TV Archive
Two LG 4K TV Reviews — OLED 65″ and UHD 43″
LG 4K TVs — OLED65E6p and 43UH610A The OLED series from LG comes in various models (A, B, E, and G) and sizes. This E model is the second from the top. The upscale G model has a better sound system, at a $1700 up charge; it also has a curved screen OLED series. I opted for the E series, because I use my main stereo system or a sound bar. (For more information about OLED technology, go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED) The main features that the E model has over the lower models is it supports both Dolby Picture and HDR (high dynamic range) 10. HDR10 uses and 10 bit color depth, where Dolby Vision uses 12 bit color depth. (The 10 bit has 1 billion possible colors; the 12 bit has 68 billion). This gives Dolby Vision a clear advantage, with more brightness and color variations. Currently it is only useable for anyone making players, cameras, TVs or discs using it as a standard in their product—with an associated licensing fee—though it is expected to be more common in the nearer future. HDR10 is an open source standard with no licensing fee. It still has an advantage over with […]
Audio News for March 13, 2017
Wolf Cinema Announces Series of 4K Video Projectors for the Home – This maker of high-performance home cinema projectors has announced the release of four 4K imaging home projectors. Three use the sixth-generation three-chip D-ILA light engine technologies; plus there is a flagship laser/phosphor 4K/UHD projector. All may stand alone or by mated with two Wolf Cinema eternal 4K video processors. They start at under $10,000 and the first three are traditional lamp-based editions, plus the high-output Blu-escent laser/phosphor flagship projector. Each model delivers the imaging prowess the company has become known for, on home theater screens up to 18 ft. in width. They all have full 18Gbps Ultra HD HDMI 2.0 inputs with HDCP 2.2 compatibility and increases in peak white performance up to 3200 ANSI lumens. The series delivers some of the most revealing black level performances in its class, full HDR10 imaging compatibility, multiple aspect ratio memories, custom factory gamut and gamma calibrations, and an all-metal chassis for improved thermal coefficients. Battery-Powered Speaker for Echo Dot Launches – Ninety7, a technology lifestyle company, has launched a unit to elevate Dot’s home automation capabilities. The VAUX allows second-generation Dot owners to set their Dot free and enjoy portability […]
CSI: CYBER – TV Series, Final Season (2016)
We are all potential targets in this exciting CSI finale season of TV episodes. CSI: CYBER – TV Series, Final Season (2016) Actors: Patricia Arquette, James Van Der Beek, Charley Koontz, Shad Moss, Ted Danson, Hayley Kiyoko Studio: CBS SVS/ Paramount [5 discs] (9/6/16) Video: for 16:9 screens, Tehnicolor Audio: English Dolby 5.1 Extras: Hack My Ride, Kelly Osbourne visits CSI:CYBER, Behind the Firewall: Season 2 of CSI: CYBER, Mr. Russell Goes to Washington, Pixel Perfect, The Sounds of Cyber, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes from episodes Length: 753 min. for all 18 episodes Rating: ****1/2 Technology is somewhat on our side thanks to the capable staff at CSI: CYBER. I liked the Ted Danson role, applying his traditional (though getting into all the latest Networking gadgetry) experience in forensics to the many cutting-edge threats. Pat Arquette plays the terrific director of the cyber-crime section, and uses her knowledge of behavioral psychology to understand the all-too-human personalities working for her. The super-skilled team (which includes two supposedly “black hat” super-hackers serving their time) takes on the constantly-evolving tactics of the next generation of networking crime. They are now using their skills for justice, and often achieve it. The leading analyst can […]
Audio News for December 23, 2016
