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David Versus Goliath: Internet Radio Takes On the Music Industry

Leslie Shapiro | Nov 15, 2012 | 0 comments

We all know the story. Underdog David takes down the giant Goliath with his tiny slingshot, giving little guys throughout the centuries a glimmer of hope. This time, it’s Internet radio providers versus the three major record labels, but in an interesting twist, it could be time for Goliath to take a stand.

DirecTV's Nomad: Where Will You Wander?

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Leslie Shapiro | Oct 17, 2011 | 0 comments

Streaming from a DVR is a great way to watch

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whatever you want, wherever you want. Some even say that streaming might be the future of video.

ander">Continue Reading » "> Dust & Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting

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Leslie Shapiro | Jun 09, 2014 | First Published: Jun 08, 2014 | 0 comments

In a new 416-page coffee-table book, part-time DJ and photographer Eilon Paz takes an intimate look at over 130 vinyl collections and collectors , exploring the beauty and passion behind each treasured trove. The book is a glorious celebration of vinyl records, and showcases the wide variety of collections along with the people and stories behind them.

collecting">Continue Reading » n"> Ears On Test: Do Custom Tips Make a Difference?

HEADPHONE REVIEWS, GRACE NOTES

Leslie Shapiro | Feb 06, 2017 | 0 comments

Nothing steps up your game like a pair of custom earphones. They’re usually priced so high that customs were reserved for only the most devoted audiophiles. Snugs, a company out of London, England is making them accessible to the masses by creating custom ear tips, and partnering with Echobox to match them to the Nomad Titanium Earphones(MSRP $399).

anium-earphones-echobox">Continue Reading » "> Ears On: JLab Audio Party Series Wireless Speakers

WIRELESS SPEAKER REVIEWS, GRACE NOTES

Leslie Shapiro | Feb 20, 2017 | 0 comments

When JLab Audio launched their new Party Series wireless Bluetooth speakers last month, they quickly created quite a stir. After they won a 2017 CES Innovations award and a 2017 Dealerscope IMPACT! Award, I knew I had to check them out in person. I’m certainly glad I did.

reless-speakers">Continue Reading » n"> Echobox Releases World’s Sexiest Hi-Res Audio Portable Player

CES 2017, GRACE NOTES

Leslie Shapiro | Jan 07, 2017 | 0 comments

The Explorer audio player from Echobox, crafted from solid blocks of luxurious wood, is easily the most attractive player on the CES show floor. While most companies are making blocky (or triangularly - looking at you, Mr. Young) plastic players, the Explorer looks more like a flask of aged whiskey than a piece of high-end audio gear.

s-sexiest-hi-res-audio-portable-player">Continue Reading » "> Enthusiast Perspective — Captain America: Civil War

GRACE NOTES, AUDIO VIDEO NEWS

Leslie Shapiro, Ken C. Pohlmann | May 05, 2016 | 1 comments

Marvel is unleashing its latest Captain America saga, hoping that the recent disappointing Superman/Batman outing by DC Comics has not diminished the public’s enthusiasm for comic-book mayhem. Last night, resplendent in my superhero costume and not pulling any punches, I heroically battled supervillain Ken Pohlmann at the press screening of Civil War....

Reading » n"> Epic, or Epic Fail?

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Leslie Shapiro | Feb 09, 2014 | 1 comments

Live TV is one of the most anxiety-inducing tasks facing artists, producers, and engineers, not to mention corporate and political types. In the past two weeks, the NFL’s cash cow, the Super Bowl on Fox and Russia’s pride and joy, the Olympic’s Opening Ceremonies on NBC tried their darndest to impress the world. Both the NFL and Russia took extreme precautions to ensure a flawless show. But in the end, the best way to wow the crowd is to fake it.

Reading » "> Everything Big is Small Again: Nyne's New Docks

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Leslie Shapiro | Apr 24, 2012 | 0 comments

For years, TV manufacturers have been striving to make the biggest and best TV displays. Every year in Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show has been a competition to see who could show off the most ridiculously humongous TV screen.

s-new-docks">Continue Reading » en"> Fair Use Ain’t As Fair As It Used To Be

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Leslie Shapiro | Nov 05, 2012 | 0 comments

While it’s easy to imagine that the federal government (in this case, the Copyright Office) is a bunch of Luddites, sticking to making laws about ancient or obsolete technologies and ignoring the new, the opposite is actually true.

First Listen: Tidal Hi-Fi Music Streaming Service

GRACE NOTES, AUDIO VIDEO NEWS

Leslie Shapiro | Nov 10, 2014 | 6 comments

A few months ago, we reported that Tidal High Fidelity music streaming was going to be launched in the US. It’s now up and running, and we had a chance to check it out. It’s the first full-resolution music streaming service available to US consumers. (Deezer is also full resolution, but only available for Sonos users.) Blah, blah, yet another music streaming service. Is it really that much better than Beats, Spotify, Slacker, or Pandora? Is it worth the $19.99 monthly fee? After some intensive listening, I say without hesitation, enthusiastically “YES” on all accounts.

Ford and the CD player: Heading to Divorce Court

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Leslie Shapiro | Aug 04, 2011 | 0 comments

It's a tragic end to a lengthy love story: Ford Motors and the CD player are breaking up after years of happy matrimony. Ford just announced that, moving forward, they will not be installing CD players in the new Ford Focus, with the rest of their models following suit over the next few years.

From CES 2016: A Happier, Healthier New Year Sounds Good

CES 2016, GRACE NOTES

Leslie Shapiro | Jan 11, 2016 | 1 comments

It’s a few days after CES and I’m finally winding down from the relentless press events, press releases, and my feet have forgiven me for the miles of hiking the floors of the Convention Center. My waistline, however, may take a while to recover from the receptions and cocktail parties that manufacturers love to host during CES.

Goldilocks and the Three Chairs

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Leslie Shapiro | Feb 24, 2014 | 3 comments

Life is good. Having just moved into a house with a room for a dedicated home theater, it was time to get set up. More to the point, time for shopping. Usually, the last thing I want to do is to buy furniture, but the search for the perfect chairs for my home theater became my quest. Seeking perfection, I pored over furniture catalogs, websites and scoured any furniture in my path. A woman’s home theater is her castle, right? I already had furnished my girl-cave, I mean home office, and the A/V room, although last on the decorating list, was in my mind, the most crucial.

Google Chromecast: TV’s next little thing

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Leslie Shapiro | Jul 31, 2013 | 0 comments

Last week, Google released Chromecast, an HDMI dongle that promises to turn your “dumb” TV into a slightly smarter one. With a price tag of just $35, the device is sold out everywhere, and its bundled 3-month Netflix subscription has been halted, due to overwhelming demand. So what’s this little device causing all this ruckus?

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