Friday, June 30, 2017

LG OLED65E7P OLED Ultra HDTV Review


Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $5,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
It’s all about the black
Wide viewing angle
Supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Minus
Pricey

THE VERDICT
Last year’s OLED sets from LG were so impressive that, apart from their peak white capabilities (an ongoing shortcoming relative to LCD designs), it was hard to see a road ahead for improvements. But LG has found that road, and while the upgrades might prove subtle to most viewers, videophiles will welcome them.

LG’s 2017 OLED offerings fall into five model groups, with the OLED65E7P positioned roughly in the middle. At $5,000, it’s hardly a Black Friday special, but it’s significantly cheaper than the near-paper-thin 65-inch flagship OLED65W7P (reviewed in our June issue), which commands $8,000.



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Doctor Strange

Picture
3D-ness
Sound
Extras
Marvel explores its mystical side is in this mind-bending, psychedelic entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe directed by Scott Derrickson. Benedict Cumberbatch plays brilliant but egotistical neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange, who loses the use of his hands, and subsequently his career, when he crashes his supercar. Strange travels to Kathmandu seeking a supernatural cure for his injuries. There, an immortal sorceress, the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), accepts him as her pupil, trains him in the mystic arts, and turns him into a powerful sorcerer.


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Moonlight

Picture
Sound
Extras
This coming-of-age drama is notable for a lot more than the Oscar night flub seen around the world that ultimately had the film walking away with the Best Picture statuette. It’s a beautifully captured movie set in three distinct acts and, notably, one of the few dramas about the black American experience to be recognized that is not overtly concerned with slavery, the civil rights struggle, or institutionalized violence against said community, although one could make an argument about the undercurrent of those issues running through the story.


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Sound & Vision Tech Tidbits July 2017

Control4’s Custom Airstream is rolling across the country to promote “Smart Design, Smart Living.” It features wholehouse A/V, smart lighting, intelligent safety and security, and voice control...(See the video tour here.)

LG, Samsung, and Sony are Netflix-recommended TV makers. Among other talents, their products can power up and start Netflixing within seconds, rapidly switch between Netflix and live TV, and display the Netflix interface in HD...



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Is Your Wi-Fi Network Ready for Wireless Speakers?

In a recent post I chided manufacturers for releasing Wi-Fi-based speakers that failed to perform reliably. But then I began to wonder about the role of our Wi-Fi networks and whether the demands of these new products are outpacing the capabilities of today’s “average” network. Ravi Rajapakse, founder and CEO of Blackfire Research, sheds some light on the subject…


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Wrensilva Loft Record Console

Stereo consoles were all the rage in the ’60s. Every major TV company sold them—some with an integrated 25inch screen, some without. Many were imposing pieces of furniture placed front and center in living rooms across America. I have vivid memories of paying $3 or $4 for my first album at the long-gone Jersey-based chain store Two Guys and promptly replacing the Engelbert Humperdinck LP on the platter of our Zenith console with Abbey Road.


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Should I Use Ceiling Speakers in a 5.1.2 Atmos Setup?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

A A recent firmware update for my Onkyo receiver added Dolby Atmos processing, but the receiver only accommodates two height speakers. Is it worth cutting into my ceiling for such a minimal setup? If so, where should the speakers be positioned? —Peter Noris / via e-mail



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Thursday, June 29, 2017

Ascend Acoustics Sierra Luna Mini-Monitor Speaker Demo Report

If you're looking for a budget friendly, high quality speaker manufacturer look no further than Ascend Acoustics. We had an opportunity to demo one of their latest speakers, the Sierra Luna mini-monitor. We found these bookshelf sized speakers to be extremely versatile high-performance no compromise mini-monitors, ideal for use as desktop, on-wall, and especially as stand mounted front and/or rear main speakers. Read our demo report to get more details.

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Flashback 2007: Hello, iPhone

Ten years ago today, Apple introduced the iPhone, a sleek device that made the BlackBerry (a.k.a. “crackberry”) and other “smartphones” of the day seem clunky and dull. A device that would redefine the smartphone and, ultimately, change the world.


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Monoprice TripleXXX In-Ear Headphones


Performance
Build Quality
Comfort
Value
PRICE $49

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great sound on the cheap!
Triple driver design
Nice and comfy
Minus
Ho-hum looks

THE VERDICT
The Monoprice TripleXXX’s sound quality definitely ups the ante for budget-priced in-ear headphones.

The Monoprice TripleXXX may be the most affordable headphone I’ve ever reviewed for Sound & Vision, but I took it seriously. So much so, it was my go-to headphone for NYC subway rides for weeks, even when I wasn’t in reviewing mode and just listening to the TripleXXX for fun. That says a lot about these headphones, so don’t let the low price throw you. These little guys sound plenty good enough for audiophiles looking for a set of budget-priced travel headphones.



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LG's Stunning “Wallpaper” OLED Arrives in Stores

The striking 77-inch flagship version of LG’s Top Pick-designated 65-inch “wallpaper” OLED has arrived in stores.


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AudioControl Celebrates 40th Year Anniversary

Left to right: Tom Walker, who led AudioControl for nearly three decades, Jay Small, and CEO Alex Camara in 2011.

AudioControl, the Seattle-based maker of home and car audio products known best for its signal processors, is celebrating 40 years in the consumer electronics business.



