Gear Diary » Audio Visual Gear http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:15:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Plantronics GameCom 780 Dolby 7.1 Gaming Headset Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:00:05 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=180935

Most modern games come with some use of stereo sound, and games with higher budgets make use of Dolby Surround Sound to provide realistic experiences of being surrounded and FEELING the impact of what is going on around you. If you are using a pair of Apple earbuds in your gaming laptop ... you are really missing out. I recently looked at another set of Dolby enhanced headphones, but to truly get the experience you needed entirely too many cables. Now we have a new headset from Plantronics that offers Dolby 7.1 surround ... but only requires a USB connection! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/30/plantronics-gamecom-780-dolby-7-1-gaming-headset-review/feed/ 0 Kidz Gear Launches Kids’ Headphones Made Especially for Apple Deviceshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/kidz-gear-launches-headphones-for-kids-made-especially-for-apple-devices/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/kidz-gear-launches-headphones-for-kids-made-especially-for-apple-devices/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:18:49 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=181221

My daughter Maggie, getting gear for her isn't that hard; she's fine with the default iPhone ear buds.  She's also not much of an audiophile; if it's pink, she's fine with it--I got her a pair of iHome rechargeable speakers for her iPhone, for example, and she loves them not because of the sound, but because they're pink.  Such is the life of a parent. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/28/kidz-gear-launches-headphones-for-kids-made-especially-for-apple-devices/feed/ 0 Deal: Target – Get Free Sonos Bridge With Purchase of Sonos Playhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/15/deal-target-get-free-sonos-bridge-with-purchase-of-sonos-play/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/15/deal-target-get-free-sonos-bridge-with-purchase-of-sonos-play/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:00:02 +0000 Thomas R. Hall http://www.geardiary.com/?p=179230

We know that Dan is a big fan of the Sonos Wireless HiFi system based on his reviews last year of the PLAY:5 and PLAY:3, as well as his recent video showing how easy it is to set up the system. One thing that holds some people back from a Sonos system is the cost associated with it. Even though these are high-performance systems, the initial entry cost may be high enough to cause some hesitation in the purchasing process. (Though Dan has said to me that it is well worth it.) Well, Target is sweetening the deal for a limited time, so if you haven't yet made the jump and are interested, read on. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/15/deal-target-get-free-sonos-bridge-with-purchase-of-sonos-play/feed/ 0 DTS Displays Their Audio Chops at CEShttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/11/dts-displays-their-audio-chops-at-ces/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/11/dts-displays-their-audio-chops-at-ces/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:00:31 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178361 I have been known to disparage networking hardware and software as "Internet plumbing."  When it's all working right, it's down there, out of sight, providing the pipes and keeping flow going and whatnot, and it's not particularly exciting to me.  But just because a tech is "under the hood", doesn't mean it's not important. And in that same vein are the audio techs that DTS provides which, while under the surface of a lot of things you enjoy, are (ahem) under the surface of a lot of things you enjoy, if you know what I mean.  Like gaming, and TV, and home theater, and whatnot.  Here's what they say:
·         Building on DTS’ Blu-ray legacy
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/11/dts-displays-their-audio-chops-at-ces/feed/ 0 Portable Sound Labs CES Highlightshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/portable-sound-labs-ces-highlights/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/portable-sound-labs-ces-highlights/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:50:21 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178169

I recently reviewed the iMainGoXP by Portable Sound Labs, and found it to be an excellent solution for portable audio for my iPad and Kindle Fire. Now they are introducing a whole portable speaker line-up including some based on BlueTooth wireless communications! Here are some of what they are introducing at CES this week!
● PSL PipeLine: The device features a stellar base unit with two 2” subwoofers and two detachable speakers. For more sound “Drops” (separate PSL device) can be added, which can be synched to media device and carry sound throughout a home or provide killer surround sound. ● PSL Drop: Each “Drop” speaker contains two 34mm
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/portable-sound-labs-ces-highlights/feed/ 0 Sony Delivers Beaucoup “User Experience” Products at CEShttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/sony-delivers-beaucoup-user-experience-products-at-ces/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/sony-delivers-beaucoup-user-experience-products-at-ces/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:30:46 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=178102

(Doug says, "Oooh; shiny!")