Suggested VR Social Platform – MyVR users can discover, save, stream or share online content including news articles, music and videos. MyVR, available free, enables owners to visit others’ virtual rooms, and hold group voice chats while browsing the web, watching videos, reading articles or listening to music. It is available for iOS devices at: itunes.apple.com/us/app/myvr-virtually-everything/id1171449912?mt=8 and Android users at: itunes.apple.com/us/app/myvr-virtually-everything/id1171449912?mt=8 New users can choose from five pre-set rooms for their profile. After the coming update, users will be able to use real-life items to design their room. When complete, users select different items in the room to access different feeds of content – such as selecting the TV to watch viral videos or the music player to listen to their favorite songs. Hundreds of trending articles, recipes, videos, photos, music and more will be available the moment they are published. MyVR will bring everything people love to do online into a run and social virtual reality world, taking advantage of the platform’s voice and motion recognition technology to make finding and sharing interesting content easier and more intuitive. Pono Will Re-Invent Itself as a Streaming Service – Neil Young will change his his Pono hi-fi service to a hi-res […]
Le Chienne (The Bitch), Blu-ray (1931-2016)
One of the first sound films of Jean Renoir and a realistic analysis of life of Montmartre as well as Renior’s push for naturalistic on-site audio. Le Chienne (The Bitch), Blu-ray (1931-2016) Cast: Michael Simon, Georges Flamant, Janie Marese Director: Jean Renoir Studio: Janus/Les Films du Jeudei/The Criterion Collection 818 (6/14/16) Video: 1.19:1 for 16:9 screens with large side dark areas, B&W Audio: French PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: 1961 introduction to the film from Renoir; Renoir short of 1936: Une partie de campagne; complete film of On purge bebe also of 1931, Renoir’s first sound film; New interview with Renoir scholar Christopher Faulkner; 1967 French TV chat between Renoir and actor Michael Simon, dir. by Jacques Rivette (95 min.); Poster artwork and essay by film scholar Ginette Vincendeau Length: 96 min. Rating: **** The long conversation between Renoir and actor Michael Simon, who had not seen one another for a decade, is an absolute kick. They discuss everything under the sun, and Renoir’s interest in nature, the environment and fighting cruelty to animals comes out, especially in his recommending Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to Simon. His first 1931 sound film is only 60 min. long, and mainly concerns a […]
Elliot Galvin Trio – Punch – Edition
Elliot Galvin Trio – Punch – Edition 1076, 38:14 (7/29/16) ****: (Elliot Galvin; piano, kalimba, accordion, cassette player, melodica, stylophone/ Tom McCredie; double bass/ Simon Roth; drums, percussion and glockenspiel) Technically dazzling, wildly innovative trio music well outside the normal jazz trio in terms of conception and theatricality. I would think that the jazz piano tradition presses down rather heavily on the aspiring young musician. First, there are the high technical standards for any working musician in the business, not to mention the levels represented by modernist greats from Bill Evans to Bill Charlap. Then there is the enormous refinement of the various styles. How can one say something new in the oversubscribed tradition of post-bebop, ECM modal, or avant-avant? However, in the record under review, Punch, Elliot Galvin doesn’t seem to be stymied in the least, nor to have qualm or reservation about his relation to the jazz tradition. This might be because he has a head full of zany ideas of his own, or it might owe to a technique that has been forged in the white heat of 20th-century classical music rather than in mastering the rhetoric of bebop. In any case, Galvin and his mates Simon […]
Audio News for November 11, 2016
Hedy Lamarr Awards in Entertainment Technology – The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) has inaugurated two annual awards: the “Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology,” and the “Hedy Lamarr Achievement Award for Emerging Leaders in Entertainment Technology.” The latter recognizes female college students in their junior year who show exceptional promise in the field. Austrian-American Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr was a legend best known for a number of film classics, and she was also a lifelong inventor whose innovative work included pioneering “frequency hopping” which became the foundation for spread spectrum technology. Working with composer George Antheil, their radio guidance system for torpedos was patented in 1942 and this technology is utilized today for a variety of cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth applications. “Subway Therapy” for Those Dismayed at Election Results – A NYC artist whose goal is to make people smile, laugh and feel less stressed, started years ago inviting commuters to write a question or share a sentiment on pastel-colored Post-it notes on the walls of a subway stop. He also provides the pens. Since the election the process has become so intense that 1500 notes were left at one place. The messages ranged from providing comforting thoughts […]
