Archive for the ‘Home Theatre’ Category
So for the last 8 years I’ve been rocking a midrange D-Link router. It wasn’t fancy, even when it was brand new; but it had 802.11G, and got the job done.
Routers aren’t something we think about that often. Once you get your network setup, you tend to forget about them, so it’s easy to lose sight of the advancements in networking devices.
To be perfectly honest, if a blind, head-strong Shar Pei hadn’t wrecked my old router, I might not have been motivated to upgrade until the radio burnt out naturally. Thankfully, Asus was kind enough to send us a brand spanking new Dual Band N Router to help me along… +Continue Reading
No matter how good your mobile headphones are, in the end, it always comes down to the quality of your audio source–and for the discerning audiophile, laptop-quality sound simply won’t do. That’s where the NuForce uDAC-2 Signature Gold Edition USB digital audio converter comes in. In layman’s terms, this small USB interface connects between your laptop and desired audio source (headphones, receiver, desktop sound system), and converts the digital signal into an analog one, greatly enhancing the quality and power of your laptop’s digital audio. As far as the look of the uDAC-2, it’s anything but “layman.” Featuring a chassis that sports both 24K gold plating and stainless steel, you’ll even find a Swarovski crystal on the volume knob–making it part utilitarian, part just plain sexy. The uDAC-2 SGE will set you back around $400; but with the Swarovski crystal on board, you now have the perfect excuse to add an audio product to your wedding registry. Check out the full PR after the jump…
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Obviously Brilliant
Ok, I admit it. Getting the chance to test the latest ultra-fast and powerful dual-core and 4G phones is fun. Putting the latest incredibly capable tablets through their paces is just plain cool. And I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed the chance to review all the amazing games and hot new gadgets that pass through our doors each week here at YourTechReport.com. But if you want to know what products really make me smile – which products I have the hardest time returning at the end of the test period – I think my answer will surprise you. Why? Because, while I love all the high-end, cooler-than-cool stuff that we usually report on, the truth is, the gear that really grabs my attention are the simple, utilitarian products that we all need and use–but almost never think about (unless, of course, something goes wrong). Put plainly, I think that turning the unremarkable into the extraordinary is the very definition of cool. +Continue Reading
Yes…I’m aware that my title is a bit of an oxymoron. I’m also aware that as my family increases in size, it gets increasingly difficult to enjoy my home theater the way nature intended: late at night, in my family room, with my surround sound system blaring. And while I might miss the days of putting in my favorite Blu-Ray or DVD anytime I wanted, it’s nothing a great pair of headsets couldn’t fix. Of course, in this new digital age, being tethered simply wouldn’t do–so my great pair of headsets had to be wireless; and when you start putting words together like “great, headset and wireless,” one company quickly comes to mind: Sennheiser. I’ve had great luck with Sennheiser products over the years, so when we talked to them about a great home theater headset that wouldn’t break the bank, they sent us the RS 170 Wireless Headphones–and we’ve been grateful ever since.
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When Beauty is Function…
For long time readers of the site, admitting that we’re fans of Bowers & Wilkins will likely come as no surprise. Bowers & Wilkins (previously better known as ‘B&W’) has spent the better part of the last decade refining their product line and overall brand strategy – an aggressive approach we fully endorse that’s based on a foundation of a balanced commitment to both great audio performance and innovative design. But, confession being good for the soul, it’s also worth noting that fandom such as ours can be a fickle thing (just ask a certain Mr. Lucas). While we have consistently been impressed with Bowers & Wilkins products over the years, each success has, in turn, created an ever escalating aura of expectation… and there are few hurdles more difficult to overcome than high expectations. So, it was with this history of success and anticipation that we took delivery of the latest addition to the Bowers and Wilkins line, the Zeppelin Air. Join us as we take an in-depth look at this elegant speaker system. +Continue Reading
Have you ever wanted to show your friends a hilarious YouTube video and your friend tells you to turn it up–but you can’t because your computer has horrible speakers? Yeah, I know…me too. And when this happens, the first thing that pops into your head is external speakers. But what size ? If the speakers are too small, they may not be much better than what your computer already has; if they’re too big, you won’t have enough room for them. Then of course, you worry about the design–and being a Mac owner, you have to worry about finding speakers that will match Apple’s industrial look. Not to worry–Stem’s got your back with their Tandem USB speakers, specifically designed for Macs.The dimensions are: 6.55″ H x 3.19″ W x 6.54″ D (166.4mm H x 81mm W x 166mm D)–in plain English, that’s about the size of a six hundred page hardcover book, and in my opinion, the perfect size. The Tandem’s stainless steel finish also matches your Mac perfectly; in fact, if it weren’t for the “Stem” logo, you’d swear they were designed in Cupertino. +Continue Reading
One of the great things about going to CES 2011 was getting to spend some time with the products we’ve told you about, but have never actually seen in person; it also gave us an opportunity to spend some time with the people behind these products. I’m especially grateful that I got to spend some time with the folks at Speakal. Why, you may ask? Because at first glance, one might assume that their line of iDevice speaker docks, with their cute shapes and colorful designs are more novelty than serious speaker–but assuming that would be wrong. Speakal is quite serious about sound–and after a quick listen at their booth, I was impressed enough to request a speaker dock of my own. Well, my iPig finally arrived and the moment of truth is here; would the iPig’s sound quality hold its own against more traditional speaker docks? Could a small farm animal possible pump out enough sound to fill a room? Would I feel comfortable enough to use this as a sound system in a room full of grown-ups? Read on, and find out why Speakal’s iPig will make you squeal with joy. Sorry, couldn’t resist…
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