Bob Ankosko

So, how’s the holiday shopping going? Have you nailed it (bravo, if so!), or are you still searching for the perfect gift for that special someone? If, like me, you fall into the latter category, I have a few mostly audio-oriented gift suggestions worth considering.

It’s 11:00 on a Sunday night. Your honey just went up to bed and you can’t wait to crank up your latest Blu-ray acquisition: Jimi Plays Berkeley, a long-forgotten 1970 documentary that has been restored and remixed in 5.1 surround. Seconds after Hendrix rips into the first number, the dreaded foot stomping from above begins. The party’s over before it even starts. Last time it was a cataclysmic crescendo from Inception that did you in. Frustrated, you vow to remedy the situation and, once and for all, soundproof the family room that doubles as your home theater.

In-wall speaker pioneer SpeakerCraft stole the show at the Core Brands press event at CEDIA when it demonstrated the first Atmos-enabled in-wall speaker module we’ve seen.

I’ve been a hard-core Beatles fan for…well, let’s just say a very long time. So I was more than a little intrigued when I saw Pro-Ject’s Fab Four turntables (my name, not theirs) at the May press event unveiling Giles Martin’s stereo remix of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The thought of a “new” Beatles record being played on a table that pays homage to the greatest band ever was compelling. Maybe it’s time to revisit my long-dormant vinyl collection...