Does lossless audio guarantee good sound?
Updated: 2011-01-31 17:04:00
MP3 files can sound pretty bad, but are FLAC and Apple Lossless really any better? Do they sound good?
Pentel Airpen Mini
Updated: 2011-01-31 11:31:52The Pentel Airpen Mini is a multi-purpose pen that automatically transfers what you write on a paper to a computer. This gadget is easy to use. You just need to turn on the pen, start writing on a piece of paper, and all your words will be transferred to an accompanying device that can be [...]Sonance 70V Landscape Series System Now Available
Updated: 2011-01-31 10:00:00
Home Archives About Sonance 70V Landscape Series System Now Available by jessica on Mon , 2011-01-31 05:00 Tags : 70V Landscape Series AudioVideo Outdoor Sonance Speakers First unveiled at CEDIA 2010, Sonance announced on Friday that they are now shipping the new 70V Sonance Landscape Series system , consisting of two-way satellite speakers and an in-ground subwoofer . The Sonance Landscape Series has been designed with a long life UV material to withstand extreme . weather The new two-way satellite speakers , the LS67SAT and LS47SAT , feature 0.75 integrated tweeters and power handling up to 25 watts at 70V . The LS67SAT incorporates a 6.0 woofer and the LS47SAT a 3.5 woofer . A variety of accessories featuring NEC threading are available for outdoor mounting schemes tree mounts , 19 andLogitec Launches A New 500GB Slim External HDD
Updated: 2011-01-31 09:23:47If you are looking for a new external hard disk drive, then check out the new Logitec LHD-PBG500U2W. Measuring 75.5mm x 115mm x 13mm, the device has a noise level of at only 18db. This external hard drive provides a 500GB of storage capacity and supports the Sony PlayStation 3 Torne. The Logitec LHD-PBG500U2W will [...]Green-House Releases New Industrial SDHC Cards
Updated: 2011-01-31 08:32:19
Green-House Japan has unveiled the GH-SDI-*B series of industrial SDHC cards that comes equipped with a built-in ECC (error-correcting code). These SDHC cards is able to withstand temperature between -40 to 85 degree Celsius. The Green-House GH-SDI-*B series is currently available in 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB of storage capacities. [Akihabara]Sanho HyperDrive Portable HDD For iPad
Updated: 2011-01-31 07:08:08
Sanho has officially announced the availability of Sanho HyperDrive. Designed for iPad, this new portable HDD comes bundled with some powerful specifications. The Sanho HyperDrive HDD connects to your iPad via USB camera connection kit and provides up to 1TB of storage capacities, enabling up to 40GB of transfers on a single charge. The 1TB [...]Razer Naga Molten Special Edition
Updated: 2011-01-31 02:24:23
Amazon has started selling the Razer Naga Molten Special Edition. Measuring 116mm x 69mm x 41mm, this gaming mouse features an exciting new look to the original award-winning and massively popular Razer Naga that shifts the balance between keyboard and mouse by putting an unprecedented number of in-game commands in one place. A multi-button thumb [...]Acer Aspire Z5761 All-In-One Desktop PC
Updated: 2011-01-31 01:52:47
Check out this newly introduced all-in-one desktop PC from Acer, the Aspire Z5761. This space-saving machine sports a 23-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit multi-touch display, an Intel Core processor, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, a 1.5TB hard drive, an HD webcam, a DVD drive or Blu-ray drive, a multi-format card reader, TV tuner (optional), WiFi, [...]Ready for the Big Game?
