Recent AV Gadget Reviews

Say goodbye to your guitar amp. If you’re a traveling musician who is tired of lugging around heavy equipment and spending time setting up pedal boards, then the Line 6 Firehawk FX Multi-Effects Pedal is an ideal affordable solution. It packs 200 amplifiers, speaker cabinets, and effects into a compact, sturdy, color LED backlit, easy-to-use lightweight foot control pedal. Line 6 has made me ponder the necessity of large amps and huge pedals boards with this 21st Century solution. Read on to find out why.

The ALO Continental Dual Mono DAC/Amp has been the result of a long-time collaboration between audio manufacturers ALO Audio & Vinnie Rossi. With a plethora of features and options for customizability, this amp can easily replace the desktop set-up taking up a smaller footprint than larger competitors. At $1,495, the Continental Dual Mono comprises a hybrid set-up with dual mono tubes and solid-state capability. Also included is the option for a balanced input and DSD support. Read this review to find out more on this spectacular device.

Yamaha has just announced their new whole-house wireless audio ecosystem, called MusicCast. With MusicCast you get Sonos-like ease of use with a much broader and compatible set of products and sources. With support for high-resolution music and a cool and flexible cross-platform mobile app, MusicCast may be the first wireless music solution tailored towards the demanding music lover. Read our in-depth report and see why we are so excited by Yamaha's announcement.

Fiio have pulled out all the stops to release their latest DAP – The Fiio X5 2nd Generation. Sporting a brushed metal chassis, an all-new amp combination and DSD support, the 2nd Generation device looks to be yet another solid device from the electronics giant. Unlike the iBasso DX90, the 2nd generation X5 features a scroll wheel for navigation and a decent looking user interface. To find out more, read the review.

The Apple Watch line of wearables, including the Apple Watch Sport is like all things from Apple. What the Apple Watch can do, it does very well, and does so with a slick interface including new gesturing and haptic feedback. However, there are enough drawbacks to make the watch feel more like a beta test than a ready for primetime wearable. The Apple Watch is definitely a great piece of hardware that is in need of a software update. We go though all of the details to help you decide if this type of product is for you.

Powered by Amlogic S802-H Cortex A9 Quadcore processor with latest Android 4.4 Kitkat OS, the Probox2 EX Extreme Media Player may arguably be the most powerful Android-based media player available. With HDMI 1.4 support plus a surprising array of physical input options and a slick, air mouse remote, the Probox2 EX promises to cater to both the avid content consumer and gamer alike. But does all of this hardware make it a great media player comparable to an Apple TV? We don't think so. Read on to find out why.

The iBasso DX90 has generally been well-regarded as an excellent choice amongst the audiophile community as a mid-tier digital audio player (DAP). Incorporating a touch-screen, and high reference DAC the device makes hi-fidelity sound a portable option for the masses. However, with rival Chinese company Fiio recently launching the Fiio X5 2nd Generation DAP, can the DX90 be knocked off its perch? Read on to find out.

Emotiva was at the 2015 AXPONA show displaying their latest audio products. There was a small table with both the Big Ego and Little Ego DACs on display attached to laptops and headphones. Class D amplifiers powered by a completely new ICE module that is said to deliver full rated power into 4 ohm loads are on the roadmap to replace UPA series amplifier.

The Line 6 AMPLIFi TT guitar effect processor is a groundbreaking product that allows any musician to connect to their home theater system for practicing, and to take a compact, lightweight and easy to connect system to their gigs. The ability to use a simple software app via Bluetooth to control, program and customize the AMPLIFi TT to sound like your favorite guitarist, or to create your own signature tone, is revolutionary in the pro-audio arena. Line 6 has crossed the threshold from Pro-Audio to Home Theater with an amazing dual purpose product. Check out our review for more details on all the uses we discovered for this unique product.

The Cambridge Stream Magic 6 v2 isn't just a media streamer. It is a standalone DAC and preamp as well. With digital inputs, three USB ports, WiFI, and an Ethernet port, the Stream Magic 6 v2 is ready for your digital content. It can stream from services like Spotify Connect and Pandora as well as from your local drives. Every input can accept up to 192 kHz/24 bit files. It takes everything and upsamples it to 24 bit/384 kHz. With both balanced and unbalanced outputs, the only thing that the Stream Magic 6 v2 is missing is analog inputs. While the $999 price tag might scare a few away, we think the Cambridge Audio has enough functionality (and certainly enough high-end cred) to justify the price tag. A niche product...perhaps. But one that certainly has an audience.

The OE120IW is an in-wall TV mount solution duo with in-wall box and a pre-assembled full motion wall mount. By supplying both the wall mount and in-wall box, the OE120IW eliminates the hassle of matching an in-wall box with a compatible mount. In addition, OmniMount is offering a power accessory kit, which does not require installers to be certified electricians. We think that this is a great option for the person who wants a full-motion mount, but doesn’t want the TV to stick off the wall a few inches when the mount is collapsed.

At first glance, the $49 VidOn Box appears to be little more than an inexpensive competitor to devices like the Apple TV and Roku Streaming Stick. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll find a device that in many ways can compete with a full blown HTPC. The VidOn Box is built around a quad core ARM processor, octal core GPU, and 1GB of memory; on the software side of the equation, the Box boasts a custom build of XBMC, enabling a wide range of functionality including Blu-ray menu navigation. Want to know all the details? Click to keep reading!

Marantz's NA8005 network audio player is priced at $1,199 and offers a plethora of streaming options including Apple Airplay, DLNA 1.5 support, and Spotify connect. In addition, the NA8005 can function as an outboard DAC and includes an asynchronous USB port for playing high resolution music (up to 192kHz/24 bit as well as DSD in both 2.8 and 5.6MHz flavors). If you're tired of managing a large physical media collection, Marantz's latest source device might just be the answer you're looking for. Click to read more.

As the name implies, the Cable Keeper seeks to remedy the mess of cables that are part and parcel of being an electronics junkie, installer, or Audioholic. In short, it's a functional and stylish solution for organizing and transporting cables. There are some limitations of course. The Cable Keeper isn't designed to accommodate long, thick cables; however, most anything under 15' should fit. I see it being particularly useful for those who frequently find themselves digging around a drawer for a specific cable, or taking cables and other small electronics to and from home or the workplace.