John Sciacca

CES 2020
JBL L82 Classic Makes Old New Again
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
Who doesn’t remember the iconic Maxell tape ad with the guy sitting in the chair and his martini being blown away by great audio? The speakers in that ad were JBL L100s, an all-time best seller for JBL, and a 3-way model originally released in 1970. A couple of years ago the company resurrected this design by introducing the L100 Classic, a retro-styled design with updated technology that quickly became a surprise hit. This year JBL is introducing a new model to this retro-styled line, the L82 Classic Bookshelf.
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CES 2020
JBL Offers Truly Wireless Atmos 9.1 Bar
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
JBL launched a new suite of soundbars at CES, but by far the most exciting for Sound & Vision readers will be the company’s new Bar 9.1, JBL’s first soundbar with Dolby Atmos built-in. The bar not only delivers full 5.1.4 Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio playback, but does it with true wireless operation of the surround speakers.
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CES 2020
Mark Levinson Makes Audiophile Ownership Less Expensive
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  3 comments
There are those marquee brands in the high-end world that carry instant name cachet and immediately call to mind cost-no-object designs that most mortals can only aspire to owning. Dropping names like Krell, McIntosh, Trinnov, and Wilson Audio lets fellow AV aficionados know you’re familiar with truly high-end. Mark Levinson is a company that definitely belongs on that list of names, and with the company’s 5000 Series of products, they are trying to make membership in the audiophile owners’ club a bit less daunting, and also attract the next generation of music loving audiophiles.
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CES 2020
Enclave Unveils THX-Certified Soundbar Killer
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
Soundbars are perfect problem solvers for many as they provide a greatly improved listening experience over the anemic audio offered by nearly every modern flat-panel display. Many opt for a soundbar because they require no additional hardware like an AVR, usually require just a single-wire connection to the display, need no extra controls, and are affordable. But what if there was a way to get all of these soundbar benefits while still enjoying far better sound, with actual front channel separation and true surround sound? That’s the promise Enclave Audio is delivering with its new CineHome wireless audio systems.
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CES 2020
Flex Automation Bridges Control4 and Z-Wave
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
Control4 is the preferred automation system by many custom installers (myself included), and while the company offers some Z-Wave integration, it is meager at best, interfacing with only a very small handful (less than 15) of devices. For users that want to tap into the hundreds of widely available and unique Z-Wave components, Flex Automation debuted two new devices to bridge the control gap.
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CES 2020
Hogar Offers Smart Home Brains and Beauty
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2020  |  0 comments
There have been lots of developments over the years in the category of smart lighting control, but most of these smart controls don’t really look much different or nicer than a classic paddle switch you can pick up for a couple of bucks at your local Home Depot. Hogar Controls feels that the modern smart home deserves something that looks better than just an ordinary light switch, and the company’s new Prima Touch Switch line offers a sleek designer finish that makes your modern home actually look modern!
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CES 2020
SVS Refreshes Most Popular Sub Line Ever
John Sciacca  |  Jan 07, 2020  |  0 comments
When a company looks to refresh its most popular, best-selling subwoofer series ever, you can imagine they would do so with a bit of care to ensure that the legacy and goodwill built over the years isn’t lost on some rev. 2 cash grab. Rest assured, SVS put a ton of thought and design into the new 2000 Pro Series subwoofers to ensure that the performance legacy of past subs is not only respected, but kicked up to the next level.
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CES 2020
Robbox Intros Smart Drill for Ultimate DIY Installs
John Sciacca  |  Jan 07, 2020  |  0 comments
If there is one thing you can count on at CES, it is to expand the world of smart, connected, Internet of Things devices. From smart salt shakers, to smart toothbrushes, to connected sex toys, to every kind of fitness/health tracker imaginable, CES has it all. To that list you can now add Robbox Tools’ world’s first Digital Smart Drill.
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CES 2020
Elite Projector Offers Outdoor Theater Solution
John Sciacca  |  Jan 07, 2020  |  0 comments
I stopped into the Elite Screens suite in the Venetian to check out whether the company was offering any new video projection screens at CES (spoiler: there were! Two, in fact!). But the coolest thing in the suite turned out to not be one of the two new video screens on display, but rather the complete MosicGo outdoor theater entertainment system under the new Elite Projector brand!
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CES 2020
Panda Audiophile Wireless Headphones Get THX Badge
John Sciacca  |  Jan 07, 2020  |  0 comments
For years, the THX logo on a product meant you were buying something that was a cut above the rest, with the company’s demanding certification process guaranteeing that a component met a certain performance level criterion that ensured buyers they were getting the goods, especially when it came to home theater electronics or speakers. However, the certification became diluted over the years as THX seemed to start certifying products and systems well outside of their key areas, and the THX badge seemed to nearly become extinct. But the company is back at CES and has several new technologies, including the launch of Drop + THX Panda, the first audiophile wireless headphone to receive the THX badge.
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