http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/rss.xml Professional reviews from the Audioholics staff - with no marketing fluff! hourly 12 2006-12-01T00:00 http://www.audioholics.com/static/logo.jpg http://www.audioholics.com/ http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/lifestyle-desktop-and-portable/edifier-e3350 The impossible; that's what motivates me. In fact, isn't that what motivates all of humanity? The first astronaut in space, an electric powered car, the telephone, the atomic bomb. There are so many examples of people achieving what was once thought the impossible. Our personal impossible achievements may not be on the same level as the printing press, but still the impossible is what drives us. When reviewing the E3350 system by Edifier, I wondered if they set out to achieve the impossible. Did they ask themselves, "Can we make a sound system that is both an audio and visual piece of entertainment? Can our sound system also be its own art collection?" I believe that these questions drove the design of the E3350. Aaron Howard 2008-07-03T09:05:24+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/cables/impact-acoustics-3x5-component-switch You may not need the 3x5 Component Video Matrix Selector Switch (or you may just have a hard time saying it), but there are some that do. The real question is, "Does it work?" The answer is a firm yes. Not only does it perform as advertised, but the interface makes it so easy a… um… well anyone can use it. On top of that, the configuration options are completely open considering that each input can be assigned to each output with a discrete code. So if you have more displays than sources or are thinking of opening up a sports bar, take a close look at the 3x5 Component Video Matrix Selector Switch. tom 2008-07-01T15:40:42+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/televisions/flat-panels/samsung-ln52a750 Rarely do I come across a display that performs as well as the Samsung LN52A750. At the $3500 asking price, it should perform well. But even a cursory search of the Internet will show you that this unit can be had for a significant discount (as low as $2700 as of the time of publication). The styling cues are dead on - that "Touch of Color" is just enough to make it stand out without being gaudy. The panel is thin enough to be ahead of the curve. But the picture… out of the box I was very impressed. Feature-rich, performance trendsetting, the LN52A750 is an LCD you could spend the rest of your life with. tom 2008-06-26T18:55:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/dvd-players/oppo-dv-983h This is the first DVD player review we've done since the HD disc format war ended with Blu-ray on top. If this player had been released two years ago we'd say that Oppo has broken the price barrier for an affordable high-end universal DVD player and stolen the market. Unfortunately, many consumers are now comparing the features and quality of new DVD players with what they can expect to get from HD products like the Playstation 3. In a case of poor timing, Oppo has released an excellent player, but faces stiff competition for consumer dollars in what may be the last great affordable universal standard definition DVD player to hit the market. clint 2008-06-23T08:56:35+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/processors/denon-avp-a1hdci The Denon AVP-A1HDCI represents bleeding edge technology that only a select few manufacturers can compete with regardless of price. This processor truly is a master of all domains. It’s not cheap to own this combo set from Denon, but such is the case with statement pieces and first implementers of new technologies. From its Realta video processing engine, to its sophisticated Audyssey room correction, top notch construction and component usage, you’re getting Mercedes level performance and refinement at Acura prices. Your high end audio snob friends may snicker at this system, especially since they likely spent 2-3 times more for hollow boxes, but I suggest humbling yourself by saying nothing. You don’t want everyone driving the same car you’re driving, do you? Gene 2008-06-17T04:50:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/televisions/flat-panels/olevia-t232 If you are like me, deciding how to use your limited AV budget is a constant battle. On the one hand you've got your home theater and you want the absolute best gear you can afford in that room. However, if, like me, you also have a wife and kids, having a second television/movie viewing area can be a huge plus. Well, we're in luck. With a street price of around $600, the Olevia 232V entry-level 32" LCD display makes it is possible to get a display that offers pretty impressive performance for very little money. gary 2008-06-16T23:44:43+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/amplifiers/rotel-rmb-1085 There are few names that are both as well known and associated with high-end as Rotel. They have a reputation for quality and power and great aesthetics. At only 100 watts, I couldn't say that the RMB-1085 was a huge improvement