Entries in Audio (4)
Review: RIVA Turbo X
Thursday, September 24, 2015 at 9:53PM Earbuds add clarity and privacy to the listening experience of our modern mobile lifestyle. However, in a shared group setting, more substantial amplification is better appreciated by all. There are many good choices for a "take anywhere" battery-powered Bluetooth speaker, but few are capable of delivering an impressive listening experience without becoming ungainly or making significant compromises to battery life.
The RIVA Turbo X is a premium portable Bluetooth speaker that does everything well: superb audio reproduction, useful mobile features, and good battery life in a finely-crafted compact chassis.
Unboxing
The $350 Turbo X is at the high end of mobile speaker pricing, and its beautifully nested packaging was appropriate for a valuable audio product with each component isolated and protected. A clearly organized user guide printed on quality paper stock made it easy to learn about the X's features and use.
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Accessories in the box include analog adapters for connecting RCA or 3.5mm minijack stereo output to the X's 3.5mm auxiliary input as well as a 19V DC power adapter for recharging its built-in battery.
I'll also add the Turbo X's rubber "I/O Cover" to the list of included accessories. Acting as a third foot on the X's base when placed in its dedicated holder, this protective cover can help seal out dust and debris from the ports on the rear of the unit. However, the fit of the cover on the unit I received left a gap that never completely sealed the rear ports, and I was counting down the minutes until someone declared the cover missing in action.
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I also received the Turbo X's optional premium soft case that proved perfect for organizing accessories and keeping the unit wrapped in protective layer of padded microfiber when not in use. The case sells for $30 on the company's website, and I consider it a worthwhile investment for its usability and protection.
Design
The Riva Turbo X measures approximately 9.1-inches (W) by 3.5-inches (D) by 4.1-inches (H) and it weighs 3.2-pounds. The sides of the X are wrapped with a sturdy fine mesh metal grill with the top and bottom capped in gloss-finished plastic. Color options include black and white with silver mesh.
Generously sized capacitive touch sensing buttons on the top of the Turbo X are LED backlit for easy identification. A proximity sensing feature illuminates the buttons and provides power-on-wake functionality without requiring direct contact - helpful for minimizing fingerprints on the otherwise glossy top.
Connectivity
The X's rear-facing port panel is centered along its bottom edge and features a 3.5mm analog auxiliary input and a standard-A USB receptacle for charging mobile devices. Other ports include a micro-USB receptacle for firmware updates, a battery toggle switch, and an illuminated battery icon that provides state and charging information.
Integrated Bluetooth support enables the Turbo X to easily connect to most mobile devices. With its built-in microphone and noise/echo canceling technology, the X made for a very clear and capable speakerphone even with moderate amounts of background noise as was the case when I tested it in an outdoor patio area. The X's Bluetooth implementation also supports aptX audio streaming from compatible devices for improved bandwidth management that can approach the quality of CD audio with appropriate source material.
Specs and intial impressions
The Turbo X features three front-facing 60mm drivers with total amplification rated at 45W RMS. The X's four passive "dual piston bass radiators" seemed well-tuned to enhance its low end response with a performance I associated with a much larger speaker system. Placing the X in the corner of a room proved an ideal location that further enhanced its sound quality with added richness, but even tabletop placement in the middle of a relatively open space delivered a superior performance compared to the less costly options I pitted it against. RIVA Audio claims the Turbo X has a 300-degree sound field, and I found its audio reproduction remarkably consistent from the sides and front.
App goodness
A companion app for iOS and Android users dubbed RIVA Ground Control replicates all of the Turbo X's controls in a handsome and easy to use interface. Using the Bluetooth link to the X, the app enabled me to adjust the Turbo X's audio settings and perform basic track navigation. The app also provides a color-coded battery level indicator as well as a power off button.
Listening
I keep a few gigabytes of CD audio on my Samsung Galaxy S6 phone in the form of FLAC-encoded audio files. Galaxy smartphones have supported aptX Bluetooth streaming since the S3, and the RIVA Turbo X delivered an ear-pleasing presentation with a wide variety of music genres over its wireless connection. Podcast and live streaming audio content over the aptX link also sounded clear and crisp without the tinny sound often associated with smaller speaker systems. Compared to an older but similarly capable JBL On Tour iBT portable speaker that lacks aptX, the Turbo X's triple drivers and quad radiators delivered increased warmth and better low-end reproduction.
The Turbo X also features an audio mode dubbed Trillium Surround that enables a pseudo-surround sound effect that adds a bit of spaciousness to appropriate content like movies or video games. The effect was generally pleasing and not disruptive to the listening experience, but for most music and podcast playback, I left the feature disabled.
Go Turbo!
If you want a smile-inducing audio feature, look no further than the RIVA Turbo X's "Turbo" button. A tap of the T-button impressed everyone within earshot with a significant boost (about 9 dB) in volume without appreciable distortion. Naturally, use of the awe-inspiring Turbo mode reduces battery life, but the manufacturer's claim of more than 26 hours of playback at 75 dB sound levels seemed accurate during my time with the Turbo X.
