Sound & Vision June/July 2021

YES, IT HAD TO BE DONE. Consider it a form of spring cleaning. The “it” is in this case is a streaming service—HBO Max to be specific—that I decided to drop. My video streaming plate had become over-filled during the pandemic as I spent much of my free time at home, and now that I was vaxxed up and ready to re-engage (as much as possible) with the world, I made the decision to dump at least one service. It’s not that I wanted to lose it—in the final days of my active subscription, I of course happened upon a new original series, Mare of Easttown, that was right up my alley—but something had to give, and it was going to be HBO Max. Another factor that might, at least unconsciously,…

The Pleasures of Kaleidescape I was very intrigued after reading a review of the Kaleidescape Strato S movie player in the October/November 2020 issue of Sound & Vision magazine and ended up buying a unit. The Strato S can be installed without professional help, which saved me a lot of money. Even so, the player is not cheap. Here’s my problem: The Kaleidescape dashboard interface is stunning, especially when viewed on my LG 4K OLED TV (I also bought an LG Soundbar with Atmos, and of course surround sound speakers to complete the system). I’m so smitten that I find myself staring at it for far longer than is necessary. I’m also buying movies left and right just to see them appear on the dashboard. When I do get around to…

When a company known for inventing the multiroom speaker announces a new fully portable model, we sit up and take notice. The new Sonos Roam ($169) is an ultra-compact, IP67 water- and dust-proof smart speaker that weighs less than one pound and links with your phone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0. But that’s not the whole story. The Roam can also connect with your home Sonos ecosystem, automatically making the switch between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as you come and go. The very clever Roam can be charged via its USB-C port or wirelessly docked on a Qi charger. (An optional Sonos wireless charging dock with magnetic connection is available for $50.) It sets up quickly with the Sonos app, which makes it easy to adjust EQ and playback features including loudness…

“Aladdin’s lamp” popped into my head as I lifted the 12-pound Crescent speaker out of its box. Between its champagne finish and arcing profile, it’s a distinctive design you’ll either love or hate. My wife cringed when she saw it sitting on the cabinet in my office. Me? I think it’s pretty cool. The latest in a series of smart speakers from San Diego-based Cleer, the Crescent works with Apple AirPlay or Google Chromecast, which let you “cast” Tidal, Pandora, or any one of dozens of other services from your device. The speaker also supports Spotify Connect allowing subscribers to stream directly via Wi-Fi. Behind the metal grille that stretches across the top half of the speaker are eight 1.6-inch drivers arranged in a gentle arc. Sitting just behind the array is…

Hey man, I wanted to give you a shout-out. I really appreciate your kind words. Your comments jogged some memories, and I wanted to share them with you. I don’t have your contact information, so I guess I’ll instead just use this public forum. The February/March 2021 issue of Sound & Vision contained your letter to the editor in which you described your immense satisfaction with the Nakamichi sound system in your 1997 Lexus SC400. I am greatly relieved to hear that you like it because, well, I am the guy who tuned it. Allow me to tell you the back story. I got a call from Toyota in 1988. They asked if I would work with their suppliers to tune the sound systems in a new brand of cars to be…

Raise your virtual hand—or rather, your two-finger devil’s horns salute—if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a rock star. Come on, don’t be shy. At the very least, many of us audiophiles are relatively proficient at playing an instrument or two, know how to sing on key, and/or have gotten behind the boards in home and/or professional studios to record our own and/or someone else’s music. Our natural affinity for making music goes hand in hand with our love of just how good music can sound with our favorite high-end gear—and, hey, if we can actually make some good music ourselves, that’s even better. This is where Rock’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp comes into play. Not everyone can find their way to the national stage, but founder David Fishof sure knows how to…