The Marx Brothers = The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup – Blu-ray (3)
A Silver Screen Blu-ray collection of the first five (and funniest) Marx Bros. movies. The Marx Brothers = The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup – Blu-ray (3) (1929-1933/2016) Cast: Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont Directors: Victor Heerman, Norman Z. McLeod, Joseph Santley, Robert Florey, Leo McCarey Studio: Paramount/ Universal Studios Home Ent. 61181320 (10/18/16) Video: 1:33 for 4:3 B&W Audio: English mono PCM Subtitles: English SDH, French Extras: See below Length: TT: 408 min. Rating: ***** At least three of the four Marx Brothers are the reigning kings of comedy on film and they remain one of the most iconic comic teams of all time. And these – their first five films for Paramount – are the most hilarious of all their work – the later ones for MGM get more serious are are not filled with comedy sketches, witty dialogue and plenty of gags like these five. The first one, from 1929, was actually the first all-talking and music sound film – The Jazz Singer only has a part with sync sound. And this was when many films had the sound on separate discs that had to be synced […]
Audio News for October 21, 2016
Musical America 2017 Awards – went to pianist Juja Wang for Artist of the Year, to Andrew Norman for Composer of the Year, to Finnish Susanna Mälkki for Conductor of the Year. to bass-baritone Eric Owns for Vocalist of the Year, and to Eighth Blackbird for Ensemble of the Year. Noisy Audiences and Music – The Irish Times has a current article on Noisy Audiences and Classical Music. A couple in front of the reporter kept up an intermittent conversation thruout the entire concert. A few seats away a man was constantly swigging water from a large plastic bottle, while others here and there were busy texting away with their phones in silent mode. Irritating clapping – applause for the sake of applause – broke out after each movement of a symphony only added to the overall atmosphere of casual inattention. And the article didn’t even mention movies, where many of the audiences act just as they do at home watching TV, with everyone talking out loud. Ah, the advantages of listening to recorded music… Bluetooth Audio Set for Big Improvements – The people behind Bluetooth will move all audio applications into a new low-energy radio, called BLE for Bluetooth […]
Patterns, Blu-ray (1955/2016)
An interesting restoration of a TV presentation with Rod Serling as the director, but no sci-fi. Patterns, Blu-ray (1955/2016) Cast: Van Heflin, Ed Begley, Everett Sloane Director: Rod Serling Studio: Kraft TV Theater (1955)/ United Artists/The Film Detective FDO562 (8/30/16) Video: 1.66:1 for 16:9 screens, B&W, restored Audio: English mono DD Length: 83 min. Rating: **** This is the tenth release on Blu-ray of a Film Detective restoration. The story of ruthless men clawing for control of a billion-dollar business empire first aired on the Kraft Television Theater in January 1955, and won the first of six Emmys for Rod Serling. The TV presentation was such a success that United Artists created a big screen feature, using most of the original cast, which was used for this restoration. Van Heflin has the major role in this acid-etched chronicle of the cutthroat corporate world. He plays a businessman who has been attracted to New York City from his job in Pennsylvania, not knowing that he is meant to replace a very decent vice president who has his office right next to his and who he gets to know and like very much. The ruthless president of the corporation is intent on […]
Blunt Talk series – Season 1, (2016)
A most interesting TV series and a quite different role for Patrick Stewart. Blunt Talk series – Season 1, (2016) Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jacki Weaver, Adrian Sarboroght, Richard Lewis Studio: Starz cable TV/ Anchor Bay ST63694 (8/30/16) (2 discs) Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD 5.1 Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH Extras: Inside the World of Blunt Talk, First Look, Meet the Newsroom, Walter & Harry Length: TT: 312 min. Rating: **** Quite a different sort of role for Stewart. He is a British talking-head/interviewer who wants to be a success on cable news with his guidance on how Americans should love, think and behave. He has a dysfunctional news staff, a recent black ex-wife, children of various ages, and a heavy-drinking devoted butler whose life he saved during the brief Falklands War. And more progressive ideas than most TV personalities. Blunt has plenty of problems with his network boss, his motherly producer-manager and her husband, his crazy staff, and his porn-making neighbor. I did like the air mattress he kept in his office and when things got really tough he would get his producer-manager (with whom he had an affair 20 years earlier) to spoon with him, […]