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A Roomba for Your Garden: Solar-Powered Robot “Pulls” Weeds

Yanking weeds from a garden is a chore that keeps me busy all summer long. I love how the flower beds look when I’m done rooting around in the soil extracting the weeds. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long. The weeds are usually back within a few days.

This is why I was so excited to learn about a robot that can do some of the backbreaking weeding for me. Created by roboticist Joe Jones – inventor of the Roomba – the Tertill from Franklin Robotics is designed to live in your garden and take care of the weeding, come rain or shine.

In a similar fashion to how a Roomba vacuums a floor, the Tertill uses design elements and a variety of sensors to patrols the garden daily, avoiding plants and obstacles while looking for weeds to eliminate.

Tertill has a very simple method: weeds are short, plants are tall. A plant tall enough to touch the front of Tertill’s shell activates a sensor that makes the robot turn away. A plant short enough to pass under Tertill’s shell, though, activates a different sensor that turns on the weed cutter.

Because Tertill’s approach is height-based, put one of the provided plant collars around short plants until they are tall enough for Tertill to recognize. When Tertill approaches the collar, it will recognize it and turn away.

Tertill gets its power from the sun. When there is sunlight—even on cloudy days—Tertill’s solar cell converts the light into electricity. The robot stores the energy in a battery. You don’t need to charge or replace Tertill’s battery. Tertill uses its stored power intelligently—during cloudy stretches, when less power is available, it patrols for weeds less often. Tertill is more aggressive during periods with more sun.

And here’s another reason to check it out: Because Tertill cuts weeds daily, you won’t need to douse your garden with chemical herbicides to keep the weeds under control. It’s a safer more effective method, not to mention better for your back.

Unfortunately, you may have to wait until next year to get your hands on this robotic weed cutter. Tertill is currently raising funds on Kickstarter and is expected to be available May 2018.

The post A Roomba for Your Garden: Solar-Powered Robot “Pulls” Weeds appeared first on Electronic House.



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New Projector Screen from Severtson Screens Works Well in Bright Rooms

Creating the ideal home theater environment can be challenging. One of the biggest issues is often the amount of light in the room. If there are windows or lots of lights that your family likes to keep on, the room may lack the darkness often required for a projector and projector screen to create clear, vivid images. Thankfully, manufacturers like Severtson Screens have solved the lighting problem by offering Ambient Light Rejection (ALR) options. Severtson Screens rolls out ALR for its Impression Series residential and commercial projector screens. The new ALR option will also soon be available for additional Severtson screens.

“Our customers asked for it, and we have delivered with the industry’s most advanced ALR screen,” says Toby Severtson, president and CEO of Severtson Corp. “Made in the USA right here in Arizona, our new screen is both affordable and has an industry leading viewing angle versus other ALRs currently on the market today.”

Severton’s ALR has a 170 degree viewing angle and is available up to 120 inches (diagonal at 16:9 Aspect Ratio), with additional options to be available soon. With 0.8 gain, the ALR is designed specifically for situations with high ambient light.

Custom and standard ALR sizes are available. Severtson asks that customers contact them directly for individual pricing for their specific needs and for production and delivery timing.

 

When to use an ALR screen:

  • If your home theater also functions as a family room, den or some other space
  • If you like to watch video with the lights on, like during televised ballgames
  • If your home theater room has many windows
  • If you like to use the home theater for gaming
  • If you feel more comfortable having a few lights on while watching video
  • If you want to ensure that the images on screen are as bright and vivid as possible

The post New Projector Screen from Severtson Screens Works Well in Bright Rooms appeared first on Electronic House.



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Old English Pub Packed with Smart Home Surprises

Apple HomePod vs Sonos: Which Music System is Better?

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Cable Ops Decry Bundling

Cable operators are complaining about package deals that junk up their systems with channels they don’t want. The American Cable Association wrote in a statement to the FCC that the nine biggest media companies force cable ops to buy a minimum of 65 channels, thereby privileging fluff over fresh content from smaller indie companies: “Independent programming lineups are dominated by programming unique to the channel, rather than warmed-over content once aired elsewhere. New episodes are a prominent feature of the independents’ daily lineups, whereas they are almost nonexistent on the unwanted bundled channels.” If the FCC wants to promote diversity in the cable marketplace, says the ACA, “forced bundling should be the commission’s top priority.”


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Dirac Live Room Correction Coming to NAD Gear

Dirac Live, the acclaimed room-correction technology, is coming to products in NAD’s Masters and Custom Install lines under a strategic partnership with Dirac Research, the companies announced yesterday.


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New Tablo App & Adapter Enable Off-Air TV Recording

Nuvyyo, maker of Tablo over-the-air (OTA) DVRs, today announced the availability of a tuner adapter and free app aimed at cord cutters who want to watch and record HDTV broadcasts without adding DVR hardware.


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Riva Audio Ships Wand Wireless Audio System

The Wi-Fi-based Wand wireless audio system Riva Audio previewed at CEDIA 2016 last September is now available for purchase, the company has announced.


