John Sciacca

CES 2020
IMAX Enhanced Ready for Primetime
John Sciacca  |  Jan 10, 2020  |  0 comments
Since it was initially teased at CEDIA in 2018, IMAX has been parsing out information s-l-o-w-l-y about its new Enhanced program. There have been occasional partner announcements, a random IMAX Enhanced 4K Blu-ray documentary, and promises of streaming providers to come. Well, it seems we are finally at a point where IMAX Enhanced is a thing, and you can start watching movies in some of the best quality available now!
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CES 2020
Samsung Q-Symphony Enhances TV Audio
John Sciacca  |  Jan 10, 2020  |  0 comments
While the majority of hubbub at Samsung’s booth was centered around new televisions with thinner bezels, more pixels, larger and brighter screens (along with all things Galaxy and a bevy of smart appliances), there was an interesting demonstration going on in a back corner of the booth called Q-Symphony. Fortunately, I took the time to sit through the demo and learn about how certain upcoming Q-Series Samsung displays will utilize this unique feature to greatly expand the audio soundstage delivering a far more cinematic experience.
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CES 2020
Klipsch Teams with McLaren on Performance Headphones
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
There are hundreds (thousands?) of different headphone models floating around Las Vegas at CES this week, but only Klipsch Audio is the official headphone partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Racing team, and the two brands have teamed up to produce three new headphones that not only have unparalleled quality, but also excellent design crafted from the finest materials for serious performance. And all models are accentuated with McLaren’s signature color: Papaya Orange.
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CES 2020
Audio-Technica Aims High with $399 Turntable
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
With a slate of affordable, entry-level turntables in its stable, Audio-Technica is rolling out the new AT-LPW50PB, a new belt-drive deck sitting at the upper-range of its line meant to provide a more affordable path to high-end audio listening.
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CES 2020
Klipsch Stresses Audio Performance in New Soundbars
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  0 comments
Speaker manufacturers are catching on to the fact that just because someone is buying a soundbar doesn’t mean that they want to sacrifice a quality audio experience. Klipsch released three new bars at CES, with all models crafted from wood and utilizing horn-loaded technology to look and sound like the brand’s acclaimed Reference speakers and deliver a premium soundbar experience.
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CES 2020
UHD Alliance Garners Support for Filmmaker Mode
John Sciacca  |  Jan 09, 2020  |  1 comments
Remember awhile back when Tom Cruise and Top Gun: Maverick director Christopher McQuarrie took to the Internet to blast on the ill-effects of using motion smoothing to ruin movies by turning them into video mush that looked like a telenovela soap opera? Well, the UHD Alliance (UHDA), comprised of nearly 40 member companies, is out to make Cruise’s dream come true by getting more manufacturers and industry professionals on board to support a new Filmmaker Mode setting that will ensure you are watching movies as closely resembles the filmmaker’s intention and to the best of your display’s capability.
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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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