Updated: 2011-01-30 10:00:00
Home Archives About Ready for the Big Game by jessica on Sun , 2011-01-30 05:00 Tags : Aperion Audio AudioVideo Elgato EyeTV HD InCharge Mobile Sceptre SLIMstage30 StreamHD Warpia XtremeMac Zona Just one more week until the Biggest Sunday of the year . Will you be watching the game and the multi-million dollar commercials in your small CRT TV Break the tackles without breaking the bank with Sceptre's cutting-edge yet affordable HDTVs designed to fit any room and every décor . Hear all the bone-crushing hits on a new Aperion Sound System or even better watch every second while on the go with the Elgato EyeTV HD and Warpia : . StreamHD Sceptre : Galaxy Series 42-inch LED HDTV Super-slim LED HDTV brings images to life without breaking the bank 120 Hz refresh rate with auto dynamic contrastRoxio's 3D Photo Creator Turns 2D Photos into 3D
Updated: 2011-01-29 10:00:00
Home Archives About Roxio's 3D Photo Creator Turns 2D Photos into 3D by jessica on Sat , 2011-01-29 05:00 Tags : 3D Photo Creator Photography PhotoSoftware Roxio Software 3D is the big thing these days 3D cameras , TVs , gaming systems and more have been announced or are already on store shelves But , if you don't want to spend your hard earned cash on a new camera system but want to experience 3D photography , the solution is here . Roxio has released its 3D Photo Creator , a software download that enables you to convert standard 2D digital photos into 3D images . Using Roxio's 3D Photo Creator you can turn a single 2D photo into a 3D image or , for more dramatic results , combine two 2D photos taken of a single scene and turn them into one amazing looking 3D image . View your 3DDoes home theater need more than 5.1 channels?
Updated: 2011-01-29 03:30:00Music is a two-channel medium, but is home theater stuck with 5.1? What's the maximum number of channels for home theater?
Pioneer S-DJ08 And S-DJ05 Speaker Systems For DJs
Updated: 2011-01-29 03:08:26
Pioneer today introduced the S-DJ08 and S-DJ05 active reference monitoring speakers. Designed for DJing and music production, these bi-amp 2-way powered speakers both have a 2.5cm soft dome tweeter, a low resonance chimney-style heat sink and a bi-amp circuit that drives the tweeter and woofer separately. The S-DJ08 comes with an 8-inch woofer, while the [...]EMTEC S100 Micro Flash Drive
Updated: 2011-01-29 02:53:59
Measuring at just 0.80-inch x 0.61-inch x 0.27-inch, the EMTEC S100 Micro USB Flash drive is one of the smallest flash drives in the world. The S100 USB flash drive is ideal for use with notebook computers and tablets. Thanks to its miniature size, the S100 sits almost flush with the surface of the laptop, [...]Acer To Unleash A New 3D LCD Monitor
Updated: 2011-01-29 02:19:11
Acer is about to unleash their newest 3D LCD monitor ‘GN245HQ ‘ for the European market. Featuring a 120Hz panel, this new 24-inch LED-backlight monitor provides 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2ms response time and supports for NVIDIA’s 3D Vision technology. What’s more, it also features a built-in 3D IR [...]nVidia GeForce GTX 590 Dual-GPU Card
Updated: 2011-01-29 02:14:43The GeForce GTX 590 is the latest nVidia’s graphics card that comes equipped with dual GF110 GPUs and provides 1024 CUDA cores, a 2 x 384-bit memory interface, and a 3GB GDDR5 memory. nVidia has already set the launch date of GeForce GTX 590 to sometime in February 2011. The video card is based on [...]Plantronics Calisto 825 Speakerphone
Updated: 2011-01-28 08:55:16
Plantronics today announced the Calisto 825 speakerphone, which is optimized for use with Microsoft Office Communicator and Lync. It is designed for private and home office workers who depend on multiple communication devices to collaborate effectively. The Calisto 825 features a unique wireless microphone that provides unparalleled speakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement. Additionally, [...]Another way to visualize the sonic signature of a system
Updated: 2011-01-28 02:51:20We have guests here for ‘multi-day auditions’ every so often where we listen to a ton of stuff over the course of a few days - kind of like a sequence of shootouts but with a goal in mind - the goal usually being to get the best sound possible ...Sorry about the long, slow-loading CES posts
Updated: 2011-01-28 02:51:19Had a choice between this way and the 1-post-per-room way and, well, decided to do it this way for this show. Because this blog currently shows 10 posts on the front page, I am going to try and add 9 small posts before I add the next humongous photo post (for ...The Secret Life of HDMI - Part 3
Updated: 2011-01-28 00:00:00This week we start to look at the various versions of HDMI that have appeared over its history.Buying an HDTV? Read These Tips First
Updated: 2011-01-27 20:41:28
Home Archives About Buying an HDTV Read These Tips First by jessica on Thu , 2011-01-27 15:41 Tags : AudioVideo HDTV LG Panasonic THX Shopping for a new HDTV for the Big Game Before you make that purchase there are several things you need to know about picking the highest quality HDTV . One thing you need to confirm is that it is THX Certified Why Simply put , if it's THX Certified , it will be good . After all , movie theaters feature THX sound for a reason and top TV manufacturers such as Panasonic and LG include THX in their televisions . To make your HDTV shopping a little bit easier , here are a few THX Certified HDTV's along with some tips . THX Certified TVs LG INFINIA 50PX950 Televisions 50 Class 3D Broadband THX Certified 1080p Plasma TV 50.0 diagonally LG INFINIA 55LE8500Surround-sound music format flops
Updated: 2011-01-27 15:37:00Stereo is well over 50 years old, so why has the public rejected every music-surround format to come down the pike?