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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Classé Sigma SSP MkII Preamp/Processor Adds Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and 4K UHD

If you’re in the market for a new immersive audio preamp and you have the money to spend, Canadian audio company Classé announced the release of their Sigma SSP MkII. This eight channel preamp is an upgrade to their highly regarded Sigma SSP. The new MkII has been made even better with the addition of a new audio DSP for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive surround sound and HDMI board for 4K UHD support. Current SSP owners can purchase this hardware update and have it installed at the dealer or in their homes.

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Facebook Eyes Original TV Production

Everybody’s a TV producer. Facebook is the latest company to follow in the footsteps of Netflix, Amazon, and most recently Apple. Netflix and Amazon have enjoyed great success in original TV with programs such as House of Cards and The Americans.


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June 2017 New Gear

Pioneer SE-MS7BT-K Wireless Headphones
You’ll be surprised by the price of these elegant headphones—they look way more expensive than they are and support both wireless (Bluetooth aptX/AAC with NFC) and wired playback (via a detachable cord for purists who prefer a direct connection). Battery life in wireless mode is rated for 12 hours, and the ’phones remember up to eight devices for hassle-free connection.


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CES at 50: From Humble Origins to Global Showcase

The scrappy little show that started it all in 1967 had all the trappings, including a format war.


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Bluetooth 5.0: New and Improved!

I have issues with Bluetooth. I see it as a force of nature, a veritable tsunami, against all that good sound quality stands for. That is because that oh-so-convenient wireless link limits functionality and degrades audio fidelity. Now, with the advent of the 5.0 spec, Bluetooth is poised to expand its dominance. But, the spec also has a glimmer of hope for us audiophiles.


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World Champion Golfer Lee Westwood Shows Off his Smart Home

Lee Westwood is one of the only golfers in the world to have won tournaments in five different continents. He’s a PGA Tour icon and a Ryder Cup mainstay. But when he’s off the course and in relaxation mode, he enjoys kicking back, putting a movie on and listening to music. When designing his new smart home with that in mind, Westwood hired local technology integrator Graeme Henderson from Hidden Home Cinema to integrate a modern, no-fuss entertainment system into his home.

“The initial specification of the project was to simply install a television and some speakers into the cinema room, but over a period of a few months, we began adding in other audio and video solutions to heighten the experience,” says Henderson. “As the scope grew, I knew that a control system would help to seamlessly integrate all of the technology into one easy app.”

Henderson chose an Elan home control and entertainment system and, with technical assistance from Indigo Distribution, found the process intuitive and straightforward.

Entertainment and Control Is Hole-in-One

Henderson installed an Elan gSC2 System Controller, which is accessible through eight Elan HR200 Remotes and the Elan Mobile app on Westwood’s personal Apple iPad. This way, he is able to use the app to access the system from anywhere in the world.

“There are two zones of audio, one in the kitchen and the other in the cinema room, which is outfitted with a surround sound 7.1 system,” says Henderson. “Lee was looking for a simple yet sophisticated audio system that would integrate with popular streaming services like Spotify and Pandora. That’s precisely what we were able to deliver. Now, he can play any song from any streaming service instantly.”

 

 

The home’s video system is controlled by an 8×8 matrix with 4K functionality, which enabled the addition of a 4K satellite receiver, a 4K Blu-ray Disc player, and an XBOX.

“We installed five satellite receivers to distribute 4K content to eight new televisions throughout the residence,” Henderson says. “Lee can change the channels on any television from a single remote or the smartphone in his pocket. It’s as easy as can be.”

Since Westwood travels frequently, Henderson integrated a sophisticated, remotely-accessible CCTV security system, with eight IP cameras that have a 4TB NAS drive for recording. The security system is integrated with the Elan system so that Westwood can check footage from anywhere in the world via the Elan app.

 

Inside the Design and Installation Process

Throughout the integration process, the integration team worked diligently with Dickinsons Commercial interior design firm to seamlessly blend the technology with the residence’s contemporary interior.

 

“Sometimes working to accommodate technology elements in the space could be intimidating, but we were put at ease once Graeme showed us how sleek the Elan system is and how it helps to consolidate all of Lee’s media into one means of control,” says Rachel McCluskey, senior interior designer at Dickinsons Commercial.

Henderson was commissioned to install a “future-proofed wiring infrastructure,” and as the scope of the job changed throughout the build process, the wiring then became relevant for the backbone of the Elan system.

According to Indigo distribution managing director Matthew Booth, Westwood is very pleased with the system, and has been surprised by how easy-to-use the Elan interface really is.

“Lee is really satisfied with the entertainment system in his new home,” he says, “The great thing about this system is that it’s always expandable. If he ever wants to add climate, irrigation or security control, he can do so easily.”

 

The post World Champion Golfer Lee Westwood Shows Off his Smart Home appeared first on Electronic House.



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Dish Network DVRs Can Now Stream Music

Dish Network has launched Dish Music, a mobile app powered by DTS Play-Fi technology that gives customers the ability to sync music throughout their home using one central control.

The app uses TV audio systems connected to Hopper 2 or Hopper 3 DVRs, as well as DTS Play-Fi-enabled speakers, to play music from personal libraries on mobile devices and popular streaming services, like Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora and TIDAL.

“It can be both difficult and expensive to achieve synchronized and high-quality whole-home audio,” says Niraj Desai, Dish vice president of product management. “Dish Music is a great whole-home sound solution designed to meet the needs of our customers, as it works with existing audio equipment and is available at no additional cost.”