over the internal amps of my receiver with my 8 ohm speakers. It does have an undeniable cool factor and plenty of power if your current amplification needs are inadequate or your speakers have lower impedance and are giving your current amp/receiver trouble. If you are looking to beef up your home theater or just have a touch of the upgrade bug, the RMB-1085 is a little firecracker of an amp that might be what you've been looking for. tom 2008-06-12T14:53:57+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/projectors/epson-home-cinema-720-lcd I got an email the other day from a friend I hadn't heard from in a long time. We caught up with each other about a few things, and then he asked me: What's the best projector out there for under $1500? Wow, that's a good question, isn't it? A couple of years ago the level of quality you'd be able to expect from that price was much different. Today, it's almost amazing what consumers are getting for their money. I told him I was reviewing the Epson Home Cinema 720 LCD projector and that if it even remotely resembled its "bigger brother" the 1080 or 1080UB it would be high on my list. As I launched into the review process I found that some consumers might just do very well to eschew 1080p - especially if they are using smaller screens or sitting back more than 2x the screen width. clint 2008-06-11T08:13:38+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/projectors/panasonic-pt-f200u-lcd We reviewed the PT-F100U projector last year and were very impressed by the level of quality available for general viewing. When selecting a projector it's important to know your requirements and set performance goals. In the case of the PT-F200U, the projector is targeting users with a need for high lumen output and analogue video sources. This means that you will not get as much performance in low light situations, nor can you expect to connect the latest HDMI devices. With that said, this projector is going to be a massive "win" for business presentations or even houses of worship. clint 2008-06-06T14:18:58+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/architectural/soundcast-outcast-wireless-speaker What do you do if you want sound in many different rooms of your house or outside but don't have the time or money to spend on wiring up all those speakers, extra amps, and source components? Get yourself a wireless speaker with a great range and sound quality. But where? Soundcast Systems hopes to answer that question for you with their OutCast Wireless System. We found it to have great range (matching or exceeding their claims of 150') and better than expected sound quality. It may be pricy but for that you get convenience, portability, and a solution that will take minutes rather than days to complete. tom 2008-05-23T10:27:01+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/amplifiers/denon-poa-a1hdci The POA-A1HDCI revitalizes Denon’s high end stigma that it earned over the years and puts the name back on the map for high end cost no object audio. You can rest assured that its size is backed by legendary performance one would expect from Denon flagship pieces. The POA-A1HDCI delivers respectable high and most importantly clean dynamic power and provides enough channels to handle even the largest scale home theater installations with a few to spare for specialized needs and installations. Coupled with the matching AVP-A1HDCI processor, you’ve got a state of the art A/V separates solution that can run toe to toe with any of its peers in this price class. Gene 2008-05-22T21:47:43+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/digital-media-servers/logitech-squeezebox-duet The Logitech Squeezebox Duet is probably one of the coolest and best products I've ever reviewed. Sure, it's a little buggy right now but that is to be expected this close to launch. The fact remains that once the bugs are worked out, you'll be left with one of the coolest remotes, the neatest streaming services, and best way to get high quality content from your computer to your home theater… wirelessly! tom 2008-05-15T01:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/projectors/epson-pro-cinema-1080ub When we got our first glimpse of Epson's Pro Cinema 1080UB at the 9th Annual Audioholics State of the CE Union Event in Clearwater Beach, Florida, we knew we were in for a treat. We had already reviewed the excellent Pro Cinema 1080, and the UB - short for Ultra Black - only took a good projector and made it even better. This review is more of a comparison and evaluation of the new features than a full descriptive overview of everything about the 1080UB. If you want the full blow-by-blow, take a look at our review of the Pro Cinema 1080 and you'll find everything you need to help you evaluate the full complement of this projector's features. clint 2008-05-08T23:22:20+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/game-reviews/gta-4-behind-the-hype After all the hype and "best game in a million years" talk, I just couldn't resist. This is the first GTA game I've played mostly because of