Bob Ankosko

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The S&V InterviewAudio Video News
Bruno Putzeys: Head of the Class (D, That is)
Bob Ankosko  |  May 16, 2017
You may not have heard of Bruno Putzeys but if you’re an audiophile and have purchased a high-performance power amplifier in the recent past, you might know his work. Putzey’s ground-breaking NCore Class D amplifier module, created under the aegis of Netherlands-based Hypex Electronics, is used in amplifiers from ATI, Marantz, Jeff Rowland, and Bel Canto, to name a few. That Morris Kessler, founder of ATI and long-time champion of Class AB amplification, chose NCore for his new AT527NC and AT524NC amplifiers, is telling. Both models received Sound & Vision’s Top Pick designation, earning five stars in the Performance category, suggesting designs that are a far cry from Class D devices of just a few years ago. We tracked down Putzeys, now CTO at Kii Audio, to learn more about the new Class D and the apparent revolution he has started.
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Audio Video News
Como Audio Kickstarts Music System Spinoffs
Bob Ankosko  |  May 10, 2017
Como Audio, maker of the Top Pick-designated Solo and Duetto Wi-Fi-based multiroom music systems, launched a Kickstarter campaign in New York City yesterday to unveil two new spin-off models.

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Audio Video News
John Mellencamp: Rock and Roll Is Not Coming Back
Bob Ankosko  |  May 03, 2017
John Mellencamp with Carlene Carter, guests in the latest installment of McIntosh and Republic Records’ Direct Connection interview series. Photo by Meredith Truax.

Lit cigarette in hand, pop-rock icon John Mellencamp sauntered to the front of the room in McIntosh’s swanky Soho townhouse. He had a serious look on his face. No hint of a smile. Maybe he’s nervous, I thought to myself as he sat on a stool with a large ashtray at his side. Or is it just that he’s the personification of cool and really doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what people think…

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Audio Video News
Stunning Stereo Remix of Sgt Pepper Coming Soon
Bob Ankosko  |  May 02, 2017
Beatles fans will soon have the opportunity to rediscover Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band as they’ve never heard it before.
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New ProductsPremiere Design
Finding Sonic Paradise: HiFiMan's Shangri-La Electrostatic Headphone System
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 26, 2017
HiFiMan founder Dr. Fang Bian has been crafting fine headphones for more than a decade, collecting numerous awards along the way. In the past two years alone, five of his designs have been designated Top Picks in these pages. Despite this incredible success, Bian wanted more. He had a lifelong dream to fulfill: To create the “world’s best-sounding headphone.” As he put it, “While HiFiMan has made many good headphones, and people certainly enjoy them, none has ever fully satisfied that dream.”
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The S&V InterviewAudio Video News
HDMI 2.1: What You Need to Know
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 19, 2017
15 Minutes with HDMI Forum Chairman Chris Pasqualino

When HDMI hit the scene in 2003 it was welcomed as a godsend, enabling enthusiasts to replace a rat’s nest of audio and video cables with a single connection. The specification has evolved steadily over the years to keep pace with the ever-changing AV landscape and encountered a few bumps along the way. In January, the HDMI Forum announced Version 2.1, a forward-looking upgrade of the current HDMI 2.0b spec. We recently caught up with HDMI Forum Chairman Chris Pasqualino to learn about the implications of HDMI 2.1 now and in the future.

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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Adcom Luna Wireless Speaker
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 18, 2017
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $599

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solid build quality
Powered by AC or battery
Integral handle
Minus
Disappointing sound quality
Expensive

THE VERDICT
The Adcom Luna has style and pizzazz but falls short of the competition on sound quality.

Luna is not your father’s Adcom. As the first speaker to bear the familiar red logo, from a relatively recent licensee of the venerable old brand, it has no common heritage with the fine power amplifiers and preamplifiers on which the original company built its name in the ’80s and ’90s, except for its dominant color—black.

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Premiere Design
McIntosh MT5 Turntable
Bob Ankosko  |  Mar 15, 2017
Go ahead, take a few seconds to savor the radiant splendor of the McIntosh MT5. Rolling Stone dubbed it "The Turntable of the Gods." Fitting, indeed, for one of the most striking turntables you'll encounter. Beyond the hypnotic allure of its mirror finish and luminous platter—not to mention the conversation it's sure to stimulate—you'll find a precision device that treats cherished albums with the respect they deserve, while extracting the goosebump-inducing nuances that define your passion for vinyl.
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The S&V InterviewAudio Video News
Ridding the World of Bad Sound
Bob Ankosko  |  Mar 09, 2017

15 Minutes with Dirac Founder Mathias Johansson

Mathias Johansson, CEO and co-founder of Sweden’s Dirac Research, has devoted his professional life to developing technologies that improve sound quality—whether that sound is music heard over headphones or car speakers, or an intricate Dolby Atmos soundtrack played over a high-end home theater system. “Our passion is to invent new sound technologies that offer a better sound experience regardless of the sound system,” he says. “We want to be a quality seal for good sound, and we want to achieve this through scientific methods.” If the accolades the Dirac Live room-correction system has garnered among enthusiasts is any measure, Johansson is not only on the right path to elevating sound quality but making tangible progress.
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New ProductsPremiere Design
Come Fly With Me: Sonus faber's Super Sexy sf16
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 24, 2017
I was immediately drawn to the sf16’s neofuturistic styling. Its gentle curves reminded me of the iconic TWA Flight Center at New York’s JFK Airport—an aeronautic theme sustained by wing-like sound pods that sprout on command. Unusual and unique.
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