Dish Music turns Dish’s Hopper DVRs and connected Joeys into music streaming zones controllable from Android or iOS smartphones and tablets. Using the app, customers can choose to sync the same music across rooms, or play different content in each zone. Televisions will display the metadata for the music being played, such as the artists, song name and music service.

Additionally, Dish Music can wirelessly pair with DTS Play-Fi-enabled speakers connected to the same wireless network. DTS Play-Fi boasts the largest ecosystem of whole-home wireless partners, including Aerix, Anthem, Arcam, Definitive Technology, Klipsch, MartinLogan, McIntosh, Paradigm, Phorus, Polk Audio, Rotel, Sonus Faber, Thiel Audio and Wren, with products from Elite, Integra, Pioneer, Onkyo, Soundcast, SVS Sound and more forthcoming.

Music services available with Dish Music currently include Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeartRadio, Napster, Pandora, SiriusXM and Tidal. Users must have accounts to access content from these services, when required. Dish Music will also play from personal libraries on mobile devices and is compatible with DLNA media servers.

The Dish Music app is available for download today in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Amazon app marketplace.

The post Dish Network DVRs Can Now Stream Music appeared first on Electronic House.



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Smart LED Light Bulb Shines Even During a Power Outage

What’s the first thing you do when there’s a power outage at your house – besides swear? Probably grab a flashlight and pray that its batteries still work.

According to studies by insideenergy.org, you might be searching for candles, matches, and flashlights during the summertime than another other time of the year. June is the most common month for severe weather outages, followed by August and July.

Sengled has developed a solution that promises to illuminate your house during power outages, no candles, flashlight, or expensive generator required.

When the Sengled Everbright light bulb detects a power outage, its internal, rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery jumps to provide backup power at 60% brightness. The bulb only takes 6 hours to recharge from a fully depleted state, and is damp-rated for any and every room of the house.

During a power outage, Everbright can run off its internal backup battery for 3.5 hours. The $20 light bulb installs just like a normal light bulb–simply twist the Everbright in to any existing light socket and it will automatically charge the Lithium-Ion battery inside. When there is electricity, Everbright functions just like a normal bulb. When it’s on it consumes 9 watts of electricity while lit.

It’s rated for 25,000 hours of use and produces 500 lumens of light, which is equivalent to that of a 40 watt light bulb.

The post Smart LED Light Bulb Shines Even During a Power Outage appeared first on Electronic House.



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Monday, June 26, 2017

Rel Acoustics No.25 Subwoofer Listening Demo Results

Long-time subwoofer manufacturer Rel Acoustics decided to commemorate their 25th year in business with the launch of a new flagship subwoofer, the No.25, a 15" woofer powerhouse using a 1,000 watt amplifier. At nearly 170 lbs, the No.25 is built like a tank, but with its glossy curves and stylized cabinet, it looks like an exotic sports car. We visited a dealer that used six of them in one room for a taste of the high-end of low-frequencies. Read on to find out our experience with Rel's mighty new subwoofer.

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Be Careful What You Wish For

Three years ago I wished for DSP-enhanced powered speakers. I got my wish…


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Airpulse Debuts with Hi-Res Speaker System

British speaker designer and noted bass player Phil Jones, creator of the popular Acoustic Energy AE1 studio monitor and PJB (Phil Jones Bass) line of professional speakers and head amps, has introduced a pair of powered two-way speakers with a built-in 192-kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converter/preamp.


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Smart Speakers Spark Increased Music and Radio Listening

Voice-powered smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and—later this year the Apple HomePod—may not be the pinnacle of sound quality as S&V’s Leslie Shapiro lamented in a recent blog, but they are spurring more music and radio listening at home.


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Epson Unveils $2,200 Projector with HDR and 4K Enhancement

Epson today introduced a three-chip LCD projector featuring high-dynamic range (HDR) capability and 4K enhancement for $2,199.


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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Marantz NR1608 and NR1508 Slimline Network AV Receivers Preview

Audio company Marantz recently released two new "slimline" receivers, the NR1508 and NR1608. Both new receivers have the slimline form factor including compatibility with the newest 4K ultra high definition video content including Dolby Vision and Hybrid Log Gamma. Both models also have a wide range of facilities to enable your favorite music to be shared and enjoyed including network streaming, Bluetooth and Airplay for playback from portable devices. At $550 and $750 should one of the them be your newest receiver? Read on to find out.

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Friday, June 23, 2017

Amazon Echo Show and Alexa Ready to Display Images from Security Cameras

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

Picture
Sound
Extras
The heart of I’m Your Man is a celebratory concert of the recently passed Leonard Cohen’s songs performed by an oddball assortment of top talent at the Sydney Opera House. Between each number come interviews with performers telling of the inevitable life-changing moment of hearing Cohen for the first time. In addition, the poet/singer-songwriter/Jewish Zen Buddhist monk himself delivers anecdotes on personal history, his long, arduous working process, and meaning behind certain ballads illustrated and illuminated by archive poetry recitations, artwork, and photos and footage from childhood and career.


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Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Picture
3D-ness
Sound
Extras
Director Ang Lee’s middling story really isn’t the reason to force your way through this film; it’s the innovative photography that’s worth your time. Lee shot the film at 120 frames per second, which is a perfect multiplier of the UHD Blu-ray’s 60 fps and Blu-ray/Blu-ray 3D’s 24 fps, so it made it easy on Sony to release the film on multiple formats and into theaters.