Exhibiting at a Show: What Associated Equipment To Choose?
Updated: 2011-01-25 15:30:19The typical question is that you have a great component you want to impress people with at a show. How do you do that? The answers to this question will help explain why we see some rooms setup the way we do, and conversely why some great products do not ...Tidal, D’Agostino, Sonus Faber, Magico
Updated: 2011-01-25 15:30:17Tidal D’Agostino A smooth, tuneful sound but lacking some midi- and micro-dynamics [the absence of which seems very popular in many of today’s very $$$ solid-state amps ]. The opposite of Krell. Very striking looking amps, as solid-state amps go - and thankfully not so much the uber-masculine look that, again, is ...CES 2011 - Lamm / Verity
Updated: 2011-01-24 22:18:05The new Lamm ML2.2 amplifiers driving the Verity Lohengrin II speakers had a polite, almost sweet sound and was quite Enjoyable . Neli was there a lot longer than I was, so if you want to know more details about the sound, you might want to call her. As for ...CES 2011 - Lamm ML3 + LL1 / Wilson Alexandria X-2
Updated: 2011-01-24 05:27:18A few additional comments about the Lamm / Wilson room. The Lamm ML3 controlled these large speakers very well - at low to high volumes. The reason I would have given this room one of the Best Of Shows, if I was giving best of shows, which I am not, ...CES 2011 - Venetian Floor 29
Updated: 2011-01-23 21:25:18[No comments, just photos. Hopefully I will find time to add the manufacturers names so that this post is searchable room by room… *sigh*] Revolver [sorry, no photo of sign] Perfect8 [sorry, no photo of sign]The latest in high-end, uber expensive turntables…
Updated: 2011-01-22 21:22:17[Thanks Mike M!]Can a 2-watt amp sound better than a 200-watt amp?
Updated: 2011-01-22 03:14:00
2-watt versus 200-watt amplifiers, old versus new technology, tubes versus Class D--which one sounds better?
