Al Griffin

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CES 2016
OLED, 8K, Curved Screens — Konka Has it All
Al Griffin  |  Jan 08, 2016
Chinese TV makers are all over CES showing sets with the same high-end tech that Korean and Japanese companies are touting. While some companies — HiSense, for example — will sell those models through outlets familiar to U.S. consumers like Best Buy, others like Konka have no plans to ship their premium models to these shores.
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Olevia 252T FHD 52-inch LCD HDTV
Al Griffin  |  Apr 03, 2008

Step into the TV section of any big-box electronics store, and you're bound to see endless rows of LCD sets lining the shelves. While this surplus of options can make it tough to decide on a specific LCD model, the upside is that the competition for your flat-panel TV dollar has resulted in a number of great deals.

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Olevia 747i 47-inch LCD HDTV
Al Griffin  |  Apr 03, 2007

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CES 2017
Onkyo Rides the Wireless Multiroom Speaker Wave
Al Griffin  |  Jan 07, 2017
Onkyo is not one to miss out on audio trends. Any time that Dolby or DTS dreams up a new innovation — holographic, object-based, bone-induction surround, for example — you know that Onkyo will be the first to feature it in their AV receivers.
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Custom Installation How-To
Oppo DV-981HD Upconverting DVD Player
Al Griffin  |  May 02, 2007

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Ask S&V
Optimizing Sound Quality with a High-Performance Blu-ray Player
Al Griffin  |  Apr 14, 2014
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

QI have an Oppo BDP-105 Blu-ray player, a Marantz AV7701 preamp, five Marantz monoblock amps, and Definitive Technology speakers. Given the rave reviews of the Oppo player’s built-in DACs, how would you recommend I set my system up to optimize sound quality? Should I bypass my preamp and hook the Oppo up directly to my monoblock amps, or should I use an HDMI connection to run everything through the Marantz? —Dick Costello / via e-mail

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3D Projector ReviewsProjector Reviews
Optoma HD142X 3D DLP Projector Review
Al Griffin  |  Dec 13, 2016

2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $579

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great value
Good overall performance
Backlit remote control
Minus
Limited installation features
So-so contrast

THE VERDICT
Good overall performance, ample adjustments, and a low price make Optoma’s HD142X a great entry-level projector.

You might not be aware of it, but there’s a new war going on. No, it’s not between countries, ideologies, or individuals; it’s between DLP projector manufacturers. A handful of companies are battling to provide a single-chip model that delivers the best-looking, brightest picture at the lowest price. Over the past few months, I’ve reported on two such projectors, the ViewSonic LightStream Pro7827HD ($890, Sound & Vision, September) and the InFocus ScreenPlay SP1080 ($549, see review at soundandvision.com). Next up: Optoma’s HD142X ($579), another affordable model aimed at the casual home theater fan and gamer.

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Optoma HD81 1080p DLP Front Projector
Al Griffin  |  Nov 03, 2006

•Photo Gallery

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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsIntegrated Amp ReviewsStreaming Device Reviews
OSD Audio Nero Studio5 Bookshelf Speakers and Stream-XD Integrated Amplifier Review
Al Griffin  |  Aug 07, 2019

Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value
Integrated Amplifier
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $400 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great value
Tidal, Spotify, and TuneIn streaming
Digital and analog inputs accommodate multiple sources
Minus
Subwoofer output
Treble-forward sound with some music
Coarse volume steps
No USB-DAC input

THE VERDICT
OSD Audio’s compact, component-based system is a great value and offers a high-er-performance alternative to many all-in-one wireless speakers.

OSD Audio is a company that seems to make everything— everything audio-related, that is. When I stopped by the company's booth at the CEDIA trade show in 2018, CEO Dave Chai took me on a guided tour of the vast array of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, outdoor speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, accessories, and cables on display, thoroughly impressing me with his ability to speak about each product in detail. While much of OSD Audio's catalog is aimed at custom installation pros, two new consumer-oriented categories for the company are bookshelf speakers and integrated amplifiers with wireless streaming capability.

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Subwoofer Reviews
OSD Audio Nero TubeBass 10 Subwoofer Review
Al Griffin  |  Apr 14, 2021

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $179

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Inexpensive
Compact form factor
Good extension and output
Minus
Limited features
No wireless option

THE VERDICT
There’s nothing fancy about OSD Audio’s Nero TubeBass 10, but if you’re looking to get decent bass performance in smaller-size room without a paying a premium, it’s well worth a listen.

As someone who appreciates the benefit deep bass brings to music and movie soundtracks, I've come to accept that having a box the size of a small refrigerator in my living room is a reality of life I need to contend with. That box, of course, is a subwoofer, and welcoming one into your space is the deal you must strike in order to get deep bass. Some cleverly engineered models use innovative DSP-driven solutions, along with serious amplifier power, to coax extended bass from compact boxes— certain subs we've reviewed from JL Audio and KEF come to mind. And while such models definitely make a better fit with non-mancave-like interior spaces, you'll pay handsomely for the tech wizardry that brings about the bass miniaturization.

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