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Steinway Lyngdorf Adds Dolby Vision to P200 Processor

Steinway Lyngdorf has added Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR) processing to its high-end P200 surround processor.


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All Access Bingeing on CBS

With TV listings divided between what’s on and what’s streaming, CBS has been salivating at the prospect of collecting subscriber fees from cord cutters and mobile users much like its sibling, the premium service Showtime, has been doing.


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Dish Launches Multiroom Music App for Hopper DVR

Dish Networks yesterday launched a DTS Play-Fi-enabled mobile app that lets owners of its Hopper 2 or Hopper 3 satellite receiver/DVR stream and control music on speakers throughout the home.


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Thursday, June 22, 2017

Focal Adds Wireless Listen Headphones and Affordable In-Ear Monitors to Lineup

Less than a year after launching a new line of ultra high-end headphones, Focal has followed up with some more mainstream portable and wireless offerings for the rest of us. The new line includes a wireless version of Listen and mobile in-ear monitors dubbed Spark that comes in both a wired and wireless model along with the all-new Sphear S in-ear monitor. Check them out.

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OLED Turns 30

15 Minutes with the Society for Information Display’s Dr. Taka Tsujimura

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the OLED display, we reached out to Dr. Taka Tsujimura at the Society for Information Display (SID) to discuss the past, present, and future of a TV technology whose future looks nearly as bright as it did three decades ago when researchers cobbled together the first practical OLED device.



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Flashback 2009: Analog TV Goes Dark

Although it seems like an eternity, it’s only been eight years since the federal government pulled the plug on analog TV, giving way to today’s all-digital world of television.


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Spectacular Lutron Lighting System Combines with Elan Control System to Automate Country Home

Media Room Magic: Conceal Your TV and Speakers with Custom Artwork

You’ve probably experienced it yourself; an inactive large flat-panel display looming darkly on a wall flanked by unsightly speaker boxes in your thoughtfully designed media room, distracting eyes from the selected room finishes, furniture, and accouterments – a veritable definition of the term “wall acne”.

Bottom line: Dark displays and bulky speaker boxes mounted to the walls do nothing to add value to a home until they are used. Yet, mounting them to the wall is the most effective way to conserve valuable floor space. Stealth Acoustics has created a unique solution that lets you keep your TV and speakers on the wall without compromising the room aesthetic.

Stealth Acoustics’ CoverArt and Image III products hide flat-panel screens behind motorized and beautifully framed printed custom images and wrap ugly wall speakers with matching printed fabric.

CoverArt can be customized to fit any size of TV, with prices ranging from $1,950 to just under $4,000. Stealth Acoustics offers artwork that you can choose or you can supply a high-resolution image to be printed on the motorized synthetic canvas. When your entertainment system is activated, CoverArt retracts the artwork to reveal the screen. When the system is turned off, the artwork automatically lowers turning the display once again into framed art, a product picture, or a family portrait.

And what about the speakers? Most on-wall speakers have exposed grills, limiting customization to painting the devices while carefully avoiding damaging delicate components exposed behind the grill. In contrast, Stealth’s Image III speakers utilize a highly-durable and patented FidelityGlass solid flat-front radiating surface allowing for speaker finish options that can be safely painted, imprinted with custom images or covered with wood veneers to perfectly match a room. Even better, one entire image can be stretched across the entire three products, from the left speaker to CoverArt on the TV and then continuing to the right speaker. The Image III solution retails for around $1,500 a pair.


The post Media Room Magic: Conceal Your TV and Speakers with Custom Artwork appeared first on Electronic House.



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Amazon Alexa Provides Voice Control of Aera Home Fragrance System 

Vivint Launches Smart Home Platform for Rental Properties

Vivint is making it possible for renters to enjoy the same smart home benefits as people who own their own homes. The Vivint Smart Properties is a new smart home platform designed for expressly for rental properties. Property developers and managers can select from a suite of professionally installed smart home products for their units, including smart locks, lights, doorbell cameras, indoor cameras, and thermostats.

It’s no secret demand for apartments is on the rise as individuals and even families are delaying a move into single-family homes. NAA and NMHC research shows that the U.S. will add 6.4 million apartment households by 2030.

“We anticipate smart home technology will rapidly become a staple for rental properties throughout the country,” says Tom Few, vice president of business development, Vivint. “With Vivint Smart Properties, property managers can enhance property value to attract residents, while residents get instant access to a smart home experience they can manage from a single app.”

Using a dashboard called Vivint Site Manager, property managers can manage tenant service requests and vacant units from anywhere. With remote control of unoccupied units, they can provide keyless entry for staff or contractors, as well as monitor energy use to save money.

 

Residents can  use smart home technology such as the Vivint Doorbell Camera to see, hear and talk to anyone on their front porch, as well as simultaneously unlock the front door or arm/disarm their security system.

Additional features include always-on cellular connection and Vivint’s smart assistant, Sky, which learns the “rhythms and activities” of each unit to produce intelligent recommendations for each home.

The platform will be accessible to rental property developers and managers in the U.S. and Canada.


The post Vivint Launches Smart Home Platform for Rental Properties appeared first on Electronic House.



