Sabian 18″ HHX Legacy Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Sabian's HH line represents the dark side of the force, and the HHX are classified as "Modern Dark", with the Evolutions being a specific set of crashes, splashes, high hats, and rides that have special dynamics that make them easy to play. Another variation on the HHX is the HHX Legacy, and the 18" HHX Legacy Crash is reviewed here. It is darker than the 18" HHX Evolution Crash. The HHX series only comes in several diameters, not specified weights, and a Sabian distributor told me that they vary in weight depending on the particular style (Evolution, Legacy, X-Plosion, Studio, etc.)

Cymbals

DIY Calibration Software – Update: CalMAN 4.1

Mark Vignola

Since our DIY Calibration software round-up was originally published in May, the CalMAN software has undergone a major upgrade. When we met the SpectraCal folks at CEDIA in September, they were eager to have us try this new software package. I already had some hands on time with CalMAN 4 at the Calibration Bootcamp that I attended earlier this year CalMAN Calibration Bootcamp: A Crash Course in the Science of Calibration, but I hadn't had enough time to really explore the software on my own system and without the guidance of the SpectraCal training team.

DIY

OmniMount LEDP75 Wall Mount Kit for Flat Panel HDTV’s

Jim Milton

While at CEDIA last September, I witnessed a demonstration of the OmniMount LEDP75 wall mount kit and was fascinated with the ease of installation and the uniqueness of the design. From the initial cutting to mounting took the technician about 15 minutes. The fact that they were also giving away a free LCD flat panel from Samsung did not dissuade me from watching the demo either. (No…I did not win).

Stands/Racks/Furniture/Room Treatment

Sabian 18″ HHX Evolution Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Sabian's HH line represents the dark side of the force, and the HHX are classified as "Modern Dark", with the Evolutions being a specific set of crashs, splashes, high hats, and rides that have special dynamics that make them easy to play. They only come in several diameters, not specified weights, and a Sabian distributor told me that they vary in weight depending on the particular style (Evolution, Legacy, X-Plosion, Studio, etc.) The 18" HHX Evolution Crash is reviewed here.

Cymbals

Toshiba 55WX800U 55″ LED Edge Lit LCD 3D HDTV

Chris Eberle

At the Consumer Electronics Show last January, every television manufacturer had at least one 3D-capable display in their booth. Over the next few months, new models trickled into the marketplace. Now that CEDIA has come and gone, the floodgates are officially open and every brand has at least one and in some cases multiple models to choose from. I attended CEDIA with the primary goal of securing as many 3D TVs as possible for review. Toshiba was kind enough to be the first to provide me a sample, the flagship 55WX800U Cinema Series 55" LED Edge Lit LCD HDTV.

HDTV

Paradigm Reference Seismic 110 Subwoofer

Ross Jones

I described the last Paradigm Reference sub I reviewed, the Reference Signature Sub 25, as the "Mother of All Subwoofers". Then Paradigm came out with the even more massive SUB 1 and SUB 2 models. So when I agreed to review the Seismic 110, a small barrel-shaped sub that measures barely 13" in any direction, my expectations were set accordingly.

Subwoofers

CD Reviews for the Audiophile – January, 2011

Jason Victor Serinus

Bi-coastal jazz saxophonist Jason Robinson, 35, an Assistant Professor of Music at Amherst College and former musician with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, seems to be blowing non-stop these days. No less that three albums that showcase the seemingly limitless range of his versatile musicianship hit the literal and virtual shelves in the fall of 2010. Each album shows Robinson on the cusp between tradition and experimentalism, with a strong emphasis on the latter.

CD Music Reviews

Sabian 18″ HH Thin Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

If you have a medium crash, and likely you do, there is always the decision whether to get a medium thin, or a thin crash to go with it. We have reviewed several medium crashes, and this review covers an 18" thin crash in Sabian's HH line. The sound is a bit dark, which thin cymbals tend to be, and it is a bright punchy crash, with short sustain.

Cymbals

Furman F1500 UPS with Additional Battery Power

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Furman, long known for power conditioners, has introduced a series of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) that go into operation if your home (or office) AC power goes off due to storms or other factors. From the point that your AC goes off, and the Furman supplies AC power to whatever is plugged into it, you have a certain amount of time to shut down the components you have plugged into it. The amount of time you have depends on the current draw of the connected components. The Furman F1500 is rated at 900 watts load. The optional BATT1500-EXT battery pack allows additional time. The F1500 UPS was designed with home theater users in mind, and since a sudden loss of power can corrupt receiver settings and damage bulbs in projectors, the addition of a UPS to your home theater is something to consider.

Surge Protector/UPS

ClearStream Micron Over-the-Air Indoor DTV Antenna

Sumit Chawla, Ph.D.

A recent search on DTV stations in the San Francisco Bay Area listed all the channels within 100 miles of San Francisco. The list was long. Many transmitter locations were far away, so I was not going to receive all the channels. But still, the count was healthy. The site even listed several stations that are not broadcasting yet, but had either applied for or had received approval by the FCC. The ClearStream Micron Over-the-Air Indoor Antenna is designed to pull in those distant stations. Does it work?

Video Accessories Misc

Sabian 18″ B8 Pro Medium Crash Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Sabian's B8 line has been upgraded with new hammering and lathing techniques, and are available as the B8 Pro. This particular one is the 18" medium crash cymbal. The sound has incredible punch, with a bright, bell ringing tonality with moderate sustain. The B8 Pro's are inexpensive, but don't let that fact, or that they are made from sheet metal stock, fool you. The B8 Pro's could have a spot in your kit. They crash loud and hard, making them ideal for conventional or metal rock use.

Cymbals

CES 2011 Show Report – Summary

SECRETS CES Coverage Team

Do check out the CES 2011 Show Coverage Reports by the SECRETS Team: Robert Kozel, Jim Milton, Adrian Wittenberg, Stephen Hornbrook and John Johnson. Robert's summary of CES 2011 reflects the team's......

"What struck me the most about CES was the sheer magnitude of it all. I have been to Las Vegas many times for conventions in the past, but nothing compared to CES 2011. The enormous international crowds combined with thousands of exhibitors and locations spread throughout the city made it an event I will not soon forget. From the perspective of products, CES is overwhelming with its diversity. There were exhibitors covering home electronics, phones, appliances, automotive, computer hardware, networking, etc. The list was endless and it would be impossible for anyone to take all of it in. The crowd at CES was not just spending time looking at new products. There were countless people with "Buyer" tags on their show badges talking to exhibitors and discussing business. If the crowds were any indication, this should be a good year for the economy. Time will tell if all those conversations ultimately turn into real orders.

Final CES 2011 Impressions and more images just added by Stephen Hornbrook. Check it out!

Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts