Gramophone’s Favorite Things

Dads and Grads...on a budget

Looking to get dad an awesome Father’s Day gift that he can’t put down? Need to get your grad something extra special without breaking the bank? Father’s Day is just around the corner and graduations are recent news so here are a few cool items you can pick up right here at Gramophone that are sure to please even the biggest gadget guru.

Headphones

Beats by Dr. Dre

 

Beats are a must have for any college bound music enthusiast but even dad whose still into the golden oldies will absolutely love these incredible headphones. With noise cancelling features, ultra light design, and clear crisp HD sound, Beats are more than just headphones. They provide a stellar music listening experience every where you go! Beats on-ear start at just $199 in either red, black, silver, or white and come complete with a sturdy traveling case and cable connector to ensure durability.

 

 

Bowers and Wilkins P5

Now dads and grads can enjoy the same luxurious experience they love about Bowers & WIlkins everywhere they go with the  P5 noise-isolating, mobile hi-fi headphones. At an incredible price for the B&W quality, wow your dad and grad for under $300!

Looking for a review? Check out what Wired Magazine says about the B&W P5: “Heavenly Headphone Create Symphony Hall for Your Ears”.

 

iPod Docks & Speakers

Geneva Sound System Model S

Receiving the highest marks in its class, the Geneva Model S is as compact, portable, and high tech as it gets. When the iPod/iPhone is removed, the motorized PowerDock spins closed to protect it. Any dad or grad would be proud to own this powerful little box with easy to use touch light controls and a built digital clock radio.

Looking for a review? Check out what Wired Magazine says about the Geneva Model S: “iPod Dock Has Killer Looks, Sound to Match”.

Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Mini

Give your dad or grad the gift of music, elegant, compact, and advanced music with the streamlined Zeppelin mini. Perfect for the office, dorm room, or new apartment, dads and grads alike will love the incredible sound delivered once again by B&W. Same great sound as the Zeppelin or Zeppelin Air with a much smaller price tag, only $299!

 

 

 Television

48-Month Special Financing Available from Sony*

Receive a Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player powered by Google TV when you buy a qualifying LED Sony BRAVIA HDTV listed below.  Valid to July 9, 2011.  Eligible Models: KDL-46HX729, KDL-55EX720, KDL-55HX729, KDL-55HX820, KDL-55NX720, XBR-55HX929.

*See store for details. Subject to credit approval.

Is your dad or grad more about catching the football game? Gramophone is proud to carry the latest in LCD TVs from Samsung, Sony, and Sharp with crisp, ultra clear displays. Starting in the $200 price range, the 19” LCDs are a perfect fit for any dorm room or office.

 

Sonos Wireless Home Sound System

Is this Father’s Day the time to get dad something extra special that he’s been wanting but, until now, your budget couldn’t fit? Visit Gramophone to check out the latest in wireless full-house music entertainment. Whether you plan to start dad out with a single one-room unit  or upgrade throughout the house, the Sonos Wireless Multi-Room Music System is the perfect solution to affordable zoned music.

 

Ask Julia what she would recommend for your Dad or Grad!

Upgrade your home to a permanent paradise and experience a “staycation” this summer

You go on a vacation to escape the daily grind, enjoy a new environment, and to simply relax. Work can be stressful, and sometimes you just need to get away. Well, what if you could skip all the lines, jet lag, and time spent traveling and enjoy something new at home?  Putting the money and effort that you would spend on a week-long vacation in, let’s say, Florida, into a state-of-the-art home theater system from Gramophone could be just what you’ve been searching for!

 

Understanding your spaces

Before you go out and buy anything new for your soon-to-be paradise, you need to first understand the “flow” of your room; and by flow I mean the feeling, design, and layout of your space.  

Scale and proportion should be the first properties examined.  You want to have the size of your furniture and accessories comparable to the size of your room (scale).  Don’t go out and purchase an extreme Lazy-Boy fold out sectional for a 10’ x 10’ room. It just won’t fit and you may start to feel like a character in Alice in Wonderland and her crazy encounters with the shrinking potion.  

Proportion is also important because it measures the size of one object against another.  For example, if you decide to purchase a B&W CM 9 floorstanding speakers, don’t pair them with a small television.  The proportion of your room will be unbalanced.

Next it’s important to put some thought into where you would like to place your television, that is if, if you decide to  reorganize. Sitting too close to your TV can be nauseating (no one really likes sit in the front row of the movie theater), but sitting too far away may force you to lean forward, putting strain on your back. The ideal distance (oh, the separation anxiety!) should be twice the width of the TV itself. Keeping this simple formula in mind can make for a much more comfortable environment! 


Finally, you should consider the traffic flow of your space.  Are many people coming in and out of the room? Would it be bothersome to you if they crossed your viewing area?  Maybe the fireplace is the central focus of your room.  If so, consider placing your TV above it so to keep the room balanced or integrating your television into a work of personal art, such as those produced by Vision Art, also sold at Gramophone.

