Latest news with #stereo
New York Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Tiny Love Stories: ‘I Thought I Was Straight'
Our Father, the Maestro Our father wore clothes until they practically limped off his body. He wasn't one for new, fancy things. But in retirement, he treated himself — buying a state-of-the-art stereo system with custom speakers nearly as tall as him. From his recliner, he played maestro, conducting Chopin, Puccini, all his favorites at concert-hall volume. I like to think he's still orchestrating somewhere. On what should've been his 80th birthday, I received, perhaps, some proof: My kitchen radio, always programmed to NPR, inexplicably tiptoed up the dial. As Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 greeted me that morning, I thought, 'Hi, Dad.' — Anne Marshall-Chalmers 'Held and Free' I thought I was straight. I grew up in rural Alabama, attended a small university, met a very kind man and got married young — too young. But then, at age 30, Madison came along. I noticed her at work. In the E.R.'s chaotic, fluorescently lit environment, she felt like a peaceful fall breeze. One day, she stopped me in the hall and asked me what I was passionate about. I started writing poetry. I came out and my marriage ended. Big story made tiny: Madison, now my girlfriend, makes me feel held and free, makes me feel seen, finally. — Brittany Wyville Craigslist Kismet Looking for a cheap New York City rental at 23, I clicked on a Craigslist ad and moved in with a woman named Tsedale. Forty years my senior and a force of nature, she taught me to season boldly, live unapologetically and love without inhibition. Seven years ago, at the same hour my daughter, Sia, was born, Tsedale passed away. One life arrived as another left, a cosmic crossing. Tsedale wasn't just a roommate; she was the mother figure I needed — tough, wise, unflappable. I try to channel her fierce love and radical openness as I raise my daughter. — Thrupthi Reddy A Night of Light 'I'm in the mood for highlights,' I told my mother one night. Though it was 10:30 p.m., she said, 'Get your shoes,' and drove us to Walgreens for a box of Frost & Tip. Back home, she gently pulled strands of my hair through a perforated plastic cap, then brushed on the acrid bleach solution. It was well past midnight when we finally finished, the two of us beaming in the mirror. When I see photos of 20-year-old me with my way-too-blond streaks, what's highlighted is a rare moment of spontaneity. My mother's only agenda: my happiness. — Abby Alten Schwartz See more Tiny Love Stories at Submit yours at Want more from Modern Love? Watch the TV series; sign up for the newsletter; or listen to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify or Google Play. We also have swag at the NYT Store and two books, 'Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption' and 'Tiny Love Stories: True Tales of Love in 100 Words or Less.'
Auto Express
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Bose, Bowers & Wilkins or Burmester? A great car audio system is worth paying for
For a firm to be considered premium these days, a top-tier 'branded' stereo is a non-negotiable element in its cars. But what many of us don't know is the amount of investment and development that goes into these systems, which have transformed a humble radio into an aural extravaganza. A car is a terrible place to start designing a sound experience, because the road noise, vibration and harshness – NVH in industry terminology – generate a colossal amount of white noise for the system to overcome. This changes, too, depending on the speed or road surface. And inside the cabin, the soundwaves bounce in all directions off the hard materials, such as glass and plastic. Advertisement - Article continues below A recent drive in a Porsche 911 GT3 proved this point, with the huge tyres and thin glass generating too much noise for the standard audio system to overcome at a motorway cruise – and that's on a car with a base price in excess of £130,000. It's no surprise, then, that many marques have turned to audio firms to help develop more powerful optional systems – each of which represent millions of pounds in investment and over the years have turned into a proper audiophile works with two HiFi specialists to create high-end set-ups for its cars, giving customers three choices, including the firm's own base system. On a £103,000 911 Carrera you can specify as an option either a £1,269 12-speaker BOSE Surround Sound package, or a 13-speaker Burmester High-End Surround Sound system for £4,020. What's the difference between the two? Aside from the extra speaker, Burmester's system also has a collated wattage upgrade to 915W from the BOSE's 570W. Can you hear the difference? Yes, most definitely. But things go into space from here, because certain car brands are becoming known specifically for their audio systems, which have all the technology and quality of the world's best home HiFi products. The Bowers & Wilkins set-up in the Polestar 3 SUV is only available when bundled into a combined £7,300 worth of option packages, but offers sound quality comparable to a top-tier home system. Bowers & Wilkins will sell you a pair of speakers for £90k without a car attached, making the Polestar feel like a bargain. So if you're speccing a new car and baulk at the cost of an optional high-end stereo, remember it's rarely a hollow upgrade and, for a connoisseur, possibly is worth more than the price of admission. Now find the very best in automotive audio with our Find a Car service...
