Lauren Dragan

Tech2
Dog Headphones Reviewed
Geoffrey Morrison,  |  Apr 01, 2016
CES 2016 proved to be a massive year for the petcare gadgets industry. People love their furry family, and the electronics world is finally catching up. The biggest innovation? Headphones for dogs. More than the thunder-dampening earmuffs of yesteryear, these high-fidelity canine cans promise “better than human range fidelity” and “high definition to howl about.” Obviously, we needed to test them out.

Of course, we couldn’t listen to these beyond-audiophile-level headphones with our paltry human ears. So we recruited some of our favorite pups to try them out.

Continue Reading >
Headphone ReviewsTech2
Audeze Sine Planar-Magnetic Headphone Review
Lauren Dragan  |  Mar 19, 2016  |  Published: Mar 18, 2016
Over the last few years, Audeze, known for their acclaimed LCD series headphones, have expanded their lineups of entry level enthusiast-grade headphones. In 2015, they released the EL-8, a line of portable planar-magnetic over-ear headphones. This year at CES, Audeze announced the launch of not only their most affordable, but most wearable offering yet: the Sine; lightweight, closed-backed, on-ear, planar magnetic headphones. Additionally, the Sine are available with Cipher: a lightning cable with remote, mic, and, oh yeah... an integrated amp, DSP and DAC. Needless to say, I needed to get these on my noggin as soon as possible.
Continue Reading >
Tech2
NERVANA Headphones: "I'm gonna get you high today, 'cause it's Friday."
Lauren Dragan  |  Mar 11, 2016
After CES, about a dozen people forwarded me some version of this story concerning a pair of headphones that claim to make you feel psychologically and physically better just by listening to them. Okay, technically, most of the articles stated the headphones “get you high,” but that’s more or less the same concept. Needless to say, I was initially convinced that Lirpa Labs was somehow involved.
Continue Reading >
Tech2
In Defense of Small Audio
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 29, 2016
It has recently come to my attention that certain members of the audio-enthusiast community are concerned by the home audio purchasing choices made by millennials. Specifically, the findings by the NPD Group that 66% of 18-34 year olds use soundbars to listen to music in addition to watching TV. The diehard floorstanding- and tower-speaker fans see this statistic as a harbinger of the impending death of good taste, and prematurely blame the under-40 set for ruining the audio market altogether. I’m here to not only refute that assumption, but to also defend the purchase and use of small audio.
Continue Reading >
Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsTech2
Riva S Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 23, 2016
Following the success of their portable Bluetooth speaker, the Turbo X, Riva has decided to go even more compact with their latest introduction, the S. Smaller, lighter, and complete with a ballistic nylon carrying case, the S is just as attractive as the X; made for on the go. But Riva’s S has more up it’s sleeve than just being the Turbo X’s little brother.
Continue Reading >
Tech2
Top 5 Gifts We Want to Give (if only we knew who to give them to)
Lauren Dragan,  |  Dec 20, 2015
One of the fun parts of this job is that we get to check out all sorts of weird and wonderful gear. Most of the time, things that seem crazy, are crazy. But every so often, something crazy is actually crazy good. These are the things that fit into that latter category.

So here are the top gifts we’d love to give this holiday season… if we only knew someone who we could give them to.

Continue Reading >
Tech2
Charities that Appeal to the A/V Fan
Lauren Dragan  |  Dec 12, 2015
It’s the holiday season! Time to read every A/V site’s gear guide, round out your wish list, and snag the perfect present for that hard-to-buy-for friend. But if you’re anything like me, after the Black Friday frenzy dies down, you start to feel as though you want to do a little more. If the holidays put you in a giving mood, I’d like to offer you a different sort of gift list: Charities that appeal to the audio/video/tech enthusiast’s heart. Ready to have your heart grow three sizes? Read on!
Continue Reading >
Tech2
Emerging from the Audio Underworld: Sennheiser's Orpheus Rises Again
Lauren Dragan  |  Nov 13, 2015
Looking for a gift for that hard-to-please person? Want to give a present that says, “I know you care about excellent audio?” Is spending $55,000 no big deal to you? Then, pull out your black card, and give the gift of the newest Sennheiser Orpheus. Preferably, to me. (What? It can’t hurt to ask.)

Yup, Orpheus is back, and better than ever. After ten-years-plus in development, and countless rumors, Sennheiser finally has polished all the details from the prototypes and is ready to release Orpheus their final version early next year. I got to hear a pair while sipping some tea in a concrete loft overlooking Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park Lake. Get your favorite beverage and I’ll fill you in.

Continue Reading >
Tech2
Hopscotch: A Mobile Opera and One Incredible Journey through Los Angeles
Lauren Dragan  |  Oct 27, 2015
The moment I sat in the limo, I should have known: I am no longer in the driver’s seat. Two women in yellow, two aspects of the same character, sit forehead to forehead, motionless save their unified breathing. The limo door shuts, and we are in motion. Music plays through the sound system, and the women begin to sing. They writhe around each other, occasionally splitting apart only to meet again.
Continue Reading >
Tech2
LA's Luxury Tech Show: How to Add Robotics and/or Gold Plating to Everything
Lauren Dragan  |  Oct 02, 2015
This past Wednesday I attended my second Luxury Technology Show in Los Angeles and it was, as the year before it, a study in making the ordinary opulent, and the expensive ridiculously expensive. The LED-message-displaying-booze was flowing and I put on my cocktail attire to see what’s new just for you. Here’s some highlights from what I learned:

Continue Reading >

Pages

X