Leslie Shapiro

Soundbar ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Yamaha MusicCast BAR 400 Soundbar and MusicCast 50 Wireless Speaker Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 12, 2019  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $499 (BAR 400), $499 (MusicCast 50)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
MusicCast 50 can be used for wireless surround
DTS Virtual:X simulated surround processing
Simple setup with multi-room capability
Minus
Unnecessarily complicated user controls
No Chromecast built-in

THE VERDICT
A powerful system with expansive sound and deep bass that's further enhanced by the addition of Yamaha's MusicCast 50 as a wireless surround speaker.

At just under $500, Yamaha's MusicCast BAR 400 soundbar/subwoofer system is a great value. When you add the company's MusicCast 50 wireless speaker ($499) to use for surrounds, you get a stellar wireless 5.1 system that creates an immersive experience while easily integrating with your streaming music apps. The system connects via Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth.

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Grace NotesAudio Video NewsNew Products
Dirac Research Releases Dirac 3D Audio Solution for Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  Jun 03, 2019  |  0 comments
When Dirac Research releases a new product, it always causes our ears to perk up. The company that made great strides in reference room-correction software has just released Dirac 3D Audio, an software solution that delivers 360-degree surround sound via any standard headphone or gaming headset.

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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
Hands On: Jabra Elite 85h Wireless ANC Headphones
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 20, 2019  |  1 comments
I’ve got an insanely long airplane trip coming up and, no surprise, my very first thought was, which noise-canceling headphones should I bring for the flight? Great news for me; Jabra just released the Elite 85h. Besides having a sound that competes with the best ANC headphones out there, they’re the only ones with enough battery life to last for my entire journey. Let’s see if they sound good enough to stay on my packing list.

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Grace Notes
What's Hip? Hands On with Denon's DP-450USB USB Turntable
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 06, 2019  |  0 comments
I’ve always wanted to be a hipster. However, the reality is that I’m too curvy for skinny jeans, I like having brakes and gears on my bicycle, and I prefer Nespresso’s convenience to single-origin third wave pour-over coffee. And while I appreciate vinyl, I equally appreciate the convenience and portability of digital music files. How do I get my music both ways? With the Denon DP-450USB turntable that easily creates WAV or MP3 files from my beloved vinyl collection, I can get my music however I want. Totally hip.

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Grace Notes
Peloton Sued for Not Licensing Workout Music
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 22, 2019  |  22 comments
There’s no denying that a killer song makes any workout better. Music is an integral part of most workouts — nobody prefers working out in silence. But, at what price? Peloton Interactive, leader of the upscale indoor cycling fad sweeping the nation is finding out that nothing in life is free, especially music. The biggest appeal of Peloton might be their large selection of online video classes that feature fabulous soundtracks. Too bad they (allegedly) aren’t paying for the music.

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Grace Notes
Pandora NOW: First Shared Station from SiriusXM and Pandora
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 08, 2019  |  2 comments
After SiriusXM purchased Pandora for $3.5 billion in February, there was a bit of speculation about how each company would benefit each other. Today, the first evidence of the collaboration launched with the unveiling of Pandora NOW, the first Pandora station available on the SiriusXM platform featuring the most-played music currently trending on Pandora.

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Grace NotesAudio Video News
PreShow: The Coolest yet Creepiest Free Movie App Launching on Kickstarter
Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 25, 2019  |  1 comments
“Attend first-run movies in theaters...FREE!” That’s the Kickstarter headline that caught my eye. Who doesn’t love free movies? However, what lengths will you go through to get those free movie theater tickets? PreShow is a new app launching on Kickstarter by the founder of MoviePass. If funded and launched, the PreShow app will play 15-20 minutes of advertisements in exchange for one free movie ticket credit. How they ensure that you watch the ads is completely freaking me out.

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Grace Notes
TIDAL Announces Million Dollar Grant for New Talent in Detroit
Leslie Shapiro  |  Mar 11, 2019  |  3 comments
Get ready Detroit. Dust off your guitar, warm up those vocal chords. No, American Idol isn’t holding auditions. The music streaming service TIDAL is now accepting applications for a $1 million grant program designed to discover and develop new musical talent in Detroit.

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Grace NotesAudio Video NewsNew Products
IKEA and Sonos: Perfect Together?
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 25, 2019  |  1 comments
While teased last summer, a new video just released is showcasing Symfonisk, the collaboration between smart-speaker manufacturer Sonos and IKEA, maker of meatballs, build-it-yourself furniture, and all things Swedish and practical. The speakers that will come from this new venture promise to deliver the exceptional sound that Sonos is known for with the functionality and budget-friendliness of IKEA.

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Grace Notes
The Stradivarius Sound Bank: Capturing a Stradivarius Before It Sleeps
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 11, 2019  |  1 comments
It’s quite tragic; a Stradivarius violin creates arguably the most beautiful musical sounds created by man, but it’s only a limited time before the instrument goes to sleep, to be silenced forever. After producing brilliant sounds and melodies for centuries, the tone of the violin changes and it becomes too fragile and delicate to play; effectively the instrument is silenced in deep slumber. Fortunately, phase one of an ambitious project has just wrapped up in an attempt to save the sound of a precious few of these string instruments for generations to come.

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