Leslie Shapiro

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Grace NotesCES 2015
2014: The Year the Music (Player) Died?
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 12, 2015
Two weeks ago, I had two friends ask me to recommend an MP3 player for them. “No problem, “ I replied. I was heading to CES, showcase for all that is bright and good in the world of electronics. “I’ll make a list of all the MP3 players I’m bound to see.”

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Grace Notes
3D TV: Can You See the Emperor's New Clothes?
Leslie Shapiro  |  Sep 29, 2011

You know the story: an unscrupulous robe maker tells the king how wonderful his new, expensive, invisible robe is, king believes it, and king shows his butt to the world. A timeless tale that gets repeated over and over. And maybe a new version has just surfaced.

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Grace Notes
4 Ways to Avoid the Nightmare After Christmas
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 21, 2015
Gone are the days of old, when all it took to prepare for Christmas morning was a warm batch of cinnamon rolls, hot coffee, and a spare pack of batteries. Even though more and more technology exists today to keep us connected, how easy is it to set up all these new gadgets come Christmas morning? Although the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, are you sure you’re really ready for Christmas?

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CES 2016Grace Notes
Acclaimed Ministry of Sound Debuts First Bluetooth Speaker Line in the US
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 07, 2016
With 25 years of history creating a musical enterprise that expands far outside the 4 walls of the historic nightclub in the UK, Ministry of Sound is putting their name on a series of Bluetooth speakers.

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Grace Notes
AfterShokz Aftershocks
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 27, 2012

When I first saw the AfterShokz headphones at the 2012 International CES, I knew the company was onto something. Instead of going in or over the ear, these use bone conduction technology, borrowed from the Navy SEALs. AfterShokz rest in front of the ear, and use the jawbone to convey sound into the middle ear. I had a suspicion my father —a retired electrical engineer with a background in aeronautics, an audiophile from way back, and one of the original gadget gurus —would love them.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
AfterShokz Wireless Trekz Titanium Bone Conduction Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 29, 2016
Bone conduction technology has been around for a while, even before Beethoven pressed his ear against a piano and clasped a rod in his teeth to hear his compositions. But AfterShokz is bringing it mainstream to the active community with the new Trekz Titanium (MSRP $130) wireless headset. While you might not think bone conduction is right for you, there are plenty of advantages of the technology, including situational awareness, that you might want to consider.

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CES 2017Grace Notes
AKG Cuts the Cord with the N60 NC Wireless
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 08, 2017
Noise-cancelling headphones are must-haves for most frequent travelers, and the AKG N60 NC Wireless headphones are the must-have headphones.

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Power Amplifier ReviewsStreaming Device Reviews
Amazon Echo Link Streaming Amp Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 30, 2019
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
High-quality DAC
Alexa voice control
Includes headphone amp
Minus
Cumbersome input selection
No aptX Bluetooth
No hardware remote control

THE VERDICT
The Amazon Echo Link Amp offers an easy way to connect music streaming services to your existing stereo speakers.

With the new Amazon Echo Link Amp ($299), Amazon is sending Alexa off into unchartered territory. The goal: get music out of the phone and into the home, where it can be shared with family and friends. Such a warm, fuzzy idea! Good thing the Link Amp's sound is crisp, clear, and not fuzzy at all.

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Smart Speaker ReviewsSubwoofer ReviewsGrace Notes
Amazon Echo Sub: A Subwoofer Whose Time Has Come
Leslie Shapiro  |  Oct 15, 2018
It’s about freaking time. Amazon has just released the Echo Sub’ a subwoofer that pairs with a single or stereo pair of Echo smart speakers to finally address the bottom line. It’s a fact: small speakers can’t produce impactful bass, so the Echo Sub does the job. The past few years have seen an influx of small smart speakers that are certainly convenient, but not a single one had a decent bass response. Finally, Amazon has addressed the problem, and in my opinion, hit it out of the park.

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Streaming Device ReviewsGrace Notes
Amped Wireless BTSA1 Bluetooth Speaker Adapter Improves Wireless Performance
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 23, 2013
Hitting the market this late in the game, Amped Wireless better have something special with their BTSA1 Bluetooth speaker adapter. Yes, like so many other adapters, it lets you to turn any audio playback system into a Bluetooth-enabled system. But the adapter also delivers a few unexpected, and welcome, surprises.

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