CES is still fun
Updated: 2011-01-20 11:50:16[I am preparing another blast of photos. But because these photo posts will be so long, I am letting these smaller posts simmer here for awhile.] It seems to me that many of the people writing about CES are bored. They are tired of it. They do not enjoy it. They ...Report on Jonathan Valin’s CES 2011 Show Report Pt. 3
Updated: 2011-01-18 23:24:16The link: JV CES 2011 Show Report pg. 6 [This is all great fun, and I hope you all are enjoying this. It is somewhat unfair, to JV, in that we always get the last word here (always counterpoint to his point) but I do try and be as balanced and as ...171i – CES 2011
Updated: 2011-01-14 17:53:03Stephen Mejias: Stereophile January 7 . 2011 Wadia’s new 171iTransport digital iPod dock ($599) is now also compatible with Apple’s iPad. Other changes include an improved circuit board, new clock chip, higher grade connectors, and a better internal power supply. The remote control has also been redesigned for better ease of use. Stereophile CES 2011The Secret Life of HDMI - Part 1
Updated: 2011-01-13 00:00:00HDMI has revolutionized the connectivity of many home cinema devices. So what does that innocent little 19 pin connector do that’s so special and are all the different standards for?Onkyo TX-SR608 Receiver Review
Updated: 2011-01-11 20:04:45The Onkyo TX-SR608 7.2-Channel Home Theater Receiver is amongst Onkyos more recent efforts in the entry level AV receiver market, and while this bit of kit may be classed as “Entry Level” features and quality wise it is far from it. The Onkyo TX-SR608 has become a very common site in just about any AV [...]Be an “Ace of Bass” - Part 5
Updated: 2011-01-05 00:00:00In this final part of our “Ace of Bass” series we’re going to look at the rather mysterious subject of audio equalization or “EQ’ as it’s often known.Polk Audio RTI A1 Bookshelf Speakers Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:56
On setting these hi fi speakers up its pretty obvious that as with the other Polk Audio speakers I’ve seen the RTI-A1 speakers are a quality product, the build quality is superb. They look rather nice with a good wood grain look and feel they also have nice heft making them feel solid and reliable. [...]Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800 Bookshelf Speakers Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:55
I’ve been hearing good things about the Definitive Technology ProMonitor 800 series of bookshelf speakers for a while now. But until a couple of weeks back I hadn’t had a a chance to look at them myself. When I got the opportunity to snag a couple of them and have a play I jumped at [...]Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:54
Have you ever had sit back and try to relax to some music while a partner bangs pots and pans in the kitchen? Or perhaps you want some peace and quiet while listening to your iPod at the airport? If so then these little beauties will be ideal for your purposes. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint [...]Onkyo TX-8555 Stereo Receiver Amplifier Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:53Onkyo have been making great inroads into the affordable 5.1 and 7.1 multimedia receiver market over the last several years but while they have produced some excellent products in these categories they have not neglected the stereo receiver market. One of the better offerings we’ve found over the last couple of years is the Onkyo [...]JBL L890 8-Inch 4-Way Dual Floorstanding Loudspeaker Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:52
We’re pretty big fans of JBL around here they seldom disappoint in terms of build or reliability but occasionally can come across as a bit “PAesque” in their low end models. Fortunately the JBL L890 8-Inch 4-Way Dual Floorstanding Loudspeakers have aimed far higher than that sonically even if sometimes you feel like you are [...]Onkyo CS-325 CD Receiver System Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:51The Onkyo CS-325 CD receiver system was designed to fill the gap between entry level cheap shelf systems and serious quality mini hi fi and separates systems, after using it for a short while we feel it has definitely fulfilled that role well. Appearance wise it is minimalist and solidly built with a simple to [...]Cambridge Audio Azur 640A V2 Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:49The Cambridge Audio Azur 640A v2 is a one of those rare beasts, a genuinely neutral and decently built amp at an extremely reasonable price. Upon unpacking this amp the first thing that strikes you is the simple elegant and good looking front panel. This amp has definitely had the front panel designers grafting away [...]JBL CS6100BG 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:48
Straight out of the box when you look at the JBL CS6100BG 6 Piece home theater speaker set you know you’ve gotten hold of something special. With is rather nice glossy finish and good solid heft to the core components this system feels like the real deal from the get go. In fact we’ve had [...]JBL L830 6-Inch Bookshelf Speakers Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:47
