iMBAPrice Audio/Video Accessories

The Alan Parsons Project: Eye In the Sky 35th Anniversary Collector's Edition

Mike Mettler | Apr 19, 2018

Performance Sound It’s quite fitting that when Alan Parsons—the well-respected English producer and engineer whose enviable behind-the-board C.V. includes the likes of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Hollies, Al Stewart, Pilot, and Ambrosia—finally ventured out on his own as a titular recording artist in the mid-’70s, his collective work was dubbed The Alan Parsons Project.

Korg DS-DAC-10R Hi-Res Digital Recorder Review

Michael Trei | Dec 14, 2017

Performance Features Ergonomics Value PRICE $500 AT A GLANCE Plus Transfer analog sources to high-resolution digital including DSD Phono preamp with variable EQ settings Built-in headphone amplifier Minus No input for low-output moving-coil cartridges No software-based vinyl noise reduction THE VERDICT The Korg DS-DAC-10R lets you move your music from LP records into state-of-the-art high-resolution PCM or DSD files, all while retaining their essential vinyl character. Ten years ago, who would have figured that almost every major new music release would also get issued on vinyl? Every day more and more people are learning to appreciate the appeal of vinyl records, but sadly the lack of portability means that for most of us it’s a stay-at-home listening experience. That can be frustrating in a world where we’ve become so accustomed to digesting our music on the go, so lots of new vinyl records come bundled with a lossy-compressed Digital Copy as a free download. Of course, at that point you’re no longer getting the vinyl experience at all, so really, what’s the point? But, what if you could capture some of that analog goodness in a portable hi-res audio version that you can take with you, instead of those crappy MP3 files we’ve endured for so long? That’s the idea behind the DS-DAC-10R, a handy little box developed by the pro-audio mavens at Korg and distributed by Essence.

Lou Reed: The RCA & Arista Album Collection

Mike Mettler | Mar 29, 2017

Performance Sound “Isn’t that amazing? I mean, there it actually is. I can’t believe it. I lived long enough to hear it right.” That’s Lou Reed, lifelong audiophile, commenting to his longtime friend and producer Hal Willner while listening to the in-studio playback of the remastered version of “I Wanna Be Black,” from his landmark 1978 album, Street Hassle.

Russound MCA-88X Whole-House Audio Streamer Review

John Sciacca | Mar 1, 2017

Performance Features Ergonomics Value PRICE $3,499 ($4,477 as reviewed) AT A GLANCE Plus Fast setup/programming Supports modern and legacy sources Integrates with many third-party systems AirPlay gives virtually unlimited access Minus NAS streaming has quirks Native app support is fairly limited THE VERDICT Russound delivers whole-home audio entertainment in a single, massively expandable chassis, allowing you to enjoy legacy analog/digital sources or modern streaming. Streaming and app-based control may be all the rage for music listening, but they ignore the fact that many people still have older, legacy gear they want to enjoy around their homes. Sometimes, whether it’s a CD player, turntable, or cable/satellite set-top box, “stream it from the cloud” isn’t a workable solution. Also, most modern wireless streaming music systems, such as Sonos and Play-Fi, eschew any type of wall-based control, relying solely on a smartphone or tablet interface.

Control4 EA-1 Home Automation System Review

Darryl Wilkinson | Feb 9, 2017

Performance Features Ergonomics Value PRICE $600 AT A GLANCE Plus 50 context-sensitive programmable buttons on remote IR, serial, and IP-based control Amazon Alexa voice-control integration Minus Controller generates a lot of heat Low-resolution screen on remote THE VERDICT Control4’s EA-1 bundle sets a new standard for affordability and opportunity when it comes to professionally installed A/V control and home automation. One of the great inventions of the 20th century, the humble Lego brick, doesn’t inspire much admiration on its own. Take more than 32 million of them and throw in a little imagination, though, and you can create awe-inspiring 1:20scale replicas of famous American landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Capitol Building, and (of course) the Las Vegas Strip. Then set them up together. Call it Miniland USA. Build a theme park around it. Suddenly you’ve got Legoland California. If I were called upon to write a review of a single Lego, there’d be no bricking way I could come up with the concept of Legoland on my own if it didn’t already exist.

Nexia Smart Home Control System

Darryl Wilkinson | Nov 2, 2016

Performance Features Ergonomics Value PRICE Nexia Bridge, $87; Trane XL824, $334 AT A GLANCE Plus Nexia Diagnostics monitors real-time HVAC performance Z-Wave-supported Nexia Bridge built into thermostat Minus $9.99/month subscription fee Cloud-based automation works slower than local systems THE VERDICT The Nexia system is unique in that it appeals to both do-it-yourselfers and those who want it done for them. Its combination of a simple programming structure with an assortment of welcoming and intuitive user interfaces makes it a system you’ll actually enjoy using. I was beginning to worry that we’d run out of acronyms. After all, what would we do if we had to speak or write actual words instead of just using three- or four-letter shorthand? Saying “do-it-yourself” is so much more time-consuming than “DIY.” Thank goodness there’s a new acronym making the rounds: DIFM, which stands for do-it-forme. Although people have always wanted to have things done for them, the appearance of the acronym DIFM is the result of the wicked hangover that the DIY smart-home industry is suffering, after a couple of years when rapacious startup enthusiasm sucked all of the rational oxygen out of the air. The fact is that there are plenty of rooms in the smart home to accommodate the yourselfers, the for-me-ers, and the dedicated custom installers.

Chesky Records Uses Its Head to Make Better-Sounding Music

Steve Guttenberg | Apr 29, 2016

I met singer-songwriter Amber Rubarth when she was recording her first Chesky Records album, Sessions From the 17th Ward, back in 2012. I instantly fell in love with her music and the sound of her voice, but more than that, I was amazed by how relaxed she was making an entire album in just two days. Most of the tunes were hers, and they were consistently good, but her covers of Tom Waits’ “Hold On” and Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman” blew me away. No wonder legendary record producer Phil Ramone said Rubarth was “part of the new old-soul generation.”

Jack Bruce: Silver Rails

Mike Mettler | May 21, 2014

Performance Sound When it comes to delivering the low end, Jack Bruce has been the cream of the crop for six decades and counting. His syncopated approach to playing bass helped shift pop music’s bottom-end emphasis away from just laying down root notes and fifths, in turn opening the door to a more adventurous yet melodically inclined style that laid the foundation for the rock explosion of the ’60s. Turns in both Manfred Mann and John Mayall’s band set the table for Bruce to connect with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker and forge Cream, wherein the super Scotsman set the heavy-blues power-trio standard with epic runs and full-band interplay in songs like “I Feel Free,” “Spoonful,” “Politician,” and “Sunshine of Your Love.”

Happy Hi-Rez Valentine's Day from S+V and HDtracks!

Michael Berk | Feb 14, 2013

We all love music and great sound (I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't). And I'm pretty sure both you and your beloved can appreciate a great bargain - so why not put all three together this long post-Valentine's day weekend? Well, we've partnered with our friends over at HDtracks to bring you a sampler of some of their best-sounding high-resolution files.

Yamaha RX-A3020 A/V Receiver

Daniel Kumin | Dec 25, 2012

Back when A/V was just “A,” Yamaha was among the first to elevate the receiver from dormroom necessity to Serious Audio Component. Brand Y then negotiated the transition to audio-plus-video smoothly, and today remains one of the leading purveyors of the all-in-one home theater centerpiece.

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