Leslie Shapiro

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Grace NotesAudio Video News
Gregg Allman (1947-2017): A Personal Remembrance
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 28, 2017  |  2 comments
Although it was many years ago, I still cherish the time I worked with Gregg in the studio.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Jam Audio Comfort Buds: Comfort at a Price
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 22, 2017  |  0 comments
Thanks to Apple, there’s a surge of Bluetooth headphones hitting the market. Apple users are practically forced to go wireless, and other users find it convenient to ditch the cords. However, besides the sound quality issue of going wireless, there is also a comfort factor. Because more electronics have to be jammed into earphones, most Bluetooth earbuds are heavy, making them uncomfortable for many users. Jam Audio’s Comfort Buds is a solution for those sensitive listeners. Is comfort worth the sacrifice in sound quality?

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Hands On: Sennheiser Flex 5000 Makes Wired 'Phones Wireless
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 08, 2017  |  0 comments
Who doesn’t love staying up late and watching a guilty-pleasure movie while the rest of the household sleeps peacefully? The problem is that you can’t turn up the volume without fear of waking them or the neighbors. The Sennheiser Flex 5000 turns any headphone into a wireless option designed to let you watch TV using your favorite wired headphones. Plus it has features that help make TV audio clearer and enhances dialogue for better intelligibility.

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Soundbar ReviewsGrace Notes
Hands On: Fluance AB40 Wide Angle Soundbase
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 28, 2017  |  0 comments
I have never been a fan of soundbars. How can a little row of speakers replace the full-range sound of a true home-theater speaker system? It just can’t. However, soundbars heavy-set cousin, the soundbase, provides an interesting middle ground. I was skeptical of the Fluance AB40 Wide Angle soundbase when it first showed up, but after spending some time getting to know it, my opinion has changed—dramatically.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Mid-Priced JBL 'Phones Deliver High-Priced Sound
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 03, 2017  |  0 comments
These days, it seems that listeners have no choice but to spend hundreds of dollars to get good quality Bluetooth headphones. The JBL E55BT (MSRP $150) has the sound of a $300+ headphone, with good performance and a wired option, all in a range of colors to suite any style.

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Grace Notes
Jam Audio Xterior Max: Bluetooth Speaker for the Great Outdoors
Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 20, 2017  |  0 comments
Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, bunnies are multiplying and so are Bluetooth speakers. Doesn’t it seem that there is a new Bluetooth speaker hitting the market almost daily? One of the latest is the Jam Xterior Max, and it’s ready for any and all of your spring-time endeavours.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
BEEM D200 Headphones with Lightning Jack
Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 06, 2017  |  0 comments
When Apple chose to remove the headphone jack from their latest iPhones, many people (myself included) freaked out. Would I forever be forced into listening to a downgraded Bluetooth signal? Luckily, BEEM United came quickly to the rescue with the BeMe D200 wired headphone with a Lightning jack.

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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker ReviewsGrace Notes
Ears On: JLab Audio Party Series Wireless Speakers
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 20, 2017  |  0 comments
When JLab Audio launched their new Party Series wireless Bluetooth speakers last month, they quickly created quite a stir. After they won a 2017 CES Innovations award and a 2017 Dealerscope IMPACT! Award, I knew I had to check them out in person. I’m certainly glad I did.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Ears On Test: Do Custom Tips Make a Difference?
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 06, 2017  |  0 comments
Nothing steps up your game like a pair of custom earphones. They’re usually priced so high that customs were reserved for only the most devoted audiophiles. Snugs, a company out of London, England is making them accessible to the masses by creating custom ear tips, and partnering with Echobox to match them to the Nomad Titanium Earphones(MSRP $399).

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Turntable ReviewsGrace Notes
LP Records as Art
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jan 22, 2017  |  1 comments
Those who grew up in the age of vinyl LP records remember that preparing for the listening experience was an artform in itself. Ceremoniously removing the LP from the sleeve, while gently grasping the edge of the album, fingertips kept oh-so-carefully away from the surface lest a fingerprint mar the surface. The precise application of disc-washing solution to the luxurious velvet of the cleaning pad, followed by the virtuoso swipe of the pad across the grooves. The placement of the stylus on the record required finesse - a person was judged by how silently and gently the needle was placed on the disc.

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