Sony is a big company.  I mean, it's a whopping big company--tends of thousands of people; tens of billions (with a "B"!) in revenue every year.  Big.  Japanese.  Electronics.  You can bet that at a Heap Big Show (or "shew", ad Ed Sullivan would say) like CES, they're going to want to make a big splash.  I'm in Austin, not Vegas, so I can't tell you how big a booth they have, but I'm guessing it's, ah, not small.  Here's some verbiage from their PR folks:

Sony is introducing consumers to a new world of connected products, from TVs, Blu-ray players, and home A/V receivers to tablets, smartphones

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/sony-delivers-beaucoup-user-experience-products-at-ces/feed/ 0 E FUN Introduces NextBox Google TV Boxhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/e-fun-introduces-nextbox-google-tv-box/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/e-fun-introduces-nextbox-google-tv-box/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:44 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177968

I don't really watch TV.  I mean, I watch TV shows, and I watch movies, and such, but I don't, ya know, watch TV.  I'm a downloader--I usually wait until a show is available on iTunes or Netflix or some streaming utility, and I watch it on my iPad, my iPhone, or (rarely) my laptop.  DVDs we do watch on the TV, but it's a lot more comfortable watching stuff on my iPad while my son plays Gears of War Death Metal Doom Quantum Quake Nukem XVIII, or whatever.  (He uses headphones.  Last time I checked, Le Tour Eiffel was collapsing.) Folks like E FUN want to move me back towards the couch, but Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/10/e-fun-introduces-nextbox-google-tv-box/feed/ 1 Monster Press Conference: Monster Changes Up Their Name and Their Productshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/monster-press-conference-monster-changes-up-their-name-and-their-products/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/monster-press-conference-monster-changes-up-their-name-and-their-products/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:50:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177906 IMG 8948

We started the day at the Monster Press Conference. The first big news was that, unsurprisingly, Monster Cable is now simply Monster. The reason, quite simply is that Monster's offerings have expanded significantly in the past few years. The move is reminiscent of Apple Computer become simply Apple when they found more and more of the product line to not be specifically computers and computer-related items. It made even more sense once they began speaking about their new products, the focus of which was far from the company's cable roots.

"Join the Revolution" was the theme for the presentation with a range of new and evolutional products.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/monster-press-conference-monster-changes-up-their-name-and-their-products/feed/ 0 Setting Up a Sonos Home Audio Systemhttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/04/setting-up-a-sonos-home-audio-system/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/04/setting-up-a-sonos-home-audio-system/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:34 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177172 My biggest personal tech find of 2011 has to be the Sonos home audio system. I got a review loaner and bought one within a day. I was that impressed with it and continue to love it. You can read the the initial review here and read the review of the new, smaller PLAY:3 here. During the inaugural Gear Fest last summer I had Carly film a quick walkthrough of setting the Sonos system up. It never made it into a post... until now.  

Click here to view the embedded video.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/04/setting-up-a-sonos-home-audio-system/feed/ 0 The Arctic E461-BM Earphones Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/23/the-arctic-e461-bm-earphones-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/23/the-arctic-e461-bm-earphones-review/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:00:50 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=172997