Audio News for September 16, 2016
The Loss of the Well-Rounded Musician – Mozart and his sister experienced many different styles of playing and composing around Europe, and Beethoven was known more as an improviser at the piano during his first years in Vienna. Today most musicians have become more specialized and strive for being note-perfect with perfect technical finish. It is now rare for professional classical musicians also to be composers. Improvising is generally out of fashion. Some critics feel that the separation of composers and instrumentalists as professions is slowly killing the spirit of classical music. Two New Smart Audio Technologies – Frontier Silicon, leaders in smart audio technologies, offered two new items at CECIA 2016: Minuet – a Googlecast-enabled speaker toolkit for Wi-Fi speakers, soundbars and hi-fi systems, and Venice 6.5 – a cost-optimized solution for multi-room speakers that includes Napster, Spotify Connect, and Deezer. The Minuet includes the entire design set needed to build an audio product and comes pre-certified for CE, FCC, the Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth. It also handles the latest v. 4.2 of Bluetooth, the latest Wi-Fi, diversity antennas, a dual-core ARM A7 processor and multiple audio inputs and outputs. Venice 6.5 integrates with premium streaming music services, has […]
Audio News for September 13, 2016
Designer Reimagines Classics as Data Visualizations – Nicolas Rougeux creates a sort of Rorschach test of notes from famous classical music scores, in Off the Staff. Standard sheet music is turned into works of expressive art, He says he wants to represent an entire score in a single image which fans of the music would want to have on their wall because they’re familiar with the music. He uses a circle as frame to break away from the staff representation of notes and show all the notes on a same scale. He warps an entire score around a circle starting at the top, removing all musical marks except the notes, spacing them evenly around the circle and having the circles of different sizes based on a note’s duration. He uses colors to differentiate between multiple instruments. Those notes closer to the center of the circle are the lower notes, and those farther away are higher. Here’s an example of the first movement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachmusik: Google Chromecast 2 Update Features UHD – The $35 gadget basically makes most TV smart, even older ones (but will only display HD content on a “4K”TV). It lets you wirelessly cast content […]
Audio News for August 2, 2016
Yamaha Adds 4K Blu-ray Players With Stereo SACD – The BD-S681 offers 3D playback, 4K upconversion, Wi-Fi networking, and compatibility with hi-res audio formats (in stereo). It retails for $329.95. The Aventage BD-A1060 adds a 192K/32-bit DAC, a high-purity power supply and independent circuit boards to reduce signal noise. Both players reduce disc vibration by 30%, and Wi-Fi Direct allows streaming of music from a mobile device to the player for viewing on a TV. The USB port on both decodes DSD streams up to 5.6 MHz, FLAC and ALAC music files. The A1060 is $549.95. The Gramophone Classical Music Awards Shortlist – The list is not short at all; recordings were selected in each of several categories by their panel of critics. Here is most of it for what it’s worth: Baroque Instrumental: Bach in Montecassino’ – Luca Guglielmi (Vivat) JS Bach Organ Works – Masaaki Suzuki (BIS) WF Bach Harpsichord Concertos – Il Convito / Maude Gratton (Mirare) Biber Rosary Sonatas – Rachel Podger et al (Channel Classics) Lawes The Royal Consort – Phantasm (Linn) Vivaldi Four Seasons etc.- Adrian Chandler / La Serenissima (Avie) Baroque Vocal: JS Bach Magnificat in E flat etc. – Dunedin Consort/ John […]
Muriel, or The Time of Return, Blu-ray (1963/2016)
