Leslie Shapiro

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CES 2016Grace Notes
Phāz Music Headphones Solve the Digital Dilemma
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 05, 2016
Most folks know that audio can only be as good as the weakest link in the supply chain; send good audio through a crappy headphone amp and it doesn’t matter how good the headphones are. It’s still going to sound like crap. Phāz Music is releasing new headphones that eliminate that problem.

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CES 2017
Phazon Makes a Splash with Waterproof Wireless Earbuds That Stay Put
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 05, 2017
Phazon has announced a one-size-fits-all earbud with characteristics normally reserved for custom earbuds - they’ll stay in no matter what. They also have a waterproof rating of IP68, suitable for up to 1 meter.

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Grace Notes
Picking the Meat from John Carter’s Bones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jul 03, 2012

By any measure, Disney’s enjoyable Mars epic John Carter was a fiscal fiasco, netting only $72 million in the US and $282.4 million total worldwide, barely clearing its $250 million price tag. Ouch.

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CES 2018Grace Notes
Pioneer Gives Alexa Elite Speaker Status in the Elite F4
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 10, 2018
While Alexa got her start in a speaker tower built by a company with little experience in speaker design, now she’s really getting to shine in a smart speaker from Pioneer’s Elite product designers.

 

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 Wireless Earbud Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 09, 2016
Absolute power corrupts absolutely; lack of power is just freakin’ annoying. The new Plantronics BackBeat GO 3 is a wireless, sweatproof earbud that solves the lack of power problem in a unique and clever way. The carrying case has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides the power for up to two recharges, giving the Backbeat GO 3 an extra 13 hours of playback. That’s the kind of power a girl could get used to.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Plantronics BackBeat Sense Smart Headphone Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 17, 2015
Everything needs to be enhanced these days to stand out from the crowd—everyone needs a schtick. Potato chips need wacky truffle-oil flavoring, cars need a carbon fiber wrap, and well, most celebrities keep their plastic surgeons on speed-dial. Even headphones need a hook to make a splash in the over-saturated market. While the Plantronics BackBeat Sense wireless headphones look like ordinary headphones, they are packed with enhancements, including knowing when they’re on or off.
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Soundbar Reviews
Polk Audio MagniFi 2 Soundbar System Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Oct 14, 2020

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Immersive 3D audio mode
Chromecast-built in plus Bluetooth
Stylish, wireless subwoofer
Minus
Imaging can be vague with stereo music
Remote control hard to read

THE VERDICT
Polk Audio’s elegantly simple and affordable MagniFi 2 delivers expansive sound from a system with a relatively small footprint.

Polk Audio's new MagniFi 2 soundbar hits a sweet spot of affordability, performance, and convenience. It features Polk's patented SDA Stereo Dimensional Array technology to enhance stereo imaging, a 3D Mode that adds virtual height and surround effects, and a Voice Adjust feature to boost dialogue levels in movies and TV shows.

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Grace NotesAudio Video News
PreShow: The Coolest yet Creepiest Free Movie App Launching on Kickstarter
Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 25, 2019
“Attend first-run movies in theaters...FREE!” That’s the Kickstarter headline that caught my eye. Who doesn’t love free movies? However, what lengths will you go through to get those free movie theater tickets? PreShow is a new app launching on Kickstarter by the founder of MoviePass. If funded and launched, the PreShow app will play 15-20 minutes of advertisements in exchange for one free movie ticket credit. How they ensure that you watch the ads is completely freaking me out.

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CES 2019
Puro Sound Labs at CES Saving the Hearing of the Youngest Audiophiles
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 08, 2019
Just because listeners are young, their age shouldn’t exclude them from high-quality audio. More significant, though, they should be even more concerned about protecting their hearing than adults. Puro Sound Labs has made it their mission to protect young ears, and they are at CES showing off their latest ANC, volume-limiting headphones for kids and young adults.

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Grace Notes
Qwikster: Dead on Arrival
Leslie Shapiro  |  Oct 10, 2011

A few weeks ago, the blogosphere was abuzz with commentary on Netflix's impetuous decision to split into two companies: Netflix for streaming TV shows and movies, and Qwikster for home delivery of DVD and Blu-ray movies. Seems that Netflix thought better of it too.

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