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Tech NewsTrue Hero Builds a Stereo That Automatically Blasts Music Back at his Loud Neighbors
You unfortunately don’t get to choose your neighbors, but you do get to choose how you deal with them. A YouTuber named Jamil went with a more passive-aggressive approach for dealing with his loud neighbors. Jamil built an Arduino-controlled stereo that automatically blasts annoying music right back at them. Watch it shred above. Heroes come … Continued
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ReviewsKnobFeel: Extensive Reviews of Nothing But Knobs
At this point, the hi-fi stereo market is inundated with enough high quality, pristine-gut-bearing machines that it makes it nearly impossible to draw distinctions between different models’ reviews, so you might as well toss ’em—they’re worthless! Because one industrious young (sounding) knob turner has taken care of the only spec that matters anymore: welcome to … Continued
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Tech NewsFit This Radio Into Your Classic Caddy, Play It With Your Smartphone
You have a vintage car, but you have normal ears and want a sound system that’s up with the times. RetroSound’s new classically styled Model Two in-dash radio runs like a new-fangled modern setup because it is a new-fangled modern setup, with Bluetooth and all. The Model Two has bunch of custom enclosures and bezels … Continued
By Leslie Horn -
Tech NewsSamsung
Samsung’s 2013 Digital Audio Lineup: Old Meets New (Meets Bluetooth)
Samsung’s just announced its 2013 lineup of home theater and audio devices. The new set features an interesting mix of vintage and developing technologies designed to combine classic sound with modern connectivity. Leading the retro charge is the HW-F750 Vacuum Tube Soundbar, which is not only gyroscopicallly enhanced so as to automatically know which way … Continued
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Tech NewsApple
LG’s 2013 Speaker Lineup Sounds Pretty Sweet No Matter How You Listen
Not everybody has the available floor space or audiophilic conviction for 9.1 surround sound—sometimes just a sound bar or even headphones may suffice. With the wall of sound-producing devices that LG just unveiled, finding a system to match your situation should be a cinch—even if it is 9.1 surround. LG’s new lineup of A/V devices … Continued
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Tech NewsSamsung
Classic Center Channel Speaker or Contemporary iPod Dock?
What do you get when you combine the warmth of antique vacuum tubes and the precision of modern transistors? You get Samsung’s newest sound station. The Samsung DA-E750 employs a unique hybrid amp that includes both analog vacuum tubes to provide more natural-sounding amplification and a digital amp to reduce noise distortion. The 2.1 channel … Continued
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Tech News
Pioneer Music Tap—AirPlay Lands on the Desktop
Between Amazon, iPods, and various external hard drives, my music collection is spread far and wide over my digital footprint. But it doesn’t really matter where the media is coming from, the Pioneer Music Tap will play it. Designed for use as either a table top stereo or as a smaller satellite player to accompany … Continued
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Tech News
Aiwa: The Almost Great Audio Company
Aiwa. Remember them? They established their name manufacturing hi-fi components in the ’70s and ’80s. In the ’90s they went mainstream. Boomboxes, portable CD players, headphones, speakers, mini-systems. In the ’00s they faded away, became property of Sony and died. Aiwa was so close to becoming an American establlishment, and a very unique one at … Continued
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Tech News
Why Your Dad’s 30-Year-Old Stereo System Sounds Better Than Your New One
If you fashion yourself as an audiophile and just threw down a decent wad of cash on a new A/V receiver, you probably won’t like hearing that the receivers of yesteryear produce comparable sound. Why is that? Technological advancement, ironically. Cnet’s Steve Guttenberg sheds light on this interesting development that over the years, actual sound … Continued
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Tech NewsDesign
Deceptively Packed Dalcans Lollypop Cabinet Boasts Hidden AV Goodies
The simple lines of the Dalcans high-end “Lollypop” unit hide a host of features one would not readily associate with an AV cabinet. For instance, it smells. Yes, smells. As in fragrance. Inside the cabinet, you see, are four diffuser capsules. If you’re wondering why such soothing scents would need to be emanating from your … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Tech News
In Defense of Audiophilia
It rarely occurs to me to defend my interest in recreating the sound of live music. I do it because I love to listen to beautiful sound. Is wanting great audio crazy? A series of events—and evangelists—led me from a casual like of the pop songs I heard on my tiny transistor radio to an … Continued
Bill Leebens -
Tech News
Bosch Power Box 360 Pumps Up Your Jams Through Armageddon
The Bosch Power Box 360 isn’t the prettiest boom box around, but it may be the ruggedest: its aluminum and rubber roll case makes it impervious to falls and, hopefully, apocalyptic fall-out. It’s also got surprisingly good functionality (although price is still TBD): 360-degree speakers, a weather-sealed PMP media bay, a powered USB port, external … Continued
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Tech News
Magic Flute Speakers Probably Run on Rocket Fuel
These Magic Flute loudspeakers from S W Speakers would look more at home on a fighter jet than in my living room. But that’s entirely my living room’s fault. There aren’t a lot of details available about the Magic Flute, other than that it’s the first entry from S W Speakers in the loudspeaker market, … Continued
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Tech News
Philips SoundSphere Stereos Keep Their Tweeters Where You Can See ‘Em
Before Twitter existed, the term “tweeter” didn’t describe a person but rather a thing—the part of the speaker that reproduced high frequencies. Philips’ new MCi900 and MCD900 hi-fi stereos let theirs hang out for the world to see. Before you get too excited, take note the pretty new systems were announced by Philips’ Spanish division … Continued
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Tech News
DACport USB Amp and Digital to Analog Converter for Audiophiles On the Run
If you’re serious about your music and are looking for a portable DAC that will keep your digital audio sounding crystal clear even when you’re out and about, the USB-powered DACport might be just the ticket. Does the mere thought of listening to MP3s makes your ears hurt? But do you still like to enjoy … Continued
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Tech News
World’s Most ‘Perfect’ Speaker Gets Even Better
Every year product life cycles in the consumer marketplace grow ever shorter. On the audio side, the latest and greatest receivers become yesterday’s news faster than you can say “HDMI 1.4.” Speaker companies show a little more restraint and “refresh” their lines every few years, but even then new models rarely demonstrate actual performance improvements … Continued
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Tech NewsApple
Wall of Sound iPod Dock Stands 3 Feet Tall by 4 Feet Wide
For a stereo, the Wall of Sound isn’t massive. But for an iPod dock, it’s gargantuan. Pitched as “the world’s most powerful iPod speaker,” the Wall of Sound is a $4,500, handcrafted iPod dock with a stocky 3×4-foot frame that weighs in at 225 pounds. As for the sound itself, the 125W system promises a … Continued
By Mark Wilson