Some critics consider this to be the best film Resnais ever did. Muriel, or The Time of Return, Blu-ray (1963/2016) Director: Alain Resnais Cast: Delphine Seyrig, Jean-Pierre Kerien, Nita Klein Cinematographer: Sacha Vierny Studio: Argos/Janus/The Criterion Collection 824 (7/19/16) Video: 1.66:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color, remastered Audio: French, PCM mono Subtitles: English Extras: Excerpt from 1980 TV documentary Une approache d’Alain Resnais, Excerpt from 1969 interview with Delphine Seyrig, 1963 interview with composer Hans Werner Henze, New interview with film scholar Francois Thomas, Theatrical trailer, Printed booklet with essay by film scholar James Quandt Length: 116 min. Rating: ****1/2 This was Resnais’ follow-up to Last Year at Marienbad. The first thing different I noted about the two was that in that film there was no smoking or drinking and in this one everybody does both, like most French films. Again, it’s a reflection on the nature of time, a major interest of Resnais. There’s a lot of sub rosa stuff reflecting France’s recently-ended war in Algeria, much as some U.S. films of the time touched on the Vietnam conflict. Resnais leaned toward the avant-garde in music for his films, and the interesting concept of Muriel is that its […]
Audio News for July 12, 2016
Home Theater Turned Into Star Trek: The Next Generation – Over $1.5 million later, financier Marc Bell has turned sci-fi into reality in his home in Boca Raton FL. The home theater is patterned after the bridge on the USS Enterprise, the spaceship featured on the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series that ran from 1987 to 1994. Everything in the room is custom, down to the little architectural details. A wraparound control center (often manned by Worf on the series) has a touch-screen control panel that manages everything from the theater lighting to what’s shown on the hi-def projector. The ceiling is lit by a “starfield” – hundreds of fiber-optic lights that twinkle at different frequencies depending on how far away they are. Bell’s collection of Star Trek memorabilia includes the ears worn by the Spock character, and there is a reference to Captain Picard’s office in the series – the “ready room.” Panasonic Australia Integrates Hardware Optimisation and Cost Efficiency in One System – The new Video Insight Management Software (VMS) is a video management security solution which can integrate multiple devices across a network. It supports more than 3000 camera models from 100 manufacturers and integrates […]
Leonard Bernstein, Larger Than Life, Blu-ray 2016
Probably the best documentary on the great conductor and composer. Leonard Bernstein, Larger Than Life, Blu-ray 2016 Directed by: George Wobbly Studio: C Major/Unitel Classica 73004 [5/27/16] Video: For 16:9 screens colof 1080i HD Audio: English PCM stereo Subtitles: English, German, French, Korean, Japanese Extras: Bonus interviews with conductors Dudomel, Nagano, Alsop Length: 76 min. Rating: ***** This, though a bit late, may be the best documentary film on the great conductor, composer and bon vivant. I can’t think of any other that brings across amazing passion and energy of Leonard Bernstein. And the various talking heads all support the idea of his amazing genius and accompilshments. This wonderful documentary shows why he was considered one of the most influential classical musicians of the last century. He was an inspirational teacher (and the documentary spends a great deal of time on his long-running Young People’s Concerts on TV), a brilliant conductor who brought the symphonies of Mahler to the pubic eye and ear, a fine composer, and an accomplished pianist. His Omnibus TV programs broke down barriers in an extraordinary manner and reached large audiences worldwide, way beyond classical music. Several of his children are included in the interviews, plus […]
Audio News for June 10, 2016
Over Eight Billion Connected Devices Globally Now – According to a new Business Wire article, number of connected AV devices worldwide is now 8.1 billion. This includes smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, TV-attached devices and audio hardware. On average this equates to an amazing four devices per household. Smartphones outnumber tablets by five to one and are expected to rise eventually to nearly 10:1. The Apple TV, starting at $149, has been unable to out-ship the Google Chromecast at $35. Netflix has a presence across 32% of connected devices in the U.S. Pay TV media apps are now virtually guaranteed to set alongside the Netflix app on consumer’s end devices. Sony Promotes Hi-Res Audio with Their Magic Bus – Their RSX-GS9 in-dash hi-res head unit has been installed with a 4620-watt sound system in a Mercedes Benz cargo van, which is touring trade shows and consumer events. The head end unit has a 32-bit D/A converter from ESS Technology. The player achieves a dynamic range of up to 135dB with low noise and distortion. All primary components have been optimized to minimize electro-magnetic noise and time-based errors (jitter). Classical Music Gets Casual in Kitchens ad Warehouses – The writer reports that […]
