John Sciacca

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CES 2017
Shangri-La, World’s Best Headphone?
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2017
Without a doubt, one of the benefits of attending CES is getting to listen to audio systems that reside way outside the realm of what is considered normal. Walking the hallways of the Venetian, it isn’t uncommon to pass suits demonstrating six-figure electronics and speaker systems. But when you enter the realm of mid-five-figure, cost-no-object, premium electrostatic headphone designs, then even the most jaded among us will stop to take a listen. Launching into this rarefied air and going after the title of “world’s ultimate headphone” is HIFIMAN’s new Shangri-La, a headphone system featuring virtual zero distortion and lightning fast response.

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CES 2017
KEF LS50: Wireless Swiss Army Knife of Speakers
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2017
For the company’s 55th anniversary, KEF created the LS50 Wireless, a complete active music system sharing the acoustic features of the company’s vaunted LS50. The LS50 Wireless features so many inputs and options for enjoying your music, it is a veritable Swiss Army Knife of versatility, but with audiophile, 192kHz/24-bit performance.

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CES 2017
Join the Vinyl Resurgence with Arcam’s rPhono
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2017
Arcam expanded its rSeries of products with the release of the new rPhono phono stage preamplifier. The new executive-sized component resides in a stylish aluminum case with the sole function of allowing vinyl lovers to enjoy their collections regardless of hardware combination or configuration. To ensure maximum compatibility and optimal matching regardless of cartridge type, rPhono offers a huge variety of adjustments.

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CES 2017
Metra Home Theater Accelerates HDMI to the Gigabit
John Sciacca  |  Jan 06, 2017
While you’ve probably heard that all HDMI cables are created equal, and that you either get perfect picture and sound or you don’t, that’s only true to a point as we enter the ultra-high-bandwidth world of Ultra HD signal transmission.

In the real world, I’ve found many cables struggle to deliver the full 18 Gbps signal between source and display when you start pushing the 6 meter cable length. This is especially true when using a source capable of delivering 4K/60 such as the Kaleidescape cover art GUI on the Strato movie player. Sure, this isn’t an issue when you’re talking about a connection to your wall-mounted flat panel display, but if you have your electronics remotely located in another area (say an equipment rack in the back of the room) or you are wiring to a video projector, then a short 3-4 meter cable probably ain’t gonna cut. So, what do you do if you have a cable run inside your walls and you connect that fancy new 4K source to your TV and you get the dreaded “No Signal”? You might just turn to Metra Home Theater’s Gigabit Accelerator.

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CES 2017
Dojo Protects Your Home Network Like a Ninja
John Sciacca  |  Jan 06, 2017
A common talking point amongst IoT providers at CES is how they are designing products to protect against malicious Internet DDOS attacks like the Mirai botnet that recently took down the Net for millions back in September. The reality is that network security is a complex, difficult to understand concept for many people, and creating a truly secure network is simply beyond the ability of most users and their networking components. That’s where Dojo comes in, becoming your own full-time network protecting ninja!

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CES 2017
Rachio’s Smart Wi-Fi Sprinkler Controller
John Sciacca  |  Jan 05, 2017
You know that commercial where the dad uses Alexa to turn on the front yard sprinklers to soak his daughter’s boyfriend? The hardware behind that voice-activated dousing is Rachio, and they are at CES showing their new Gen 2 sprinkler controller.

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CES 2017
Nucleus Demonstrates 21st Century Intercom
John Sciacca  |  Jan 05, 2017
When you think “intercom” you probably think of that large, clunky, multi-buttoned contraption that took up like three-free of real estate in your parent’s kitchen that no one really knew how to use. In fact, if there is one “technology” that has been sorely overlooked by progress, it is the lowly intercom. Nucleus looks to help keep families in touch no matter if they are on the other side of the home or the world with its Anywhere Intercom which adds and HD video camera and IP communication to the mix. It also happens to be the world’s first touchscreen device with Amazon Alexa built-in.

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CES 2017
PicoBrew Because…FRESH BEER!
John Sciacca  |  Jan 05, 2017
Lest you think that CES is a mindless slog of endless hallways filled with IoT devices, over-the-top speaker systems, and massive new TVs, take a gander at PicoBrew, the ultimate way to get ultra-fresh craft brew into your mouth!

If you are like me, then you love craft beer, but don’t really want to get mired in the complex and messy process of shopping for ingredients or figuring out brew times and hop cycles and bottle sanitizing procedures. You just want to cut straight to the part where you enjoy pint after pint of the sticky-ickiest fresh-hopped beer around. For those of us, the new Pico brings simplified homebrewing to an entirely new level and price point at only $799.

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CES 2017
First Alert Incorporates Alexa for Air Monitoring
John Sciacca  |  Jan 05, 2017
First Alert expanded the potential of its air-monitoring solutions by demonstrating two new Onelink products which both feature Amazon Alexa voice integration. The new devices include the Smoke + CO Alarm and the Environment Monitor.

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CES 2017
HDMI Forum Announces Version 2.1 Spec
John Sciacca  |  Jan 04, 2017
The HDMI Forum is made up of 83 global member companies whose mission is to “support and develop future versions of HDMI spec, support the eco-system of interoperable HDMI-enabled devices, foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI specification,” and they announced the specifications of the upcoming version 2.1 today at CES.

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