January 2009 - Use & Enjoy Your A/V Gear -

Better home audio, Tip #12: Use a power conditioner

By its very nature, high-performance audio gear can be affected by things that don't significantly impact basic audio systems. Just as a high-resolution image reveals flaws not apparent in a a low-res version, so too advanced audio components are more...

Published Tue, Jan 27 2009 8:46 AM by Ralph

Filed under: Ralph, power strip, power conditioning, power protection, Hi-Fi 2.0

Tech Terms Demystified: 1080p vs. 1080i

If you're researching buying a new HDTV, you may have come across this question: "1080p vs. 1080i — which is better?" Not surprising, actually. "1080p vs. 1080i" is one of the most common searches on the Crutchfield web site. Let's take a look at what...

Published Mon, Jan 26 2009 9:23 AM by KenSpike

Filed under: HDTV, Blu-ray Disc, video games, television, ken nail, interlaced, 1080i, progressive, 720p, 1080p

Better car audio, Tip #7: Set your amp gains properly

Most people think the gain control on their new amplifier is a volume control. But it actually adjusts the amount of input signal coming into the amplifier. Crank it up too high, and you'll hear some nasty distortion. Here's the general idea when setting...

Published Fri, Jan 23 2009 9:56 AM by Jim R

Filed under: car audio, amplifier, gain control, Hi-Fi 2.0

An iPod dock transforms a baby's room

Since babies go from an environment of fairly loud, constant noise to one of relative quiet when they're born, it's no surprise that they respond well to music being played. My little daughter, for example, seems to like the strumming of a guitar. Since...

Published Thu, Jan 22 2009 1:17 PM by ZakB

Filed under: iPod dock, Zak, Boston Acoustics

Better home audio, Tip #11: Bypass your iPod's DAC

Sometimes the way to upgrade your home audio system is to concentrate on areas most people don't think about. Your iPod stores music files digitally, and automatically converts them to an analog signal for output through its headphone jack or dock...

Published Tue, Jan 20 2009 9:57 AM by Ralph

Filed under: home audio, Ralph, iPod adapter, iPod dock, DAC, Wadia, 170iTransport, Hi-Fi 2.0

Better car audio, Tip #6: Your crossover can really improve the sound of your system

Many in-dash receivers include frequency filters that can steer deep bass notes away from your car's "full-range" speakers, which really aren't capable of handling deep bass at high volume levels. By removing the bass, the filter lets you get more clean...

Published Fri, Jan 16 2009 8:58 AM by Jim R

Filed under: crossover, car stereo, Hi-Fi 2.0

Power to the People -- the AudioQuest power cables

You spent countless hours researching and agonizing over your component choices. You carefully connected your gear together with top-notch patch cords and speaker cables to ensure all the quality that you paid for makes it through to the business end...

Published Thu, Jan 15 2009 2:37 PM by DaveB

Filed under: Dave B, AudioQuest, power cables

Better home audio, Tip#10: Biamp your speakers

Tip #10: Biamp your speakers. If you've purchased a home theater receiver in the last couple of years, it may have extra channels of amplifier power that you can put to use for better sound. That's because most newer receivers have seven amplifier channels...

Published Tue, Jan 13 2009 4:21 PM by Ralph

Filed under: home audio, speaker, biamping

Better car audio, Tip #5: Build or buy a better subwoofer box

The quality of the bass you get from your component subwoofer doesn't depend on the woofer alone. You'll need a strong, tightly-constructed enclosure for optimum subwoofer performance. If you're building a sealed box, make sure it's sealed up tight. Air...

Published Mon, Jan 12 2009 1:15 PM by Jim R

Filed under: enclosures, box, car subwoofer, Hi-Fi 2.0

How to take a picture of the moon

1/250, ISO 200, f/8, 600mm. 5D Mark II, using "Live View" mode on a tripod, with the 10-second self-timer. Ever since the dawn of time, man has gazed at the moon. And ever since the dawn of photography, he has tried to take a picture of it. It's actually...

Published Fri, Jan 9 2009 9:25 AM by ZakB

Filed under: digital camera use, Zak, lenses

Better home audio, Tip #9: Upgrade your speaker wire

One simple way to improve the sound of your home audio system is to upgrade your cables. Higher quality speaker cables can transfer the signal from receiver to speakers with greater integrity, so more of your music's detail comes through. And this isn...

Published Tue, Jan 6 2009 2:01 PM by Ralph

Filed under: home audio, Ralph, speaker wire, Hi-Fi 2.0

Got Sonos? Control it with your iPhone

I've been known, on occasion, to drool over a Sonos® wireless multi-room system . Just a little. But I can't help it. These systems are so intelligently designed — incredibly easy setup, super versatile playback of your music throughout your home, and...

Published Fri, Jan 2 2009 2:50 PM by Amanda

Filed under: Sonos, Amanda, iPod touch, iPhone

January 2009 - Use & Enjoy Your A/V Gear

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