Audio News for June 7, 2016
On Panasonic Giving Up On Plasma TVs – The TV set made Panasonic a household name from Singapore to San Francisco. Their TV engineers pointed out that though plasma flat-panel technology gave a better picture, consumers preferred the lighter, durable rival: liquid LCD TVs. When the new president Kazuhiro Tsuga took over in 2012, he announced that he would downsize the TV business as a whole and shutter the plasma plants. He re-organized Panasonic’s myriad businesses, ditched other beloved but moneylosing operations, and refocused investment on more promising businesses. The company no longer sells TVs in the U.S. and has a minimal presence in China. It has conquered extreme losses and is doing much better than competitors Sony and Sharp. Monolith Seven-Channel 200-watt Amp – At $1499 the new 7×200 multichannel home theater power amp from Monolith provides a serious shot of adrenaline for your audio surround systems at a low price. It is a massive Class AB amp with dual torodial power supplies with weights 92 lbs. Unlike most multichannel amps, the Monolith is measured for its 200-watt rating with all seven channels driven across the full power bandwidth – not just two. It has a three-year replacement warranty […]
Audio News for April 22, 2016
New Google Chromecast – The new Chromecast is much smaller than the old one. It is meant for audio and video streaming and works on both iOS and Android platforms. You only need a speaker with the proper connectivity ports. The Chromecast also needs constant power so keeping it close to a laptop or TV is recommended. Your smartphone and Chromecast have to be on the same Wi-Fi network. You can download the Chromecast app from the Google Play store or Apple store. The app shows several supported applications, including Wynk and Saavn for music streaming. You can also mirror music from an Android phone or tablet. You launch the app, choose the Devices tab and tap on the Chromecast. It will then prompt you to connect it to your Wi-Fi network and plays a test tone to alert that the device has been successfully connected. A new feature is the Guest mode, which allows friends to stream to your speakers without using your Wi-Fi network. After you get it set up it works fluidly. There is lesser power drain from the smartphone and wider coverage than you get with Bluetooth-enabled speakers. You can also work on other application on […]
Audio News for April 5, 2016
Guide to Immersive Sound – It’s getting quite complex what with Auro 3D, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X on the scene and your having to install new height speakers. (The last one has been vaporware until just now.) The former 7.1 horizontal system with two center back speakers was a big mistake, and Auro 3D requires a different speaker set up than the other two. The idea now is to have “object-oriented” sounds rather than channel-based audio, that take the surround experience to an entirely new level. The small speakers that sit on top of your present speakers and direct sounds to bounce off the ceiling are not as good as height speakers near the ceiling or ceiling speakers. You are expected to have four ceiling channels, not just two, with all three of these. Aperion says if you do a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X setup, you’ll really enjoy the films Gravity, John Wick and San Andreas. They have an excellent Guide to Immersive Sound here which answers most of the questions of those preferring music in surround. Wireless Home Theater Audio Now a Reality – B & O, Klipsch and Enclave Audio all now have wireless audio systems for home […]
Audio News for March 18, 2016
UK Audio Company Pure has Three All-In-One Music Systems; WBIR.com Has Feature on a $200 Home Theater; Stewart Filmscreen Introduces Acoustically Transparent Material; Wireless and Hi-Res Audio Grabs Market Share; Nielsen Company’s Year-End Report on Music
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
