Ken C. Pohlmann

CES 2015
Ultra Ears Megaboom Speakers Play for 20 Hours
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 09, 2015
First, a word of clarification: Ultimate Ears is a brand of Logitech. As you might surmise, UE handles the audio products, while Logitech is more computer focused. Now, the product news: UE's first portable wireless speaker was the UE Boom. As you might expect, the Megaboom is the new and improved version. It features more power, louder sound, and more bass. Ergo, it is better.

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CES 2015
Sennheiser Sweats Out Four New Sports Earbuds
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 09, 2015
I like to sweat. Sweating is good. I like to listen to music. Most earbuds are destroyed by sweat, or else if they are sweatproof, they sound bad. Sennheiser has overcome that conundrum and sold some excellent sports earbuds in the past, but they have doubled-down on the product category with their new Sport Series comprising four new models, all aimed at our inner athlete clamoring to get stronger, fitter and faster.

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CES 2015
Altec Lansing Boomjacket Plays for 40 Hours
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 09, 2015
There is no shortage of all-weather Bluetooth speakers but the Boomjacket takes longevity to a new level with 40 hours of playback time on a single charge. (Moreover, Altec Lansing claims that you don't have to lower the volume to achieve that.) The Boomjacket is the sequel to the Life Jacket; like its predecessor, the Boomjacket features rain/dirt/shock-proof construction; in addition to its improved playing time, it has improved sound quality and more mounting capabilities.

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CES 2015
Saygus Smartphone Boasts 320 Gigs of Memory
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 08, 2015
What? A smart phone? In Sound & Vision magazine? S&V never covers phones. True, we usually leave that chore to others. But in this case, we'll make an exception. This phone, one that surely you've never heard of, caught our attention because of its size.

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CES 2015
Braven Solar-Charged BRV-PRO Is Rugged & Manly
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 08, 2015
The BRV-PRO is: rugged, manly, ready for adventure, and has solar charging. Interestingly, most of those attributes also apply to me. But I digress. The new BRV-PRO is one of many portable Bluetooth speakers. But it is differentiated by its family of modular attachments that add to its utility and fun.

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CES 2015
Onkyo DACs Play Hi-Res On the Go
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 08, 2015
Think hi-res audio has to stay planted indoors? Think again. With these portable DACs, you can plug into your mobile device and enjoy audio quality as good as your headphones permit. Onkyo's DAC-HA200 and new DAC-HA300 digital-to-analog converter/amplifier combos are bite-sized and they sound awesome.

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CES 2015
Zettaly's Avy Speaker Is Android-Smart
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 08, 2015
The competition among smart speakers is heating up. In fact, it is already red hot. There are any number of choice products to choose from, with more pouring in. Another new entry is the Avy smart speaker from Zettaly. This is an Android-powered speaker with a couple of nice twists.

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CES 2015
Acoustic Research Outdoor Speakers Set You Free
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 07, 2015
You could crank up the sound system in your car. You could open your windows and use your home theater. I guess you could even turn on your phone and have everyone keep really quiet. But the best way to enjoy tunes out on the patio is to buy an outdoor speaker. Outdoor speakers are typically portable, cordless, and water resistant, provide a bit of fidelity even if it's not always high. AR has some nice new ones for your outdoor listening pleasure

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CES 2015
Smart Atom's LaMetric Speaker Adds Info to Your Music
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 07, 2015
Can your desktop speaker do this? Show time, news, deadlines, temperature or any other data you're interested in? Stream music services like Spotify, Pandora and iTunes from your phone or tablet? Smart Atom's LaMetric can. In addition, this speaker is hackable. In all my years as an audio reviewer, I have never before written the words, "this speaker is hackable."

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CES 2015
Neil Young Live: Pono Gets a Partner
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jan 07, 2015
Part rock legend, part entrepreneur, part evangelist, part curmudgeon, Neil Young held a press briefing on Tuesday. Mr. Young and his PonoMusic venture have enjoyed considerable media exposure lately and the CES is perhaps the juiciest venue of them all. At a Hi-Res Audio event, Mr. Young reiterated his passion for Pono. And, the press was informed of an interesting partnership.

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