timing. I was out of gaming for all of the other GTA games so I'm looking at this through "virgin" eyes. First of all "The Best Game Ever?" Um... No. No it isn't. So far it is cool and I'm enjoying it but it is far from the best game. The sheer size of it it staggering and the thought put in to all the characters is great but the best game... sorry. tom 2008-05-05T16:23:50+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/projectors/projector-screens/focupix-hdvio-electric-rf We were more than skeptical when we first heard of the Focupix electric screens. Their retail price hovered around $799 for a 104-inch screen, however the typical street price was just $329.99. With a retail drop-off that steep we wondered how on earth anyone could pack enough equipment into the box to make this screen actually function. It turns out these electric screens must be easier to make than I thought. The overall quality and performance of the Focupix HDVio screen had us rethinking what an electric screen should truly cost the average consumer. clint 2008-05-05T08:10:56+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/pioneer-vsx-94txh The last Pioneer receiver review I personally did was in 2005 on an entry-level product (the VSX-815) which struck me as a good balance between available features and power. It will seem pretty obvious when I say that this flagship Elite AV receiver product trumps my last experience by quite a bit. It also, however brings a certain amount of expectation. Being a top of the line model, the VSX-94TXH has a lot of competition and is going to need to distance itself in some areas before being crowned the leader in any particular department. clint 2008-04-28T06:55:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/cables/planet-wave-cable-kit The Planet Waves DIY Home Theater Kit proved to be a versatile product for the end user and custom installer alike. It's probably the easiest self terminating system I have come across and is something every home theater aficionado and cable installer should have in their bag of tricks. Gene 2008-04-24T13:44:02+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/emp-tek-ef50-speaker-system While the EMP EF50 speaker system does sacrifice a bit of performance at the altar of aesthetics, it is very little performance for a whole lot of aesthetic gain. The tiny sub belies its performance and impact and the surround speakers sound too good to be surrounds. The removable faceplates may be a bit gimmicky, but it's a good gimmick. If this is your first foray into home theater and you want to do it right this is the set for you. tom 2008-04-15T13:45:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/ps3-and-bd-2.0 Is PS3 and BD 2.0 for you? Last week, Sony released the 2.20 firmware update for the PlayStation 3. Among the list of features was BD Profile 2.0, the coveted Holy Grail of Blu-ray playback. Is BD 2.0 really that useful? Will the guys with the BD 1.0 and 1.1 players be left wanting more? Can the PS3 work well as a standalone Blu-ray player for the masses who aren't into gaming? jim 2008-04-03T17:13:58+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/cables/usb-to-serial-db9-wall-plate The USB to Serial DB9 SuperBooster Wall Plate essentially takes a serial (in HT terms RS-232) signal and converts it to USB. There are plenty of devices that can do this but the Wall Plate has the advantage of being wall mounted and extending the signal over Cat5 up to 150 feet. The USB to Serial DB9 SuperBooster Wall Plate worked exactly as expected, even over 100' of Cat5. If you're in need of a solution like this, you can rest assured that USB to Serial DB9 SuperBooster Wall Plate will work as advertised. With the ease of installation, this is a serious no-brainer for any custom installer. tom 2008-04-01T10:41:06+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/bookshelf/emotiva-er-5-0-speaker-system-review Emotiva, the maker of affordable amps and processors, has stepped into the speaker world in a big way. With the help of the famous loudspeaker designer Vance Dickason, they have put together a 5.0 package at a price that seems almost too good to be true. These speakers sound great, the dipole surrounds are amazing, and the boundary and tweeter adjustments mean that they'll fit almost any room. The downside? Just look at them… tom 2008-03-31T13:37:51+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/subwoofers/sunfire-hrs-12-subwoofer To get good monster bass, usually some fairly mongo subs are required. It is rare to find a sub this small that can not only provide copious bass output, but also can provide deep and accurate bass output as well. While not cheap by some standards, the HRS-12 subwoofers do an excellent job balancing the design and providing outstanding performance without skyrocketing the price. . Considering that the HRS-12s can easily provide better than two thirds of the performance of subs like the Fathoms at a mere one third of the price, the HRS-12s are a well engineered, high value product that represents a very good bargain for anyone looking