JBL have always had a reputation for robust solid design and professional level sound quality, and this is very apparent in the JBL L830 bookshelf Loudspeakers. They have a nice, solid & robust feeling finish with a no nonsense look. The L830s feature a six-inch low-frequency driver, a one-inch tweeter and a three-quarter-inch high-frequency transducer. [...]Denon AVR-2809CI 7.1 Channel Multizone Home Theater Receiver Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:45Here at HI-FI reviews we try to give open and informative reviews of Hi-Fi kit of all stripes, bad good or indifferent. But occasionally we like to have a quick look at what others have deemed “best in class”. The Denon AVR-2809CI 7.1 Channel Multizone Home Theater Receiver is one such unit and when you [...]Polk Audio RTI A7 Floorstanding Speakers Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:44
We’re not given to using unnecessary superlatives on hifi-reviews.com but in the case of the Polk Audio RTI A7 series speakers we’ll make an exception. Before I get down to brass tacks and share the technical ins and outs of the RTI A7s let me just say that these are some of best, most well [...]Klipsch Synergy Quintet III Home Theater Speaker System Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:42
Comprised of four miniature speakers and a low-profile center channel, the Quintet III home theater system incorporates decades of class-leading research and development experience. In fact, it applies much of the same technology that is found in Klipsch’s professional cinema products. Check current Klipsch Synergy Quintet III pricing on Amazon The speakers are much too small to [...]Sony LBT-ZX6 Mini Hi-Fi Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:41
Sony LBT-ZX6 is the current entry level model from their high-end mini systems. Don’t let that put you off though. this unit is fully featured and extremely good value for money. These Sony LBT Mini Systems include many features demanded by the serious audio media user. The output system is made up of two Dual [...]Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:41
The Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones were originally designed as an entry level version of the Sennheiser 595s. I feel that they have achieved that goal admirably. The 555s have warm and very full sound with a natural feel. The quality components and excellent acoustical engineering in these cans ensure that the HD555s exude great build [...]Sony LBTZT4 Mini Hi-Fi Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:39The Sony LBTZT4 Mini Hi-Fi system is a good all rounder system for general use in a kitchen or bedroom. The audio quality is very good for a system in this price range and the LBZT4has a wide feature set for the modern home user including a 3 CD changer, Digital Media Port a USB [...]Onkyo DX7555 Audiophile CD Player Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:38The Onkyo DX7555 Audiophile Single Disk CD Player doesn’t have any of the usual bells and whistles associated with run of the mill CD players. It doesn’t have a 5 discs carousel. It doesn’t support WMA, SACD or HDCD. It is however a excellent mid to high end device built for approaching Audiophile level sound [...]NAD C326BEE Integrated Amplifier Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:36The NAD C326BEE is the latest in NAD’s range of affordably priced, high performance Stereo Integrated Amplifiers it follows on from the excellent NAD C325BEE. The C 326BEE has many high end features taken from their rather more expensive NAD Masters Series Amplifiers (Including the patented NAD Distortion Cancelling Circuit and the BEE Clamp in [...]Sennheiser PX100 Headphones Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:35
Almost what could be considered a design classic the Sennheiser PX100 Headphones are a perfect mesh of good audio properties, nice design, comfort and ease of use. These headphones are open backed and so allow ambient external noise to penetrate which is ideal for listeners who wish to remain aware of what is going on [...]Sony SSB3000 Bookshelf Speakers Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:34
Sometimes Sony kit gets a reputation for being flashy but not necessarily delivering the goods when it comes to the important features and general audio results. Fortunately this is not an accusation that could be made at the Sony SSB3000 Bookshelf speakers. Check Amazon for Current SS-B3000 Pricing These simple looking and completely lacking in [...]Yamaha A-S700 Integrated Amplifier Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:32Offering a solid 90wpc into 8 ohms the Yamaha A-S700 doesn’t shirk its responsibilities when it comes to raw power. Decent loudness and slightly more than the usual set of inputs & outputs (two sets of speaker terminals, three line level inputs, a set of tape loops and a phono input for connecting a turntable) [...]Onkyo A9555 Integrated Digital Stereo Amplifier Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:31To sum this piece of kit up we have to say “Slightly retro Looks, but 100% 21st century sound”, the Onkyo A9555 has a very precise sound for an amp in its price range. The bass is fast and punchy but not at the expense of the top end which is crystal clear and has [...]Sony MHCGX99 Mini Hi-Fi Component System Review
Updated: 2011-01-04 17:53:28First Released in 2007 there is a general consensus that the Sony MHCGX99 is one of the better Mid level Mini Hi-Fi Component Systems at this price. It has proved reliable and a good workhorse like unit for general home and office use. All in all extremely good value for money. Check current Sony MHCGX99 [...]