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Epson Home Cinema 3700 LCD Projector Review


2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Very good picture quality for the price
Flexible installation options
Fully backlit remote
Minus
Inaccurate out-of-box color
Some motor noise from Auto Iris
High fan noise in certain picture modes

THE VERDICT
Epson’s mid-range projector delivers very bright images, but it also offers enough refinement to make it a worthy upgrade over cheaper budget-priced models.

Let’s face facts: Budget home theater projectors can be a mixed bag. Last year, I tested a trio of such models from Optoma (December 2016 issue), InFocus (soundandvision.com), and ViewSonic (September 2016 issue). More recently, I checked out BenQ’s HT1070 (May), another projector that proved to be a high-value find. But while I liked the idea of getting a big, bright 1080p-resoluton picture for under $1,000, the less-than-impressive picture contrast and sparse installation features put a cap on my enthusiasm. When I look back at the bunch, it seems clear that “better” means “more expensive” when it comes to projectors.



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Why Do My Vinyl Records Sound Bad?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I received an el-cheapo Victrola Vintage turntable for Father’s Day. Bypassing the built-in speakers, I eagerly connected the turntable’s RCA outputs to an auxiliary input on my Denon AVR X4200W receiver and played “Bohemian Rhapsody” from Queen’s Greatest Hits. I expected to be greeted by the warm, crackly sound of vinyl playing through my GoldenEar Technology Aon 3s (with help from a 12-inch JL Audio E-Sub), but instead heard a shrill, disappointing mess that lacked low-end and had virtually no stereo image. Comparing the vinyl to a Hi-Res digital recording I own of the same track, the vinyl sounded more like AM radio. Here’s my question: is vinyl all hype, or am I the victim of a low-end turntable? —Chris Wilson, Alpharetta, GA



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Limited-Edition Black Sabbath Vinyl Box Set on the Way

Brace yourselves metal fans: a limited edition Black Sabbath vinyl box set is on the way.


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Add to Your Video Library with PlayOn Cloud DVR

With the PlayOn Cloud mobile app and PlayOn Desktop, there is finally an online DVR that is easy to use and offers the features one would want from a DVR.  Through the PlayOn apps, you can record just about anything that plays on an online website—Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Videos, how-to videos, and much more— and add the video file to your media library.  Initially the idea of recording content that is available on demand appears to be superfluous.  But after using PlayOn, I understood its value. 


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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

MasterCraft Boats Get Klipsch Marine Audio Systems

Klipsch has struck a deal with MasterCraft Boat Company to equip new sport boats with “concert-level” marine sound systems.


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Trump Calls for Transformation of Government Tech

President Trump called for a “sweeping transformation of the federal government’s technology” at the inaugural meeting of the White House’s American Technology Council on Monday.


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Xbox One X: Consoles Hit the Downside of the Innovation Curve

The biggest story out of last week's E3 was the debut of Xbox One X. Yes, Microsoft has launched the first salvo in the next-generation game console war. Xbox One X is sure to excite dedicated Xbox fans that feel they've been missing out on true 4K gaming. This time Microsoft has made Ultra-HD resolutions and HDR the prime motivator for your next console upgrade. But with no platform exclusive titles, no truly innovative changes, Xbox One X may look more like another incremental upgrade than a truly next-gen console.

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Focal Unveils Mainstream Ear/Headphones

Focal, the French maker of stylish high-performance speakers, today announced mainstream-priced wired and wireless earphones and headphones to join last year’s high-end Utopia and Elear models, the latter of which received Sound & Vision’s Top Pick designation.


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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Mummy Musings

I haven’t seen the latest Tom Cruise iteration of The Mummy. And with its crushing reviews I doubt that I’ll even invest in the inevitable UHD Blu-ray version that, judging from the current domestic box office returns for the film, should show up on Amazon in about two weeks.

The subject isn’t exactly a treasure trove of classic tropes, but has its fans. The original was, of course, the 1932 Boris Karloff classic (in Hollywood, anything that old is deemed a classic). Three other entries turned up in the ‘40s, followed by 1955’s Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy (the latter is definitely on my Bucket List). There was also a quadrilogy (did I just coin a word?) of Mummy movies in the ‘50s from Britain’s Hammer Films, and several animated versions...



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Audioengine HD3 Loudspeaker Review


Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $399 pr

AT A GLANCE
Plus
For desktop or in-room listening
PC-friendly USB and line inputs
Class A/B analog amp
Minus
Limited (but adjustable) bass

THE VERDICT
Audioengine, always a champ in powered compact speakers, sweetens the deal on this one with a PC-friendly USB input and headphone jack.

Twelve-year-old Audioengine is best known for active compact speakers, though the company also makes passive compact speakers, a subwoofer, a small amplifier, a USB stick DAC, and a couple of streaming DACs. The HD3 loudspeaker is more or less an amalgamation of most of those products, infusing a sweet little speaker with a Class A/B amp, DAC, Bluetooth streaming, and a couple of less common features that just might make it irresistible to those in the market for a pair of small wireless speakers.



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LG’s Unveils “Ultimate Gaming Monitor”

LG’s newest 34-inch HD gaming monitor boasts an ultra-wide curved screen and other features to provide an immersive experience that pulls gamers into the action.


