter
A $2,400 AVR with no Dolby Atmos or DTS:X
Auto setup imposes no room correction

THE VERDICT
This receiver makes idiosyncratic audiophile choices—omitting Atmos, Bluetooth, and other features—but the revamped look and feel are great, and the sound is reliably musical.

At first glance, the cosmetic difference between Cambridge Audio’s new CXR receivers and the company’s previous Azur line is almost shocking. The older receivers were stellar performers, but their look was strictly utilitarian, even a bit dowdy. They were the consumer electronics equivalent of Queen Elizabeth II. Whatever her traditional virtues may be, she hasn’t won many beauty contests lately. What a difference a new look makes! The CXR receivers have a cleaner, sleeker front panel, with fewer controls and a generously oversized display. They’re less QEII, more Kate Middleton—who, coincidentally, is also known as the Duchess of Cambridge.

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Apptitude
Apple Music: Is It Worth It?
Michael Antonoff  |  Oct 07, 2015
I was skeptical that Apple’s all-you-can-queue subscription plan, Apple Music, would cause me to abandon online services like Spotify that also boasted 30 million songs. Not an Apple acolyte, I use a Windows computer and an Android smartphone. I boycotted buying anything from iTunes when a $50 credit in my account was hacked and Apple refused to restore it the second time it happened. But I also own an iPod touch, two iPads, and an Apple TV, and the iTunes Store on my PC continued to be the place for sampling free music—typically after discovering the songs on radio stations streamed on iTunes.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Vizio Launches HDR-Enabled 4K Reference Series
SV Staff  |  Oct 07, 2015
Vizio has launched the first two models in its highly anticipated Reference Series lineup of 4K/Ultra HD TVs.
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Audio Video News
TWC Fined for Robocalling
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 06, 2015
Hate your cable company? Sick of unrelenting robocalls that seem to pop up at home and on your cell at the most inopportune moments?

A federal judge fined Time Warner Cable $229,500 for robocalling a Texas woman 153 times in an attempt to dun another customer.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
B&O Celebrates 90 Years with Super Smart Wireless Speaker
SV Staff  |  Oct 06, 2015
Denmark’s Bang & Olufsen is celebrating its 90th anniversary with the ultra high-end BeoLab 90, which measures the acoustical effects of its surroundings and compensates for sound irregularities at the listening position.
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Signals
Do You Have Stagefright? (Hint: It's an Audio/Video Virus)
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Oct 06, 2015
Everyone is familiar with virus attacks on PCs and Macs. We take precautions to minimize the risk - making sure the firewall is up, keeping our antivirus software up to date, and not clicking on scary attachments. We are perhaps less vigilant with virus attacks on our phones. Of course, the danger is just as scary. Adding even more anxiety is a new virus called Stagefright that can be embedded in MP3 and MP4 files.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Tubes for All: Monoprice Shows Hybrid Tube Amp
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 06, 2015
Monoprice the online retailer known for its cheap AV cables, accessories, and assorted electronics is attempting to step up its audio game (and capitalize on the vinyl revival) with a hybrid tube will sell for $150 when it becomes available later this month.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Epson Introduces $360 Portable Projector
SV Staff  |  Oct 06, 2015
Epson unveiled the $360 PowerLite Home Cinema 640 budget projector at last week’s Holiday Spectacular press event in New York City.
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