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CES 2016Ask S&V
ELAC Previews Wireless Interactive Music Experience
Al Griffin  |  Jan 09, 2016  |  0 comments
What you’re looking at is ELAC’s forthcoming wireless speaker. In truth, it’s a wireless powered speaker module—the company hasn’t settled yet on which of its bookshelf speaker models, the B5 or B6, will eventually get the wireless treatment.

Also shown is ELAC’s Discovery Music Server...

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Energy Take Classic 5.1 vs. Pioneer SP-PK21BS
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 16, 2011  |  0 comments
I have a Samsung 46-inch LCD TV, Onkyo TX-NR509 A/V receiver, and KLH HT-60 speakers. I just got the Onkyo, and now I'd like to upgrade my speakers. I am considering the Energy Take Classic 5.1 system as well as the Pioneer SP-PK21BS speakers, but the Pioneers seem a bit large for my room (25x14 feet with a viewing distance of 10 feet). Also, the Pioneer's center speaker is so high, it would block the bottom portion of my screen.

Michael J. Leone

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Equalizers and Tape Monitoring
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 06, 2011  |  2 comments
I've had a very old equalizer for about 25 years, and I would love to use it for listening to my tapes. To do so, however, I didn't know that the receiver needs a "tape monitor" capability, which most modern receivers don't have. Are there any equalizers that do not need tape monitoring?

Lafonte

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Exotic Cables, AVR Upgrade, DVD Recorder
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 30, 2009  |  16 comments
The Great Audio-Cable Debate
Are exotic audio cables worth the money? Can you really hear the difference? I have a hard time putting my arms around spending thousands of dollars on cable made of 99.9999% long-grain copper—as I understand it, copper is copper. Also, I've been told to use XLR interconnects.
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Finalizing a Basement Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 02, 2012  |  6 comments
I am installing a home theater in the basement (17x15 feet) with a budget of $10,000 to $20,000. I am considering two rows of seating with the second row close to the back wall. I have finalized a few things, but I'm still debating between projection (2D versus 3D) and a large LED-LCD TV. Also, I'm trying to decide between 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. Here are my top product candidates with the best prices I have found:

In terms of projectors, I'm looking at the Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 9700 UB (2D, $3,100) and 5010 (3D, $3,000) on an Elite screen (120 inches, $500). Or should I get a Sharp 80-inch LED LCD ($4,300)? The most likely A/V receiver is the Marantz SR7005 ($1,500), which is not THX-certified; is that okay? I've decided on the Definitive Technology Mythos STS SuperTower system ($4,000 for 5.1, $4,500 for 7.1). Finally, do you think the Universal MX-880 remote is better than Logitech Harmony universal remotes?

Chandrasekhar R. Vasamreddy

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Fireplaces, Upconversion, Kuro Settings
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 23, 2009  |  11 comments
Fireplace Folly
I have a flat screen on a mantelpiece shelf leaning against the chimney of our fireplace. I've been hesitant to use the fireplace because the flat screen lies against the chimney. Will lighting a fire affect the TV?
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First Flat Panel, VHS Upscaling, Panasonic Layoffs
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 18, 2011  |  1 comments
Which non-matte flat panel should I get? Which TV does the best upscaling of VHS? What do the upcoming Panasonic layoffs mean for the future of plasma?
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Fixing Plasma Image Retention
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 14, 2011  |  1 comments
I have a Panasonic Viera TC-P42G15 plasma TV, and there is some ghosting in the bottom-left corner; I had a news channel on pause for over an hour with the contrast set to 100. I don't think this was during the break-in period. Now, in bright or snowy scenes and during older movies in which blacks are noisy and brownish gray, I can see three streaks where the station's logo was. Will I be stuck with this, or is there a way to remove it?

Matt Sutherland

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Flat Panel Break In
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 24, 2011  |  4 comments
I heard you recommend "breaking in" a plasma TV for around 100 hours before calibrating it. Do you also recommend something similar for LED-illuminated LCD TVs?

Ronnie Klejka

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Flat Panel Over the Fireplace
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 09, 2012  |  19 comments
In my family room, the only place I can mount my TV is above a brick fireplace. The ceiling height is 9 feet, and the fireplace is 57 inches tall, giving me 51 inches above the fireplace with a width of 69 inches. The sofa is 12 feet from the fireplace. I get the sense that the TV would be too high, and I would like your thoughts on the height and distance.

barecomp

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CES 2016Ask S&V
Flipping Over Libratone’s Zipp
Al Griffin  |  Jan 08, 2016  |  0 comments
Buried deep in the Mobility zone of the LVCC’s North Hall, Libratone’s minimalist wood and glass-lined booth seemed an oasis of Scandinavian design amidst the electronic(s) noise.
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Front vs. Rear Projection
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 07, 2011  |  3 comments
I've been thinking about building a theater room, and I'd like to know the relative benefits of front versus rear projection when using a video projector. As of right now, it appears that DLP is the best bet for projection, but I am sure that could change.

Grant

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Gamma, HDBaseT, Projectors
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 07, 2010  |  0 comments
Gamma Chameleon
I notice that most projectors don't have a spot-on gamma of 2.2. They are either a little above or under the ideal 2.2. Is this less important than color temperature and contrast ratio?
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Glass Behind Speakers: What Type of Acoustic Treatment Should I Use?
Al Griffin  |  Oct 12, 2015  |  1 comments
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I own Paradigm Monitor 11 speakers and an 80-watt powered subwoofer. The speakers are set up in my living room 6 feet out from a sliding glass door. What type of acoustic treatment product should I put up behind the speakers to improve their sound? Should it be foam or something more solid? —Jon Cotton / via e-mail

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GoldenEar vs. Morel
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 17, 2011  |  6 comments
The reviews of the GoldenEar SuperCinema 3 (seen in the lower portion of the image above) and Morel SoundSpot Music Theatre 2 Ultra speaker systems came out at roughly the same time. The Morels appear to have better performance and build quality according to their ratings, and yet they are not considered as good a value despite being in essentially the same price category. Do the Morels really sound better, or is their sound measured against how tiny they are?

Stephen Trask

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