Leslie Shapiro

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CES 2014
Skullcandy’s Air Raid Brings it with Badass Looks and Rugged Appeal
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 07, 2014
Skullcandy has an image as a badass headphone manufacturer. They showed up at CES set on keeping that reputation. The Air Raid (MSRP $150) is a portable Bluetooth speaker that plays loud, and has drop-resistance and weather-resistance to take on all the abuses you can throw at it. I chatted with Sam Noertker, one of the engineers behind the Air Raid for some inside perspective.

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CES 2016Grace Notes
Skybuds Wireless Earbuds Keep Your Phone Running Longer
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 06, 2016
Skybuds look like ordinary wireless earbuds, but they have so much more going for them.

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Grace Notes
Skyfall: Selling England by the Pound
Leslie Shapiro  |  Nov 13, 2012

Bond is back, and better than ever, in Skyfall (MGM/Eon Productions). The film marks the 50th anniversary of the series that's seen us through the Cold War, with a variety of actors capturing the iconic 007 through 23 films. As with every good anniversary celebration, this one reflects on a glorious past - and imagines an equally glorious future.

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Grace Notes
Slacker’s Bass and Beats Radio
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 09, 2012

It’s no secret that here at Sound+Vision, we’re fans of Slacker Radio — I’ve been singing their praises since they first launched. Now there’s a new reason to love Slacker. While it’s easy to create your own stations personalized for your own tastes in music, Slacker has just announced a new free station, Bass and Beats, that is designed to showcase “the best low frequency tracks ever.”

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CES 2017Grace Notes
Snugs Brings 3D Scanning to Custom Earphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 07, 2017
With Snugs custom eartips, why settle for one-size-fits-all earphones when you can easily go custom?

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Grace Notes
Some Favorite Musical Moments of 2016
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 26, 2016
2016 is wrapping up and it was a tough year for music. We lost so many influential musicians: David Bowie, Prince, Glenn Frey, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell, Merle Haggard and most recently, George Michael. Throughout the year, though, we’ve also had some wonderful musical moments that remind us of why we love music. It makes us laugh, it inspires us, it brings us together. Thankfully, most of my favorite musical moments of the year were captured on YouTube videos, so continuing in the spirit of Christmas, I give you my Top 4 Musical Moments of 2016. Enjoy!

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CES 2018Grace Notes
Sonarworks True-Fi Creates Studio Reference Experiences with Ordinary Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 08, 2018
Audio software experts from Sonarworks just announced a new app that eliminates the inaccurate coloration introduced by most consumer headphones to create a flat, “studio reference” sound from over 100 popular headphones.

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Headphone Reviews
Sonos Ace Headphones Review: Ace Aces All Audio
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 22, 2024

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Sleek ergonomics
Works independently of Sonos ecosystem
Dolby Atmos
Balanced, natural sound
Minus
WiFi only available in TV Audio Switch
Bright Aware Mode
Expensive

THE VERDICT
The Ace headphones, first headphones from Sonos, ace music playback and break out of the Sonos ecosystem, giving non-Sonos users and Sonos fans something to celebrate.

Sonos created quite the buzz when they announced their first headphones, the Sonos Ace. The appeal was instantaneous, especially when people realized that they could be used independently from the Sonos ecosystem. Hello, world! The wireless Ace was released and I can’t begin to describe how excited I was.

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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Sonos Era 100 Speaker Review: Versatile and Compact
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 10, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $249

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Surprising upper bass accuracy
Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
Privacy controls
Minus
Minimal stereo Imaging
Compressed sound

THE VERDICT
Who says you can't improve on perfection? The Sonos Era 100 is the new replacement for the much heralded Sonos One speaker. Does it offer improvements? Absolutely! With Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, voice assist and extremely loud playback, the Era 100 lives up to the usual Sonos hype with sound that delivers.

Move over Sonos One—there’s a new kid on the block and its time has come. The Era 100 is one of two new products from Sonos, the other being the larger, pricier Era 300. The Era 100 boasts an array of features that address many complaints from earlier products.

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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsSmart Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Sonos Move Portable Wireless Speaker Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Oct 29, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Fabulous sound quality
Replaceable battery
Supports Alexa and Google Assistant
Convenient charging base
Minus
Mono playback
Audio input limited to wireless
No phone capability

THE VERDICT
The waterproof/dustproof Move is one of the best-sounding and full-featured portables available. It may just be my new favorite speaker.

Sonos is no stranger to compact speakers that play without wires, but the new Move ($399) is the first truly portable, battery powered model to come from the company. The Move's connectivity options let you tote it around the house and even outside when using Wi-Fi; beyond that, as long as it's charged up, you can take it anywhere and stream music via Bluetooth. The Move comes with a dedicated (and dare we say, stylish) charging base that eliminates fumbling around with connecting cables, and it can also be charged via USB-C (cable not included).

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