A check of the frequency response of the Turbo X and the older JBL unit revealed the former having a superior low-end response that extended down to the 65-70Hz range before significant drop-off occurred. In the chart below, the orange and yellow graphs are of the Turbo X with and without its Turbo-mode enabled and the purple graph is of the JBL. The spec sheet for the On Tour iBT lists its frequency response at 100Hz to 20kHz and my measurements aligned nicely. With frequencies of 50Hz and lower, neither speaker is making much sound.
Subjectively, and perhaps unsurprisingly, switching to the Turbo X's wired connection further improved the quality of its output. Although Bluetooth audio streaming is convenient, I found myself preferring wired input with CD-quality (or better) audio material.
2015 Vizio M-Series 4K UHD TV Preview
Bottom line
Aside from my minor grumblings about its port dust cover, the RIVA Turbo X represents a best in class choice for a portable Bluetooth speaker with ample battery life and room-filling audio reproduction. The X's Turbo mode impressed the ears of everyone who gave it a listen, and I've not heard better sound from a less costly Bluetooth audio device. The Turbo X is equally useful as a desktop companion with its graceful speakerphone capabilities, and the only thing I wanted to change was to make its awesomely-practical yet optional travel case a part of the package.
Review: Vizio 5.1 Sound Bar System
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 3:58PM 
In the box
The Vizio SB4051 delivers true 6-channel listening with a setup experience that simply doesn't get any easier. In the box, the SB4051 features an accessory pack that conveniently includes every cable you may need to get the system connected to a TV or other audio source device. The pack also includes wall-mounting brackets for the sound bar and surround speakers.
Speaker setup
Speaker setup starts with centering the sound bar above or below a TV screen; low-profile feet give the sound bar an overall height of only 3-inches. The wireless subwoofer can be placed anywhere there's a nearby power outlet, and the rear-channel speakers connect to the powered sub via ample 25-foot color-coded wires. This configuration eliminates a wire run between the front and rear speakers for a clean look. Vizio claims a 60-foot range with the wireless sub, and its connection proved completely stable at the much shorter distances I tested it at.
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Design
Matte-finished metal protectively caps the ends of the sound bar and tops the speakers and sub. The added heft of the metal accents and finely-perforated black metal grills that wrap each speaker literally feel like quality touches. The latter also admirably masked fingerprints and dust.
2015 Vizio M-Series 4K UHD TV Preview
The SB4051's remote control is simple yet effective with its handful of buttons and a 1-line display at the top that enables easy navigation of more than a dozen controls.
A row of indicator lights along the bar's left side provide a visual confirmation of level and other system adjustments, and the lights automatically fade to a single subtle point after use.
A 5-button row of controls centered on the sound bar blend in well with the overall design while providing basic control options.
Hook it up
Unlike most sound bars that provide a basic array of coaxial/optical/analog audio inputs, the Vizio SB4051 adds an HDMI passthrough that supports Audio Return Channel (ARC) with compatible TVs. Another benefit of the SB4051's HDMI input is its compatibility with affordable HDMI auto-switchers for connecting multiple digital source devices.
The Vizio SB4051 is Bluetooth-enabled making it easy to link a smartphone or other mobile device for simple and convenient audio streaming. Regular Bluetooth audio streaming adds additional compression that can degrade audio quality, and this sound bar alleviates this shortcoming with aptX technology that enabled CD-like sound quality from compatible mobile devices.
Digital audio format support for the SB4051 includes Dolby Digtal, DTS, and several flavors of Linear PCM at up to 96kHz.
Speaker setup
The sound bar incorporates three 2.75-inch drivers while each surround speaker features a single 2.5-inch driver. A 6-inch driver in the ported sub adds an appreciable amount of low-end kick to the speakers' small but capable drivers. A built-in quick test announces each speaker to verify the connection and proper location, but properly balancing the speaker levels would require a sound pressure meter and appropriate test material. I'd like to see Vizio incorporate an automated microphone setup for levels and timing in future models.
Listen up
After breaking in the sound bar system for a few days, I sampled a variety of audio sources including FLAC-encoded music tracks streamed via aptX-enabled Bluetooth from my phone. Vizio claims the SB4051 can produce a sound pressure level of 102dB with <1% THD, and cranking it up proved to be a neighbor-awakening experience with ample volume and plenty of distortion-free bass. Podcasts and TV shows exhibited exceptional dialog clarity from the main sound bar channels, and DTS TruVolume is available if audio normalization is needed.
Switching to high-bitrate Blu-ray content, the award-winning sound track from the movie Master and Commander highlighted the system's surround sound capabilities and impactful bass response. The movie's quieter sequences are filled with detailed ambient sounds that were well-rendered by the system's five speaker drivers. The movie's depiction of classic naval warfare gave the subwoofer a chance to shine as it added very tangible sonic accents without ever overwhelming the performance.
