Al Griffin

Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date
Audio Video News
Lyngdorf Audio Launches MP-40 Surround Processor
Al Griffin  |  May 12, 2020
Denmark’s Lyngdorf Audio has announced the MP-40, a new, entry-level addition to its surround sound processor lineup. Designed for use in smaller installations, the MP-40 is said to “offer all the sonic qualities and performance” of Lyngdorf Audio’s flagship MP-60 processor, but in a more compact and streamlined package.
Continue Reading >
Editor's EyeWide Angle
Magnepan’s Flagship Loudspeaker Hits the Road
Al Griffin  |  Jul 30, 2019
Road trips are a common enough activity in the U.S., but most, if not all, drivers leave their loudspeakers behind. Not Wendell Diller. The marketing mind behind Magnepan hit the road earlier this year with the company’s 30.7 Magneplanar loudspeaker, a flagship model, in tow. The plan? To visit every one of the company’s U.S. dealers and demo the new $30,000/pair loudspeaker.
Continue Reading >
Other Tech
Make Room for HDTV
Al Griffin  |  May 05, 2006

Right now is a great time to buy an HDTV. Why? Because prices have dropped to where many people can actually afford one. Another reason: the explosion of choices brought on by recent advances in technology. From compact flat-panel TVs with 20-inch screens to expansive rear-projection sets with 70-inch or larger displays, there's an HDTV out there custom-made for you. But which one?

Continue Reading >
Other Tech
Make Your Own DVD!
Al Griffin  |  Oct 16, 2001

About eight years ago, as a recent college graduate working a low-stress job, I made my own short movie. I had a couple grand in the bank and a handful of friends willing to help out.

Continue Reading >
Other Tech
Making the HDTV Connection
Al Griffin  |  Mar 09, 2003
Illustration by Turnstyle Imaging There was a time during television's black-and-white era when Andy Griffith's wholesome face dominated the airwaves, entire families dined in front of the tube with TV dinners balanced on their laps, and commercials hawked tasty, refreshing cigarettes. Hooking up your TV back then was easy.
Continue Reading >
Ask S&V
Making the Move from Discs to Computer Playback
Al Griffin  |  Dec 29, 2015
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have two preschool-aged kids who use my CDs and DVDs as Frisbees and coasters. For that reason alone, I feel a need to make a transition from physical media to computer-based playback. I bought an AppleTV so the kids could watch cartoons on Netflix, which solved some issues. When I used AirPlay to stream music to the Apple TV from my computer and tablet, however, I wasn’t impressed by the sound quality...

Should I retire my circa-1998 Acurus Act 3 preamp and buy a new model with HDMI/USB inputs, or should I spend a few hundred dollars on an add-on solution for my PC and get more mileage out of my current system? I have an unused Dell Vostro 230 computer with a 240-GB SSD drive and a 3-TB backup that I can co-opt for that purpose. — Paul Erickson / via e-mail

Continue Reading >
New Products
Marantz Launches New 8K-Ready A/V Receiver Lineup
Al Griffin  |  Jul 07, 2020
Marantz today dropped details on its 2020 SR-Series A/V Receiver lineup. There are four SR-Series AVRs in all, ranging from the 7-2-channel SR5015 ($1,099) up to the flagship SR8015 ($3,199), a 13.2 model with 11 built-in 140-watt amplifier channels. The new AVRs will be made available on a stepped basis, with the first model arriving in mid-July.
Continue Reading >
Surround Sound System ReviewsSubwoofer ReviewsTower Speaker Reviews
MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL X Speaker System Review
Al Griffin  |  Apr 12, 2017

ElectroMotion ESL X Speaker System
Performance
Build Quality
Value

Dynamo 1500X Subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $11,395 as reviewed

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent performance with music and movies
Perfect Bass Kit for sub eases setup
Compact electrostatic center speaker
Minus
Some timbral shift between center channel and towers
Towers and center require AC power

THE VERDICT
MartinLogan’s ESL X tower speakers deliver delicacy and detail—along with serious dynamics when paired with the Dynamo 1500X subwoofer. A new, more compact electrostatic center speaker sweetens the deal.

As a member of Generation X, I sometimes get paranoid about being target-marketed when I see a product name appended with an “X”—for instance, MartinLogan’s new ElectroMotion ESL X speaker. I, for one, would be an easy target: An eX-MartinLogan owner, I’m very familiar with the detailed, almost eerily present sound that the company’s hybrid electrostatic speakers deliver. Consider me a fan.

Continue Reading >
CEDIA 2019
MartinLogan's Masterpiece 9.4.4 Demo
Al Griffin  |  Sep 12, 2019
MartinLogan's demo of its new Masterpiece CI Series in-wall speakers has proven to be one of the more ear-catching events at CEDIA 2019. The 9.4.4 speaker demonstration used a pair of Statement 40XW (shown at right), five Monument 7XW, two Tribute 5XW, and four Sistine 4XC in-ceiling speakers augmented by a quartet of the company's Dynamo 1600X subwoofers. Movie clips used included a particularly face-melting segment from the Alita:Battle Angel Ultra HD Blu-ray.
Continue Reading >
Headphone Amp/DAC ReviewsOther Source Component Reviews
Mass Fidelity Relay Bluetooth Receiver
Al Griffin  |  Feb 14, 2014

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $249

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive sound quality for Bluetooth
Audiophile-friendly look
Pain-free setup
Minus
Pricey

THE VERDICT
It might not be high-rez or high end, but Mass Fidelity’s Bluetooth receiver is a great option for casual listening.

Bluetooth gets a bad rap in the hi-fi world, and for good reason: In contrast to other wireless audio technologies that let you stream uncompressed CD-quality audio from a PC or portable device, Bluetooth subjects the signal to lossy compression. If you’re an audiophile with a reputation to uphold, the story pretty much ends there.

Continue Reading >

Pages

X