Mark Fleischmann

Ears On
Dueling Loudness Corrections Explained
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 17, 2008
While reviewing the Onkyo TX-SR806 receiver ($1099) I did some to-ing and fro-ing with the THX and Audyssey people regarding THX Loudness Plus and Audyssey Dynamic EQ. These new loudness corrections operate in roughly the same territory--but in a different manner. Their common goal is to compensate for sonic losses that occur naturally at lower volume levels. As volume drops, the frequency response of human hearing changes. Loudness Plus and Dynamic EQ both tackle this problem by adjusting channel levels and frequency response. But beyond that, there are differences between them, and I asked the THX and Audyssey people to be specific about those differences. Here's what they said.
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Audio Video News
Blu-ray Pricing in Flux
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 16, 2008
Will the list prices of Blu-ray player prices drop from current levels in time for the holidays? Yes, says one struggling brand. No, says the standard bearer.
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Audio Video News
Plasma Rebounds
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 15, 2008
Conventional wisdom has it that plasma is the less popular form of flat-panel TV. But plasma is rebounding, according to DisplaySearch.
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Audio Video News
Another Bad Copyright Law Passes
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 14, 2008
Whenever the federal government tries some dubious stunt, fails miserably, and decides to fail on an even bigger and more embarrassing scale, it creates a "czar." After all, as a democracy, don't we need to maximize the number of Russian-monarch-like job descriptions in Washington? Those were the thoughts of consternation racing through the minds of electronic libertarians this week as President Bush signed the PRO-IP Act. That stands for Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property.
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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Dynaudio Excite X12 Speaker System
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 13, 2008
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Like the dinner guest who invariably brings a bottle of fine wine and flowers for the table, Dynaudio is welcome in these pages. The suave Danish manufacturer never fails to entertain with its scintillating conversation—both musical and cinematic. Yet its products are down to earth and mindful of the fundamentals. You don’t need to be a golden-eared audiophile with years of critical listening skills to “get” Dynaudio. Nearly everyone can understand the qualities that animate products like Dynaudio’s new Excite range. They appeal to anyone who knows what a human voice sounds like, how musical instruments sound, and even what it should feel like when a car runs off a cliff and explodes.

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Audio Video News
Best Buy Sways Klipsch Speaker Design
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 13, 2008
Best Buy employees and customers had a major influence on some new Klipsch speakers, the Icon V Series. In fact, they helped design the speakers.
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Audio Video News
YouTube to Explore Media Retailing
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 10, 2008
YouTube is getting into the media retail business. Soon the site that feeds video clips to millions will be selling music, movies, TV shows, games, books, and concert tickets.
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Audio Video News
Broadband Video Audience Doubles
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 09, 2008
The number of Americans viewing video with a browser has doubled in the past year, according to a survey by ABI Research.
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Audio Video News
David Gilmour Swings Six Ways
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 08, 2008
I was poking around Amazon last week when I found David Gilmour's new Live in Gdansk album. In fact, I found several versions. It's available in no fewer than six configurations that dole out varying levels of content at prices from $20 to $116.
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Audio Video News
MK Returns Without Ampersand
Mark Fleischmann  |  Oct 07, 2008
Remember Miller & Kreisel, also known as M&K? The once reputable American speaker brand is making a comeback as MK Sound thanks to a Danish startup company and an American retailer.
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