The album Sea Change by Beck features audio tracks that approach the bitrate and sample rate limits of the Blu-ray format, and the SB4051 delivered superb clarity and detail with vocals and numerous stringed instruments. Given the SB4051's relatively small speaker drivers, the wireless sub again proved its worth with its ability to transparently reproduce lower frequencies.
Bottom line
I have a fondness for products that perform without a lot of fuss, and the Vizio 40" 5.1 Sound Bar System (SB4051-C0) delivered a listening experience that approached the quality of my home setup of separate surround sound speakers and a capable AVR. The Vizio SB4051 lacks the automated speaker setup tool included with many AVRs that optimizes levels and timing, but the entire kit is hundreds of dollars less than my own admittedly value-orientated home theater audio components. Modern AVRs often integrate useful features like HDMI switching, network multimedia playback, and support of a wide range of codecs. However, the Vizio SB4051's beauty is in its simplicity and flexibility while reducing the number of wires required to enjoy a true 5.1-channel listening experience.
Learn More About Dolby Atmos
Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 2:57PM 
Updated April 16, 2015: added speaker setup links
The masters of sound processing at Dolby Labratories have published a pair of documents that provide a thorough yet very accessible introduction to its new Dolby Atmos technology. One document dives into the technology itself and how it relates to the mixing studio, cinema, and home theater environments. The other document details the Dolby Atmos speaker technology and how it will be integrated into new products.
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Speaker setup
The Dolby website has also added a terrific section that details popular Dolby Atmos Speaker configurations. The pages highlight the optimal layout and aiming of in-ceiling and upward-firing speaker types, and there is a downloadable installation guide for more information.
Easy TV Speaker Upgrade: Vizio SB4021M
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 11:51AM Updated January 17, 2015: edited for clarity
We are often distracted by shiny objects, and in the world of home theater, it's the display system that garners the majority of people's attention. For home theater at any budget, audio quality is just as, if not more, important than the visual experience. A decent sound system draws the viewer into the content through the sounds that are heard and felt, and it should be no secret that the speakers build into most HDTVs cannot come close to the sound quality of even a modest external speaker setup.
Better than built-in
Not everyone has the budget or desire to upgrade their home theater audio with an audio/video receiver (AVR) and separate speakers, but that should be the eventual goal! Until then, there are a terrific class of affordable amplified speakers known as soundbars that will please your ears while keeping the up-front investment reasonable.
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A soundbar I tested recently is the Vizio 40" 2.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer - aka the SB4021M. Vizio has since released an updated version of this soundbar package.
Input selection
The SB4021M is designed for people who may have a newer HDTV but older gear connected to it, or they are mostly using a TV's built-in features such as an over-the-air digital tuner or apps like Netflix, Pandora, or Amazon Instant Video. The first thing I'd point out about the SB4021M is its lack of HDMI ports - input options include optical and coaxial digital audio ports and an 1/8-inch jack that can be used with an included stereo adapter cable. There is also a USB port that supports MP3 playback from a connected storage device.
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Easy setup
Setup is simple! Plug in your gear to the available inputs, plug in the power to the soundbar, find an outlet for the wireless subwoofer...done! Included wall-mount brackets provide an additional installation option. Most HDTVs feature an optical audio output that would feed directly into the SB4021M, and a 6-foot optical cable costs about $6. The Vizio SB4021's digital inputs are compatible with Dolby Digital and PCM signals - feeding the bar a DTS-encoded signal resulted in an error as this format is not supported.
Wireless sub
The 40-inch soundbar features 2.75-inch full-range stereo drivers, and the sub’s 6.5-inch driver helped fill in the low notes but it provided no level adjustments of its own save for a wireless link button. The soundbar's widely-spaced removable feet proved ideal for straddling a HDTV table stand allowing the bar to blend in below the screen. Placing the soundbar on a flat surface also added a bit of resonance that warmed up the default sound quality. Full-range signal tests revealed a consistent, hiccup-free, performance from the SB4021M. The sub's output was on the weak-side, but bumping up the bass level on the soundbar's menu helped - this is a neighbor-friendly subwoofer for sure!
SRS-enabled sound processing options include TruVolume and TruSurroundHD - the former could prove useful to hard of hearing listeners as it helps keep various programs and content at a constant volume level.
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The bottom line
Everyone should own and enjoy speakers beyond those built into the TV they are watching. The Vizio SB4021 is a good fit for someone on a budget who has older AV devices or who are utilizing a TV's integrated features such as a digital tuner or steaming apps.
I continue to strongly encourage everyone to eventually make the investment in a decent AV receiver (AVR) and set of quality loudspeakers. The immersive quality of lossless audio tracks like DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD that are featured on Blu-ray movies is best appreciated with the capable decoders and amplifiers found in today’s AVRs.
