Rob Sabin

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Road Gear
Sound On Wheels: Who Makes The Best Luxury Car Audio System?
Rob Sabin  |  Mar 08, 2016
Many people spend as much or more time listening to music in their cars as they do at home. Between a demanding job and a busy family life, the drive to and from work may be the easiest or even the only time to immerse yourself in music. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The best OEM (original equipment manufacturer) audio systems supplied with luxury automobiles these days are designed by well-respected home audio brands, and the car environment, despite a few caveats, allows engineers to factor in the known acoustics of the vehicle and the location of the listeners’ ears to create a highly controlled sonic experience.
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Soundbar Reviews
Soundbars on a Budget
Rob Sabin  |  Dec 08, 2016
There was a time when audiophiles bemoaned “cheap” soundbars as the bane of our existence. We had good reason. Many early examples of the genre, sometimes from companies we’d most closely associate with clock radios, compromised the home theater experience in every way possible. Along with dramatically shrinking the front soundstage and sacrificing the discrete rear channels required for adequate reproduction of a surround field, they just sounded bad. By which I mean bright, boomy, fatiguing, and amusical. Frequently, “helpful” surround processing to enhance imaging just added echoey reverb and messed with the natural timbre of vocals and instruments.
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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Soundcast VG7 Outdoor Wireless Speaker Review
Rob Sabin  |  Jun 09, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Superb sound quality
Impressive, weather-resistant build quality
Bluetooth stereo pairing
Minus
Pricey

THE VERDICT
Soundcast’s new flagship outdoor Bluetooth speaker carries a substantial price tag, but if you’re headed for the backyard or a tailgate party, you’ll get what you pay for in sound quality, ease of use, and reliable operation.

Ever since the introduction of the first battery-driven transistor pocket radio, we’ve been taking our music outside and on the go. (By the way, that was the Regency TR-1 in the fall of 1954; visit regencytr1.com for a retrospective maintained by Don Pies, son of Regency cofounder John Pies.) Of course, any conversation today about “outdoor audio” needs to be placed in modern context. We’ve gone from being grateful for a tinny AM broadcast of “The Roy Rogers Show” played back over a tiny, underpowered speaker to expecting potent, high-quality audio in our backyards, at the beach, or in the parking lot as we tailgate before the big game.

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CEDIA 2017
SSE Bows Neo Transparent Screen
Rob Sabin  |  Sep 09, 2017
Seymour Screen Excellence, already known for its high-quality acoustically transparent screens, used CEDIA to show off its newest generation Neo screen material.

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Other Tech
Step by Step: How to use SpyderTV Pro to calibrate an HDTV
Rob Sabin  |  Dec 02, 2007

It's no secret to regular readers that watching an HDTV on its default factory settings is like buying a high-performance car and never taking it out on the highway to let 'er rip.

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HDTV Buying TipsHDTV SetupHDTV Tech
Super Bowl TV Tips: How To Buy Right for the Big Game
Rob Sabin  |  Jan 31, 2012
If you've got your heart set on a new big-screen for the big game, you're in luck. The days leading up to Super Bowl Sunday are the traditional last, best chance for retailers to dump their remaining inventory before new models hit shelves in the spring. The competition is as fierce among stores this week as it will be on the field this weekend. But your primary TV shouldn't be an impulse purchase, and jumping on the first hyper-bright picture or low pricetag that catches your eye is a recipe for long-term remorse. So, slow down, take a deep breath, and tackle these tips to guard against the dreaded Monday morning quaterbacking.

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Editor's Eye
Surprise, Surprise: Sometimes, Even In the A/V Biz, Old Is New Again
Rob Sabin  |  Aug 12, 2013
At any given moment, we’re usually working on six to eight test reports among various staffers. Of those, perhaps two or three products might be the “latest and greatest” while the rest falls more into the bread-and-butter category—another $600 or $1,000 receiver, maybe another bookshelf speaker system. As I looked over our recent slate of reviews, I was indeed struck by how conventional the mix appears to be. And yet, as I dug a bit deeper, I came to see how well it represents technology trends that have come to define the audio/video space, circa 2013.
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3D Tech
Surviving The 3D Format War
Rob Sabin  |  Jul 08, 2011
If you're shopping for an HDTV this weekend, you might find yourself battle-scarred by a war you didn't even know was happening. Anyone considering a set with 3D compatibility—which now comes along for the ride in most better flat panels —will be forced to choose between one that comes with either active-shutter or passive 3D technology. The key proponents of active-shutter 3D are Samsung, Panasonic, and Sony. Leading the charge for the more recently introduced passive technology are Toshiba, Vizio, and LG (which developed the passive home 3D system being used by the others). Although both types will play back the same 3D Blu-ray Discs and broadcasts, the glasses and the resulting 3D image are different. Here are some facts to help you sort things out.
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Audio Video News
SVS Feeds Audio’s Resurgence with “Experience” and Crutchfield Deals
Rob Sabin  |  Sep 17, 2015
Audio manufacturer SVS, which first made its name with high-performance subwoofers and now sells a mix of high-value, full-range speakers that have been favorably reviewed by Sound & Vision and others, made two key moves recently that should please enthusiasts and SVS fans—and neither involves a new product announcement.

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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System Review
Rob Sabin  |  Jan 02, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $600

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Neutral, open sound
DTS Play-Fi high-res and multiroom options
Extensive wired and wireless connectivity
Dedicated subwoofer out
Minus
Limited bass output begs for a subwoofer

THE VERDICT
SVS breaks the mold with a surprisingly versatile and great-sounding wireless speaker package.

SVS, a company that made its name selling high-performance/high-value subwoofers direct to consumers via the web, has since gone on to build similarly gifted and affordable full-range speakers. Audiophile sound quality that doesn't break the bank is in the brand's guiding DNA. So, it should come as no surprise that SVS's debut wireless product makes an audiophile statement in both its design philosophy and sonic personality.

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