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From Smart Home to…Smart Person?

If you could take home security features with you in the form of a wearable device when you left the house, would you feel more secure?


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Bosch Launches Coffee Maker and Dishwasher Controlled Voice Through Amazon Alexa

Bosch home appliances, the “Invented for Life” brand, has launched two home appliance integrations with Amazon designed to simplify life at home for consumers. Through the Home Connect functionality and an Amazon Alexa skill, consumers can now control their Bosch Built-in Coffee Machine, with Home Connect, via voice control using the “Home Connect Coffee Machine” skill. Additionally, Bosch Dishwashers, with Home Connect, are now integrated with Amazon Dash Replenishment. Once enabled, Dash Replenishment will automatically reorder dishwasher detergent tabs when the dishwasher senses the supply is running low.

 

Through the Home Connect Coffee Machine skill for Amazon Alexa, consumers can brew the perfect cup of coffee at home with only the sound of their voice. Using the Coffee Machine skill, the Bosch Built-in Coffee Machine, with Home Connect, will provide voice controlled coffee brewing capabilities with Amazon Alexa.

 

By combining the Bosch dishwasher tab counter function with Dash Replenishment, consumers will never again be faced with the “ran out of it” moment. Instead, they simply activate Dash Replenishment when setting up their dishwasher in the Home Connect App, then Amazon will automatically deliver the dishwasher tabs of choice the moment the dishwasher senses the supply is running low.

“We’re excited to be working with Bosch Home Appliances to make customers’ homes smarter and more convenient,” said Daniel Rausch, VP Smart Home at Amazon. “Now, connected Bosch dishwashers can reorder detergent tabs before they run out with Dash Replenishment, and brewing a frothy latte is as simple as asking Alexa ‘Ask Home Connect Coffee Machine to make me a latte’. Smart homes should make customers’ lives simpler, and these innovations do just that.”

The 2017 Bosch collection of smart appliances with Home Connect includes a built-in coffee machine, dishwasher, laundry pair, wall oven and refrigerator, and will expand further in the coming years. Additional Home Connect skills will soon allow consumers to operate a variety of appliance categories via voice control.


The post Bosch Launches Coffee Maker and Dishwasher Controlled Voice Through Amazon Alexa appeared first on Electronic House.



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First DTS Virtual:X Product to be Release in July: Yamaha soundbar

Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other immersive surround-sound technologies have made movie-listening even more realistic by adding height channels to home theater audio. You not only hear a jet move across the room from left to right, but from above your head. In the past creating this experience required placing speakers in the ceiling or speakers designed to bounce the audio off the ceiling.

A new technology from DTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xperi Corporation, promises to create this same experience from a single soundbar—no additional speakers required. Called DTS Virtual:X,, the technology delivers the perception of up to 7.1.4 content through traditional speakers in the horizontal such as a soundbar. In other words, with DTS Virtual:X, height speakers aren’t necessary to enjoy an immersive audio experience.

 

This summer Yamaha will be one of the first to launch a DTS Virtual:X-ready product, the YAS-207 soundbar.

 

“Our mission at DTS is to make the world sound better and deliver premium audio solutions to our partners and consumers,” says Joanna Skrdlant, general manager, home audio at Xperi. “With the introduction of DTS Virtual:X technology, listeners can enjoy height and surround sound with simply a sound bar, making it more accessible and affordable than ever to experience the benefits of immersive audio at home.”

DTS’ research shows that fewer than 30 percent of consumers that purchase multichannel A/V receivers actually connect the height speakers and fewer than 48 percent of consumers connect the rear surround speakers, for a variety of reasons. DTS Virtual:X technology in an A/V receiver will provide an immersive sound experience without the need for rear surround and height speakers while still allowing consumers to upgrade for an even better immersive sound experience when they’re able to add additional speakers to their system.

A/V receivers featuring DTS Virtual:X technology will be available this fall from a number of brands.

As televisions have become lighter and thinner, the demand for larger screen sizes has increased.  In the U.S. market alone, 86 percent of US consumers now own a TV greater than 40 inches, and 18 percent now own a TV of over 60 inches, according to the Consumer Technology Association’s 19th Annual Consumer Technology Ownership and Market Potential Study, published April 2017. While larger screen sizes provide a more immersive viewing experience, the audio experience from a TV alone is compromised due to the market’s desire for a thin form factor, which limits speaker driver size and placement. DTS Virtual:X technology provides an immersive sound experience without the need for larger drivers or additional speakers added to the television.

Televisions with DTS Virtual:X technology are forecast to be available in early 2018.

 


The post First DTS Virtual:X Product to be Release in July: Yamaha soundbar appeared first on Electronic House.



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Mirror TV and 6 Other Tricks to Hide Your TV

Monday, June 19, 2017

B&O Play’s “Sound Matters” Podcast is a Masterful Exploration of Sound

Not long ago, I stumbled across an unusual podcast series, called Sound Matters. I had some hesitation before listening to what was, at the time, the most recent episode (Episode 10: Sounds From Outer Space) because the podcast series is sponsored by B&O Play. As part of the Bang & Olufsen Group, B&O PLAY is without doubt a class act—sometimes a pricey one but always classy. So, I should have expected the podcast to be equally genteel. Over the years, however, I’ve developed a deep-seated distrust of anything with a prominent “sponsored by” or “developed for” tag. For the most part, I’m not too keen on consuming advertorial content.