I have reviewed a number of earphone solutions in just about every price range; yes, I do have a problem. If it were up to me, I would try all earphones with the goal of  finding the perfect fit and sound. Earphones are an interesting product because you can find them anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. One has to be cautious when formulating an opinion on them and make sure they are comparing apples to apples. A pair of $250 earphones should be superior to a $35 set, logically. That is not to say that a $35 earphone is not good or worth the purchase, though. I recently received the E461-BM earphones from Arctic and put them through some rigorous testing during our football playoff travel run. Arctic products have impressed me with their quality in relation to their price ranges in the past; read on to see how the E461-BM earphones stack up.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/23/the-arctic-e461-bm-earphones-review/feed/ 0 Gear Deal: Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player plus HDMI Cablehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/gear-deal-panasonic-dmp-bd755-blu-ray-player-plus-hdmi-cable/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/gear-deal-panasonic-dmp-bd755-blu-ray-player-plus-hdmi-cable/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:50:19 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=175086 Today's Gear Deal brings us the Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player and a free HDMI Cable. Normally $99.99 our Gear Sponsor has found it for just $64.99 plus free shipping. Details here. Gear Deal: Panasonic DMP-BD755 Blu-ray Player plus HDMI Cable via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/20/gear-deal-panasonic-dmp-bd755-blu-ray-player-plus-hdmi-cable/feed/ 0 Rebecca Minkoff’s Offbeat Fashionista iPhone Accessories, Knuckles and Zipped Uphttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/rebecca-minkoffs-offbeat-fashionista-iphone-accessories-knuckles-and-zipped-up/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/rebecca-minkoffs-offbeat-fashionista-iphone-accessories-knuckles-and-zipped-up/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:45:26 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174928

If most of the iPhone 4 and 4S cases you've seen have been too boring, then you might enjoy the "Knuckles" case by Rebecca Minkoff ($58).  You certainly wouldn't have to worry about dropping your phone when it's in this silicone case, and the added benefit (?) is that when you hold the case a certain way, no one will mess with you. An offbeat case deserves an offbeat headset, so while you're at it -- take a look at "Zipped Up", the new wired headset also by Rebecca Minkoff ($48).

Both Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/19/rebecca-minkoffs-offbeat-fashionista-iphone-accessories-knuckles-and-zipped-up/feed/ 0 Where’s my “Made for Android?”http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/18/where%e2%80%99s-my-%e2%80%9cmade-for-android%e2%80%9d/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/18/where%e2%80%99s-my-%e2%80%9cmade-for-android%e2%80%9d/#comments Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:30:50 +0000 Bryan Eley http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174812

My eldest son had a birthday recently, receiving numerous presents. This in and of itself is not unusual, but there was an aspect to one of those presents that triggered a revelation of sorts for me. Before I delve into that, let me preface it with a disclaimer: I currently own no Apple products. Zip. Nada. Zero. In the realm of cell phones, I’m partial to Android. I love the customizability of it, the screen widgets, and how I can choose to integrate it with my PCs. My son, not yet a cell phone user, owns an iPod. Consequently, towards his birthday he wanted some accessories for it. A quick trip to the internet revealed Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/18/where%e2%80%99s-my-%e2%80%9cmade-for-android%e2%80%9d/feed/ 3 The Voices of JAMBOX…http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/the-voices-of-jambox/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/the-voices-of-jambox/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:15:37 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174756 I love the JawBone Jambox that I purchased a few weeks ago. It came on vacation with me and was quite handy to have around. I like it even more now that I discovered Jawbone's MyTalk portal. It let me set up the button on the device to activate Siri, and it also let me change the voice used for notifications on the device. Here's a look at some of the options ...

Click here to view the embedded video.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/the-voices-of-jambox/feed/ 0 Klipsch Gallery™ G-17 Air Music System Now Availablehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/klipsch-gallery%e2%84%a2-g-17-air-music-system-now-available/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/klipsch-gallery%e2%84%a2-g-17-air-music-system-now-available/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 14:00:53 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=174545 I recently started a new job where I can work at home, and prior to my start date I spent a lot of time and effort moving Sami's office to a separate room and fixing up my office to make it a more useful workspace.  And one of the beauties of doing this is that now I can listen to my music on speakers, rather than headphones.  I don't mind headphones, per se, but I really love having music fill my environment, if you see what I mean. Now, I'm all set with speakers myself, but this new "Air Music System" by Klipsch sure looks sweet.  Yes, it goes for an MSRP of $549.00, but if Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/17/klipsch-gallery%e2%84%a2-g-17-air-music-system-now-available/feed/ 1 The Orb Audio Mini-T Amplifier (and Much More!) Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:10 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=168914