Forbes
25-05-2025
- Forbes
QlearSoul SoulBox S1 Vinyl Record Player With Stereo Speakers
The Qlearsoul SoulBox S1. That slip mat looks more than a little like Canada's CBC logo... If you're looking for an affordable way to listen to your record collection, there's a new option in the SoulBox S1 from QlearSoul. The system includes a turntable, Bluetooth streaming support and bookshelf speakers, all wrapped in a warm wood finish and typically retails in the $250 range. Listening to records with true stereo sound is the ideal setup. However, many people make compromises early on and end up with a system that lacks this capability. A 'suitcase-style' portable record player, or a turntable plugged into a portable speaker delivering mono sound, for example. There are many reasons why someone might find themselves in this position. A component system with a receiver or amplifier, PHONO pre-amp, turntable and speakers can be an expensive proposition and then there's the challenge of matching components that are going to look good and, more importantly, sound good together. Space is often an issue. And then there's the complexity of setting up a component system and a turntable. For someone who's not comfortable with working with audio equipment, this prospect can be daunting. The turntable arrives largely assembled. With the SoulBox S1, QlearSoul aimed at eliminating these barriers. Both the PHONO pre-amp and the system amplifier are built into the turntable. That means stereo sound with only one power supply (the bookshelf speakers are not powered) and all that's needed is to connect the speakers to the turntable with the included cables. The turntable itself is shipped largely assembled, including having the cartridge pre-mounted on the tonearm. You'll need to attach the counterweight, balance the tonearm and set the anti-skate dial, attach the belt and platter, then slip the plastic cover on the pre-installed hinges. Clear instructions are included, no tools are required and this should be a five or 10 minute exercise that only needs to be done once. A built-in, switchable PHONO pre-amp, plus a built-in stereo amplifier to drive the bookshelf ... More speakers. Many entry level record players and turntables keep costs down by using a generic cartridge and/or stylus. Doing so does help to keep the price down, but at the cost of sound quality. A cheap stylus that tracks too heavily can also physically damage a record, which is the last thing you want to do. QlearSoul went with the Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge, plus an adjustable counterweight and antiskate. The AT-3600L is a popular, budget-friendly offering from a leading audio brand. It's known for providing an entertaining listen while helping to minimize skips from used records. With millions of these sold, it's easy to find a replacement stylus. Equipped with the workhorse Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge The speakers included with this system are each equipped with a 2-inch silk dome tweeter for crisp high notes with 4.5-inch fiberglass cones covering the mid-range and bass. Included bookshelf speakers QlearSoul describes the SoulBox S1 as 'an entry-level audiophile system designed for ultimate versatility.' To that end, the SoulBox S1 fills the role of a turntable connected to a pair of bookshelf speakers allowing users to listen to their records in true stereo sound. Its Audio-Technica AT-3600L cartridge has a reputation as a solid all-round performer and its stylus can be upgraded should you want to take the sound of records up a notch. For that matter, if you happen to buy a component stereo system later on, you can use this as a pure turntable that feeds into that system, thanks to its switchable pre-amp and RCA output jacks. Option to use this as a standalone turntable. With the SoulBox S1's built-in Bluetooth connectivity, you can go digital and wirelessly stream music from your favorite platform from your phone, tablet, or PC–enjoying the tracks in stereo. The bottom line is the QlearSoul SoulBox S1 provides a budget-friendly entry to records, with true stereo sound and support for Bluetooth wireless music streaming. All in a package that's compact, easy to set up and wrapped in a warm, wood-look finish. Disclosure: QlearSoul provided a SoulBox S1 for evaluation purposes but had no input into this article.
