Al Griffin

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CES 2016Ask S&V
Dynaudio Debuts a Next-gen Wireless Speaker
Al Griffin  |  Jan 08, 2016
Dynaudio’s first- and second-gen Xeo wireless speakers were previously reviewed in Sound & Vision. Long story short, we liked ‘em. Now the company has a new wireless speaker, the Xeo 2, that adds a few features the previous versions lacked, and is also considerably more affordable.
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Audio Video News
Dynaudio Updates Contour Loudspeaker Lineup
Al Griffin  |  Apr 27, 2020
The last time Dynaudio updated its mid-range Contour speaker lineup was back in 2016. Since then, the company launched a retooled version of its high-end Confidence series that uses all-new drivers and revamped baffle design, along with updated cabinets and crossovers. Some tech from that effort has trickled down into Dynaudio’s just-announced Contour i series speakers, which consists of the Contour 20i bookshelf ($5,250/pair), Contour 30i ($8,250/pair) and Contour 60i towers ($10,750/pair), and Contour 25Ci center channel ($3,750 each).
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CEDIA 2019
Elac Debuts Debut Reference Speakers
Al Griffin  |  Sep 16, 2019
The debut of Elac's new Debut Reference actually happened at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest a week prior to CEDIA, but the new speakers nonetheless occupied a prominent place at the center of the brand's CEDIA booth.
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CEDIA 2018
Elac Debuts Navis Wireless Speakers
Al Griffin  |  Sep 06, 2018
Elac is moving big-time into making high-performance wireless speakers, a realm currently dominated by companies including KEF, Dynaudio, and DALI. The outfit’s new Navis series consists of the AR-B51 standmounter ($2,000/pair, shown) and AR-F51 tower speaker ($4,000/pair).
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Media Server Reviews
Elac Discovery DS-S101-G Music Server Review
Al Griffin  |  Feb 15, 2018

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,100

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Free app from Roon Labs
Wired and wireless multiroom playback options
Impressive sound from built-in DAC
Minus
Track count limited to 30,000
Requires wired LAN connection

THE VERDICT
Elac’s Discovery provides a simple, elegant option for adding a networked music server with Roon to an existing audio system.

Before diving into a review of Elac’s Discovery DS-S101-G music server, it seems apt to ask: What is a music server? In the past, it was a standalone audio component with a built-in hard disk that stored and played a ripped CD collection while connecting to the internet to fetch metadata. While products that fit this description still exist, a music server can also be something as basic as a software application running on a computer or on a network-attached storage (NAS) appliance. The server application, wherever it may reside, acts as a librarian for your digital audio files, sorting and retrieving them, and then routing the data to a USB DAC or a networked audio component that translates the ones and zeros into music.

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CES 2019
Elac Introduces Jet Tweeter-Fueled Carina Series Speakers
Al Griffin  |  Jan 11, 2019
Elac’s new Carina series speakers are the first Andrew Jones-designed models from the company to incorporate an air-motion transformer (AMT) tweeter module—the same type seen in speakers from GoldenEar Technology, MartinLogan, and others.
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CES 2016Ask S&V
ELAC Previews Wireless Interactive Music Experience
Al Griffin  |  Jan 09, 2016
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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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsSubwoofer ReviewsSurround Sound System ReviewsTower Speaker Reviews
Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 Surround Speaker System Review
Al Griffin  |  Feb 03, 2021

Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value

Subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $3,000 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clean, well-balanced sound
Consistent off-axis performance
Subwoofer control app with Auto-EQ
Excellent value
Minus
Basic looks; black-only finish option

THE VERDICT
Despite its low-key exterior, Elac’s 5.1 Uni-Fi 2.0 system delivers the goods for movies/music and represents an excellent value.

Germany's Elac is a brand that has greatly expanded its presence in the hi-fi and home theater worlds over the past five or so years. While the company itself has been around for considerably longer, back in 2015 it brought on former KEF, Infinity, TAD, and Pioneer chief speaker engineer Andrew Jones to develop new product lines. First out of the gate for Jones was the Debut Series, followed by the Uni-Fi series, both affordable lines designed to pull fresh recruits into the audiophile ranks. New speakers arrived in quick succession, including the upscale but still affordable Adante passive and Navis powered models.

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CEDIA 2016
ELAC Unveils a Mighty Mini Integrated Amp
Al Griffin  |  Sep 18, 2016
Small enough to sit on a computer desk—which is how it was set up at CEDIA—but powerful enough to drive a pair of tower speakers, ELAC’s new EA101EQ-G Element integrated amp is built to fit into a range of hi-fi scenarios. At $699, it also embodies the same easy-on-the-wallet ethos as the company’s popular, Andrew Jones-designed speakers.
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CES 2017
Elac’s New Wireless Speaker is Roon Ready
Al Griffin  |  Jan 08, 2017
Based on ELAC’s Uni-Fi, which Mark Fleischmann liked when he reviewed it in 2016, ELAC’s Discovery Z3 Zone Music Player places that speaker’s core design in a compact box that connects wirelessly to your home’s Wi-Fi network.
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