In terms of audio systems for small spaces, home users are not too demanding: they simply want something that sounds fantastic, looks great, is incredibly small, and is affordable. That might sound like a simple enough goal, but the subset of companies able to meet all of those requirements is incredibly small. Orb Audio recently launched the Mini-T Amplifier as well as compact systems that provide complete solutions for desktop or home speaker systems. Do they make the grade? Read on and find out! The Hype: The Mini-T is based on legendary T-Class amplifier technology, known for its audiophile sound quality and low harmonic distortion (just .04%). Like Orb's speakers, the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/16/the-orb-audio-mini-t-amplifier-and-much-more-review/feed/ 0 Enter To Win Monster’s 8X iPhone 4S Sweepstakeshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/enter-to-win-monsters-8x-iphone-4s-sweepstakes/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/enter-to-win-monsters-8x-iphone-4s-sweepstakes/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:00:54 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=173710

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Monster Turbine Pearl In-Ear Speakers this summer and still use them as my primary headphone solution for high quality audio. (You can read the review here.) Let me tell you, these things are the best earphones I have ever used-- bar none. They are so good, and let me feel like I am so fully immersed in the music experience, that they often keep me listening to music far longer than I had planned. Just in time for the holiday season, Monster is running a contest that will give all of you a chance to win some of their wonderful products. With that let us tell you about Monster's 8X iPhone 4S Sweepstakes we are co-sponsoring with the company this week.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/12/enter-to-win-monsters-8x-iphone-4s-sweepstakes/feed/ 49 A Cardboard Radio and MP3 Speaker Review? Yes!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:04 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170180 Let's face it:  it's not every day that you get a cardboard box in the mail, open it, remove all the wrapping paper and bubble wrap to reveal . . . another cardboard box.  But that's what happened to your intrepid reporter, friends.  Yup; it's the review of the Convenient Gadgets Cardboard Radio!  What did I think of it?  Well, read on, read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/feed/ 1 Holiday Gift Guide: Odds and Ends for the Still Undecidedhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/holiday-gift-guide-odds-and-ends-for-the-still-undecided/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/holiday-gift-guide-odds-and-ends-for-the-still-undecided/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:15:58 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171984 From the Editorial Staff of Gear Diary: Here are a few more great gift ideas. NewImage Keep your iPad safe with the Kensington SecureBack™ Security Case with 2-Way Stand & ClickSafe Lock
Anyone who owns an iPad will appreciate extra peace of mind for his or her beloved tablet’s security. Surprise the iPad aficionado on your holiday shopping list with the easy to use SecureBack™ Security Case with 2-way stand & ClickSafe Lock to protect their tablet all year round. The thin, yet strong three-piece construction combines into a durable plastic case for iPad, while a 2-way extendable stand accommodates flexible iPad orientation for landscape or portrait viewing. An adjustable slider bar allows quick access
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/30/holiday-gift-guide-odds-and-ends-for-the-still-undecided/feed/ 0 Twelve South Bass Jump 2 Portable Subwoofer for MacBook Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/twelve-south-bass-jump-2-portable-subwoofer-for-macbook-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/twelve-south-bass-jump-2-portable-subwoofer-for-macbook-review/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:00:16 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171302 The MacBook air isn't designed to be an entertainment device. The anemic speakers on it make that point quite clearly. Sure, they work well enough, but I would be hard-pressed to call them anything more than functional. The speakers on the iMac are far better but even they still fall a bit short. That's where Twelve South's BassJump 2 Portable subwoofer for MacBook comes in. Let's take a look. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/29/twelve-south-bass-jump-2-portable-subwoofer-for-macbook-review/feed/ 0 Black Friday Giveaway #3http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-3/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-3/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:30:53 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=171079 It's Black Friday and that means you can save some cash on things you want for yourself or to give to family and friends. Discounts are good but you know what is better? FREE! And we're giving away some awesome stuff today absolutely free. All you need to do is enter. This item has a value of $69.99. What is it and how can you win? Read on!   Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/black-friday-giveaway-3/feed/ 5 Eskuché 33i and Control-i headphone Headphones Look Great and Won’t Break the Bankhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/eskuche-33i-and-icontrol-headphones-look-great-and-wont-break-the-bank/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/eskuche-33i-and-icontrol-headphones-look-great-and-wont-break-the-bank/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:15:14 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170853 Is it more important to have headphones that look good, sound good or are priced right? eskuché doesn't think it needs to be a choice and their $69 33i and Control-i headphones are here to make the point. Here's a quick look at both and what the company has to say about them. We're hoping to have some in hand for review shortly. 33iBB mainv3 crop First up are the eskuché 33i headphones. As the company explains,
The 33i looks to one of our first headphones, the 33 1/3, for its chassis, and merges it with the improved structural components
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/25/eskuche-33i-and-icontrol-headphones-look-great-and-wont-break-the-bank/feed/ 0 Verizon Gets All the Cool New Android Phones, Including the Beats Audio Integrated HTC Rezoundhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/03/verizon-gets-all-the-cool-new-android-phones-including-the-beats-audio-integrated-htc-rezound/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/03/verizon-gets-all-the-cool-new-android-phones-including-the-beats-audio-integrated-htc-rezound/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:50:31 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=167175

