Cables

AudioQuest Rocket 44 Speaker Cable Review

The AudioQuest Rocket 44 loudspeaker cables are the next-to-the-top-of-the-line in AudioQuest’s Rocket series of speaker wiring. They retail for $999.95 per 10-foot pair, terminated with your choice of spades or bananas – silver or gold-plated - single or bi-wire.

ZVOX Zbase 555 Speaker System to Place Under Your Flat Panel HDTV Pedestal

So here is the problem. Actually, there are two problems. Problem one: the new HDTV flat panels are getting thinner and thinner. The speakers inside those panels are also getting thinner and thinner. The sound from those speakers…well...

ZVox comes to the rescue with a powered speaker system that sits underneath the pedestal of your flat panel HDTV. Called the Zbase 555, it retails for only $399.

Sabian 22″ Vault Artisan Medium Ride Cymbal

Sabian's Vault Artisan line focuses on the methods used to make cymbals that are hundreds of years old, and refrains from the use of machines, except perhaps the electric motor that turns the lathe, instead of using foot power. The finished cymbal looks a bit like the 22" Legacy Heavy Ride that we have also reviewed. The differences are that the Artisan has more extensive hammering, wider lathing, and a slightly smaller bell. The results are a dark but distinct ping, and a deep wash.

Sundance Film Festival 2010

Attendance was reported to be down a little at this year's Sundance. It seemed that way but since we attended for the second half only it wasn't perfectly clear. There were still sold out movies but in general the lines seemed a little shorter. This is still an industry festival and so it's a great place to take the pulse of the industry. The pulse is a little weak.

KEF Reference 205/2 Floor-standing Speakers

Bigger is still better, period - at least when it comes to two-channel systems. Believe me I've heard many fine sounding monitors (with and without a separate subwoofer) auditioned at shows and in my own listening room. Several reviewed I've purchased or wanted to badly, yet like the preverbal big fish I throw them back to wait for the one that's just too amazing to return. Read our review of the KEF 205/2 floor-standers. They would fit anyone's needs.