Quite happily, in the case of the Sound Matters podcast, the only thing that links it to B&O Play is a brief mention of the company near the end of each episode. Other than that, every episode of this award-winning podcast is an intense and superbly produced cranial immersion into the nature of sound from a variety of aspects, situations, perspectives, and milieus.



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T.H.E. Home Entertainment Show

T.H.E. Show Anaheim (formerly known as T.H.E. Show Newport), is set to take place September 21-24, 2017 in a brand new location—The Hilton Anaheim, steps away from Disneyland in southern California. Here's your chance to see and hear all the latest in high end two-channel and home theater audio gear from over 400 brands around the world. Best of all, if you enter to win their sweepstakes, you can win a full expenses paid trip for two to attend as well as many other prizes. Don't miss T.H.E. Show!

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Klipsch Renews Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Partnership

Klipsch has renewed its three-year partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to “preserve and celebrate the live music experience.”


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Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home Designs Offered by Lennar Homes: Assurance of Strong, Reliable Home Wi-Fi

According to Parks Associates, more the 12 million households will have a smart water leak detector, more than 40 million will have a smart thermostat, nearly 50 million will have a smart light bulb, and nearly 14 million will have a smart home controller. Chances are, most of these devices will connect, communicate, and be controlled via a Wi-Fi network. With each new device that gets added to this network, the Wi-Fi network becomes increasingly strapped for bandwidth.

Lennar Homes Builds in Wi-Fi

There are many solutions available that can strengthen a home’s Wi-Fi network, but one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, Lennar, has chosen to take matters into its own hands. In partnership with the Wi-Fi Alliance, Lennar will construct Wi-Fi Certified Homes. This certification program was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to provide builders like Lennar with guidelines to ensure that buyers have an exceptional Wi-Fi experience from the day they movie in. Each home plan will be given a stamp of approval in the form of a Wi-Fi logo.

“Reliable whole-home Wi-Fi is as essential to the way people live today as central air conditioning,” says David J. Kaiserman, president of Lennar Ventures. “The inclusion of Wi-Fi will become the norm in homebuilding, and Lennar is leading the way.”

Lennar and Wi-Fi Alliance Lay Out Wi-Fi Guidelines

The guidelines define criteria for access point placement to eliminate dead spots and deliver strong-Wi-Fi coverage throughout the entire house, including outdoors. To accomplish this, Lennar plans to install an enterprise-grade Ruckus Wi-Fi system and utilize the expertise of Ruckus to design a system tailored to each specific model of Lennar home. “There is a lot of science that goes into integrating a strong, reliable Wi-Fi network into a home,” says Kaiserman. “You need to consider not only where the components of the system will be placed, but the construction materials and structure of the home.”

The Ruckus system is one of more than 30,000 products certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and according to Kaiserman offsets the need for structured wiring for connectivity and interoperability among smart home devices.

“Wi-Fi Home Design provides new home network installations with reliable Wi-Fi coverage and performance to give a great user experience throughout the entire home,” says Ruckus CTO Steve Martin. “Ruckus has been closely involved in the development of the certification program because we see tremendous value in leveraging our enterprise design experience and applying it to the connected home, providing a strong foundation to enable the Smart Home of the future.”

In addition to the Ruckus Wi-Fi system, Amazon Alexa is will be installed a standard component of Lennar’s Wi-Fi Certified homes. While other smart home technologies offered by Lennar in its “Everything’s Included” program might vary by home style and market, Ruckus and Amazon Alexa will be go into each and every Lennar home. “Engineering a home for the connected world is a natural for Lennar, but bringing it to life with Amazon Alexa is a real game changer,” says Kaiserman.

According to Lennar, the addition of an enterprise-grade Wi-Fi network and smart speaker will strengthen the capabilities of current and future “Everything’s Included” portfolio of smart home products. Homeowners will be able to use voice commands to control more aspects of their smart homes, like lights, door locks, and thermostats, as well as stream entertainment content at peak performance.

Lennar will begin offering Wi-Fi Certified home designs next month to an undisclosed location, and roll out the program to Lennar markets nationwide by the end of the year.

Wi-Fi Certified home designs will include these features:

Lennar Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home Features include:

 

  • Whole-home Wi-Fi – featuring Ruckus Wireless access points – that meets the demanding standards of the Wi-Fi Alliance’s recently announced Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Home Design, ensuring robust Wi-Fi in every room with no dead spots;
  • Smart home products including  Ring (video doorbell), Baldwin (motorized, touch-based door lock), Honeywell (thermostat) , Lutron (lighting)  and Sonos (music).;
  • Alexa-enabled products that connect customers via voice to smart products in their home, as well as to shopping and entertainment opportunities;
  • Samsung SmartThings home-control platform giving iOS and Android users the ability to control and monitor their home from anywhere;
  • White-glove activation and service from Amazon Home Services to ensure that everything works smoothly.

 


The post Wi-Fi Certified Smart Home Designs Offered by Lennar Homes: Assurance of Strong, Reliable Home Wi-Fi appeared first on Electronic House.



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Pioneer Introduces New ‘Hi-Res Headphones’

Pioneer has announced a lower-priced addition to its high-end SE line of headphones.


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