If HTC and Beats Audio have their way, we aren't going to be able to immediately dismiss the headphones that come with mobile phones as being anemic or lame for much longer.
Today HTC announced the first and only phone in the U.S. with integrated Beats Audio™, the HTC Rezound. The HTC Rezound is a multimedia powerhouse with unparalleled audio and entertainment capabilities which allows customers to experience music and entertainment on-the-go like never before.
Its style is unmistakably HTC, but the Rezound appears to have been jazzed up a bit by the addition of a red speaker grill and red capacitive buttons along the bottom of the screen. A flashy Beats Audio logo on the back will also Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/11/03/verizon-gets-all-the-cool-new-android-phones-including-the-beats-audio-integrated-htc-rezound/feed/ 0 Twelve South’s BassJump 2 Pumps Up the Bass!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/twelve-souths-bassjump-2-pumps-up-the-bass/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/twelve-souths-bassjump-2-pumps-up-the-bass/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:00:49 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=166355 The folks at Twelve South always have a way of surprising us. They make awesome leather cases like the BookBook for iPad or iPhone but they also make an amazing iPad stand called the Compass. (I use mine all the time.) Now they have something even more outside the box- the BassJump 2 speaker. Safari The new BassJump 2 is a portable, USB-powered subwoofer that "turns MacBook Pro or MacBook Air into a travel-friendly sound system". Powered by a single USB connection, the BassJump 2 uses proprietary software that "blends the sound output of the BassJump subwoofer with the output of Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/28/twelve-souths-bassjump-2-pumps-up-the-bass/feed/ 0 Home Audio Review: Orb Music Streaming Systemhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/home-audio-review-orb-music-streaming-system/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/home-audio-review-orb-music-streaming-system/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:37 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=165291 Elana is all but sick of hearing my content refrain of "Have I told you how much I love our Sonos System?" It is at that point that she reminds me that, while she enjoys the music when it is on, the Sonos system is definitely my baby. She's right. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made. Here is the thing though: the Sonos system worked for me for two reasons. First, at the time I didn't have a serious music system in the house and, second, I was willing to make the investment to set up Sonos in a bunch of different rooms. And believe me, getting the entire house Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/20/home-audio-review-orb-music-streaming-system/feed/ 0 FanVision provides NFL Fans an Enhanced Stadium Experiencehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/18/fanvision-provides-nfl-fans-an-enhanced-stadium-experience/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/18/fanvision-provides-nfl-fans-an-enhanced-stadium-experience/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:15:03 +0000 Travis Ehrlich http://www.geardiary.com/?p=165077