for extreme levels of bass performance at less than extreme prices. david 2008-03-24T11:45:29+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/game-reviews/army-of-two-game-review If you are an adult, especially one that is looking for a great co-op experience, Army of Two does not disappoint. While this seems like a hold over while we wait for Gears of War 2 to come out, it is a pretty good game in its own right. If nothing else, I applaud them for releasing a game that focuses on co-op play. While the story is a bit weak (if you pay attention to such things) and the ending blows, it doesn't distract from the gameplay. If you like co-op games, this one is a buy. If you are more into the solo missions, rent it and make a friend. You never know, it might be for you. tom 2008-03-24T10:38:29+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/marantz-sr7002-hdmi There are so many features being added to AV receivers these days, it's hard to keep up - but that's what I like to call a quality problem. The real problem is discerning which of the features really matter. For those of you familiar with past Marantz products, you may be surprised to note that the company is alive and well and competing head-on with other manufacturers in the home theater market. In fact, I was as stunned as anyone when I realized the incredible potential of the SR7002. clint 2008-03-22T22:31:53+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/power-conditioners/apc-av-c10 The APC AV C10 marks another well executed and no BS A/V power product from a company that is, in my experience, unparalleled in their collective knowledge of power protection and backup. With all of the major safety agency approvals (ie. UL, CSA, Part68, etc), 12 filtered and surge protected outlets, connections for cable TV, phone, ethernet and line voltage monitoring, the APC AV C10 is everything one could ask for in a power strip and more. I highly recommend this unit for anyone looking for a cost effective power filter solution with ample outlets and unparalleled reliability. Gene 2008-03-18T20:25:35+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-disc-reviews/into-the-wild-hd-dvd Into the Wild is among the last round of Paramount HD DVD releases. The Golden Globe winning movie tells the story of a young man who tried to escape civilization. It turns out to be one of the great road movies with a captivating musical soundtrack. wayde 2008-03-10T16:38:46+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/yamaha-rx-z11 The Yamaha RX-Z11 represents the pinnacle of technology in a flagship receiver. It’s ability to transform your listening space into a concert venue or mega Cineplex is unrivaled thanks to the powerful arsenal of DSP processing, and robust amplifier section for a full 11.2 channel spectacle. With its very clever power amp assignability and music mode distribution, it proved to be the ultimate multi channel / multi zone receiver capable of whole house entertainment and high definition A/V reproduction. Gene 2008-03-07T04:00:00+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/architectural/axiom-algonquin The Axiom Algonquins proved to be among the best sounding speakers I've heard in this price class. Their ability to give you a full spectrum of sound, solid bass extension, and plenty of efficiency and power handling makes them ideal for those looking for quality bookshelf type speaker systems for their gaming room or covered barbeque area. Axiom’s color matching, prompt and unparalleled customer service and very generous return policy makes them a safe buy for anyone not sure if these speakers are right for them. Gene 2008-02-25T21:03:50+00:00 Pro Review http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/software/cd-reviews/ravels-greatest-hit-ultimate-bolero Ravel’s Bolero is a composition that rose from the depths of nonchalant dismissal by Ravel’s contemporaries to being one of the few truly recognizable melodies in classical music. Sadly, you rarely seem to see it on the concert bill these days. Perhaps it’s too disciplined for today’s classical conductors who struggle to maintain their freedom of self-expression while they pander to a diminishing audience of aging donors. Neil Roble 2008-02-25T14:01:06+00:00 Tech Article http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/speakers/floorstanding/yamaha-soavo-1-towers Considering Yamaha has such a good reputation with making fine instruments and some of the most reliable and accurate monitor speakers ever to hit the recording industry, it's astounding that they aren't equally appreciated for their home audio speakers. This past year Yamaha aimed to change that with the introduction of their new Soavo series loudspeakers. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on a pair of Soavo-1 towers - their flagship product and a magnificent-looking specimen to be sure. We got a sneak peek at these speakers during the 2007 CEDIA Expo, but now we actually get a chance to put them through their paces in one of our reference listening rooms. clint 2008-02-19T09:55:26+00:00 Pro Review