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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsIntegrated Amp ReviewsStreaming Device Reviews
OSD Audio Nero Studio5 Bookshelf Speakers and Stream-XD Integrated Amplifier Review
Al Griffin  |  Aug 07, 2019

Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value
Integrated Amplifier
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $400 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great value
Tidal, Spotify, and TuneIn streaming
Digital and analog inputs accommodate multiple sources
Minus
Subwoofer output
Treble-forward sound with some music
Coarse volume steps
No USB-DAC input

THE VERDICT
OSD Audio’s compact, component-based system is a great value and offers a high-er-performance alternative to many all-in-one wireless speakers.

OSD Audio is a company that seems to make everything— everything audio-related, that is. When I stopped by the company's booth at the CEDIA trade show in 2018, CEO Dave Chai took me on a guided tour of the vast array of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, outdoor speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers, accessories, and cables on display, thoroughly impressing me with his ability to speak about each product in detail. While much of OSD Audio's catalog is aimed at custom installation pros, two new consumer-oriented categories for the company are bookshelf speakers and integrated amplifiers with wireless streaming capability.

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Audio Video News
Best of Back to School Gear 2019
SV Staff  |  Aug 07, 2019
In a matter of days kids around the country will be heading back to school, many with fancy new duds and (hopefully) fancy new electronics to help transform drab college dorms into lively entertainment spaces (when studies are done, of course). Whether you’re an undergrad or just looking for a great deal, we’ve culled through Sound & Vision’s Top Picks to find AV gems that can be had for reasonable prices. Here’s what we found.
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Audio Video News
Following Up on LG's Super Sexy Rollup OLED TV
SV Staff  |  Aug 07, 2019
If there's one TV that really captured the imagination of showgoers at CES 2019, it was LG's rollup OLED TV — an impossibly thin flexible screen that magically appears and disappears into a svelte aluminum enclosure the company calls Zero View.
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Audio Video News
‘Rocketman’ Hits Digital Today, 4K Blu-ray Aug. 27
SV Staff  |  Aug 06, 2019
Rocketman, the story of Elton John’s transformation from child prodigy to one of pop music’s most iconic figures, is available in digital release starting today and slated to arrive on 4K Blu-ray August 27 in high dynamic range (HDR) with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
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Audio Video News
Samsung Broadcasts 8K Over the Air
SV Staff  |  Aug 06, 2019
Samsung and Korean satellite broadcaster KT SkyLife teamed up last week to demonstrate the commercial viability of broadcasting 8K video via satellite and over the air at 100 megabits per second (Mbps), according to news reports out of Korea.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Anthem Launches Advanced Multi-Zone Audio Distribution Systems
SV Staff  |  Aug 05, 2019
Anthem Electronics, sister company of Canadian speaker powerhouse Paradigm, is targeting audiophiles with two hi-res-capable audio distribution systems.
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Headphone ReviewsGrace Notes
The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53 Wireless Earphones Sound Decent for $45
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 05, 2019
They say you get what you pay for. With budget audio products, that’s rarely a good thing. Finding a pair of true wireless earphones for under $50 is a rare thing, and finding ones with acceptable sound quality is even rarer. I had a chance to check out the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53 earphones that retail for $45. Let’s see what just under fifty bucks gets you these days.

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Test Tool Reviews
Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Test Disc
Kris Deering  |  Aug 02, 2019
The Spears & Munsil (S&M) UHD HDR Benchmark is a video test disc developed with a wide range of users in mind. It has basic video setup and evaluation patterns aimed at the general consumer, but also patterns and features designed for use by professional calibrators, reviewers, and even manufacturers. Unlike S&M's previous test disc, the HD Benchmark, this version does not include general explanations on how to use the patterns wrapped into its interface but is still easy to navigate and use. (Tips are posted on the spearsandmunsil.com website that will help to get the most from the disc's content.)
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
iFi Uses Noise Cancellation to Deliver Clean Power
SV Staff  |  Aug 02, 2019
U.K.-based iFi Audio has introduced an eight-outlet power conditioner that uses active noise cancellation to ensure a “clean, consistent” flow of power to an AV system.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Flashback 1981: Video Killed the Radio Star
SV Staff  |  Aug 01, 2019
Thirty-eight years ago today, MTV changed the face of music when it cued up its first music video — Video Killed the Radio Star by an unknown British new wave band called The Buggles.
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