I have spent the majority of my life in stadiums. Some are big, some are small; in some I am a fan, in some was a player, and in some I am coaching. Bottom line is that I feel comfortable in a stadium. It is just who I am. My father went to high school in Houston, so while growing up we made many a trip to stay with my aunt who happened to live just a few miles from the Astrodome. By the time I was in Jr. High, I knew the dome like the back of my hand. We would come to town all summer and catch the Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/18/fanvision-provides-nfl-fans-an-enhanced-stadium-experience/feed/ 1 Gear Deal: ViewSonic 24″ 1080p 3D-Ready LED-Backlit Display plus 3D Wireless Glasseshttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/11/gear-deal-viewsonic-24-1080p-3d-ready-led-backlit-display-plus-3d-wireless-glasses/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/11/gear-deal-viewsonic-24-1080p-3d-ready-led-backlit-display-plus-3d-wireless-glasses/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:05:26 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=164202 Today's Gear Deal brings us ViewSonic's 24" 1080p 3D-Ready LED-Backlit Display plus 3D Wireless Glasses. Not only does the display have a resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p) but it also has a 120Hz refresh rate, a 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 2ms response time. Connectivity includes HDMI, DVI, VGA inputs, and more. The deal also includes one pair of NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses. Normally this combination would be $599 but thanks to our Gear Sponsor you can save 19%. That brings the final price down to $479.99 and it will even ship for free. Gear Deal: ViewSonic 24" 1080p 3D-Ready LED-Backlit Display plus 3D Wireless Glasses via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/10/11/gear-deal-viewsonic-24-1080p-3d-ready-led-backlit-display-plus-3d-wireless-glasses/feed/ 0 The Sceptre 24″ E246BD-FHD LED HDTV / Monitor with DVD Player Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/21/the-sceptre-24-e246bd-fhd-led-hdtv-monitor-with-dvd-player-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/21/the-sceptre-24-e246bd-fhd-led-hdtv-monitor-with-dvd-player-review/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:00:40 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=152881

When we built our house, for various reasons we decided not to put a TV in every room; we installed one 55" LED VIZIO on the wall in the living room with all the home theater options, and we called it good. Well, sometimes the best laid plans don't quite work out. Over time, we realized that it would be handy to have a second television as backup, so that the girls could pop in a DVD when we were watching something "boring" like the San Diego Chargers and Texas football games, or the Tour de France. Because this second TV would have to go on a bedroom wall (space is an issue), the perfect solution Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/21/the-sceptre-24-e246bd-fhd-led-hdtv-monitor-with-dvd-player-review/feed/ 28 Sonos Controller for Mac Now Plays Well with Lionhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/06/sonos-controller-for-mac-now-plays-well-with-lion/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/06/sonos-controller-for-mac-now-plays-well-with-lion/#comments Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:03:08 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=159615 Great news for those of us who love their Sonos audio system. (Here's our review.) The Mac desktop software is finally Lion compatible! Here's the email that just came in:

Update: Sonos is now Lion-friendly

Good news: Mac OS X 10.7 Lion works with Sonos®. Even better news: the solution is ready for download. Just select Check for Updates in the Sonos menu on your Sonos Controller for Mac. Now you can play all the music stored on your Mac in every room with Sonos and use Lion. Problem solved. Thank you for your patience as we worked out this incompatibility issue. We're sorry if this interrupted your music listening
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/09/06/sonos-controller-for-mac-now-plays-well-with-lion/feed/ 0 The Skooba Design Cable Stable Mini Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/#comments Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:15:39 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=158247

Even with so many devices going toward the microUSB "standard", I can't help but travel with a minimum of three different types of cables -- and sometimes more than that. My phone uses microUSB, my iPad has its own Apple connector, and my camera is miniUSB. When packing, I also need to bring along the battery chargers for my camera and MacBook Air, along with a few other miscellaneous doo-dads. You may recall that I reviewed the Skooba Design Cable Stable DLX early last year; while I have found it to be an excellent solution when I need to bring along the whole 'kit and kaboodle', there are times when I have wished that it Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/27/the-skooba-design-cable-stable-mini-review/feed/ 0