 

The gadgets you’ll need

Gramophone can provide you with all of your home theater needs, from the interior design of your room (seating and lighting) to the set up of the speakers and television.  If, however, you are looking for a simple, yet impressive upgrade, consider simply purchasing a decent television and a right and left channel speaker set. The Sharp 70-inch flat panel television is a great LED television for rooms with lots of natural light. The matte screen suppresses reflection and the network jack includes built-in wifi. The Synchrony One Tower speaker set by PSB delivers excellent sound quality for both film and music recordings. Being a pair of freestanding speakers, the Synchrony One’s timeless and sleek design is a perfect start-up set that can easily be added onto.      

Putting it all together

Now that you’ve got your ideal staycation spot in your home, it’s time to take your at-home paradise outdoors! Follow these links to read about how to throw a bangin’ pool party or an amped up movie night, all with products sold at Gramophone!

 

McIntosh & Gramophone Celebrate the Good Life With “DIAMONDS ARE A GUY’S BEST FRIEND” Evening OF Music, Martinis, And Fine Food

McIntosh Laboratory, a global leader in home entertainment and ultimate-quality audio for over 60 years, will be the featured performer at a special Gramophone home entertainment and music celebration on May 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Timonium location (4 West Aylesbury Road) and May 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Columbia location (8880 McGaw Road). The event will provide a first-hand look at some of McIntosh’s legendary audio gear and allow people to experience the intense emotional impact made possible by true no-compromise music reproduction. In addition to the McIntosh experience, the event will feature product demonstrations from Runco and Bowers & Wilkins. 

Guests will enjoy powerful high fidelity demonstrations from several McIntosh systems. Attendees are encouraged to bring in their favorite nostalgic vinyl records to experience listening to their music on a world-class audio system. 

Find Out What the “McIntosh Experience” Is All About
The Gramophone celebration will give area music lovers a taste of why discerning listeners have long considered McIntosh to be the “diamond standard” of great sound. Each McIntosh component is meticulously handcrafted in the U.S.A. at the company’s Binghamton, NY factory – and music lovers around the world regard the iconic “McIntosh Blue” front panel meters as the hallmark of unmatched quality, performance and reliability.

In fact, McIntosh has built a cult-like following around the world that has long included many of the world’s most discriminating audio enthusiasts and musicians – members from The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead, as well as John Mayer, Rob Thomas, Antonio L.A. Reid to name just a few.

RSVP to diamonds@gramophone.com, or call 410.308.1650

About McIntosh Laboratory
Since 1949, McIntosh Laboratory’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and quality continues to define the state-of-the-art in high fidelity and provide discriminating consumers around the world an elevated home entertainment experience. McIntosh high-performance audio and video products are handcrafted at the company’s Binghamton, New York headquarters. Its products reflect unmatched levels of performance, superlative engineering and hand craftsmanship. Built to last for decades, McIntosh components demand nothing less than an equal level of commitment to customer support and service. McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. is a D&M Holdings company. For more information visit www.mcintoshlabs.com, join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcintoshlabs or follow us on Twitter by searching for McIntoshLabsInc. All product and brand names with a trademark symbol are trademarks or registered trademarks of McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 

DISCLAIMER
Statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact include forward looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of the company. We wish to caution you that such statements are just predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties surrounding competitive and industry conditions, market acceptance for the company's products, risks of litigation, technological changes, developing industry standards and other factors related to the company's businesses. The Company reserves all of its rights. 

10 Reasons To Join Us for a Martini Night...

Dear Readers,

I can imagine that maybe you're sick of me writing about all my product encounters...I can understand that; therefore, I'm going to move in a different direction.  We have an event rapidly approaching that will be: EPIC (that's what the kids are saying these days, right?) And we want you to join us.

On May 18th (at Timonium) and May 19th (at Columbia), we will be hosting an event titled: Diamonds are a Guy's Best Friend.  

1. There will be Custom-Colored Martinis.
2. Experience the difference that diamond makes in B&W's 800 series speakers.
3. Exclusive Promotions from B&W, McIntosh, and Runco on their hottest products!
4. Meet Charlie Randall, Presdient of McIntosh.
5. Learn how McIntosh uses garnet dust to manufacture their products.
6. Discover why a custom-colored TV from Runco may be in your future.
7. Delicious catering from a local restaurant.
8. Complimentary Valet Parking (who doesn't love to have someone else park their car?)
9. To the ladies: You'll definitely want to find out why your man is in love with diamonds too...
10. It's free to attend.

We know you want to attend, so send us your RSVP to diamonds@gramophone.com.

Cheers!

Kate

Diamonds & Hearing Clearly

Back when I was about 8 years old, I got my first pair of glasses.  I still remember the first time I was able to distinguish the leaves on the trees.  Up until that time, I had known trees to be clumps of green blurs; but, when I put on my first pair of (blue clear plastic framed) glasses, I discovered what everyone else had been seeing all their life.  

I had another "seeing clearly" moment today when I got a demo of the B&W 800 series speakers (what B&W refers to as their Diamond Series, as the tweeter contains diamond!).  It was as Barenaked Ladies' "Brian Wilson (Live)" played and I could hear the clapping of the audience.  For the first time, I was able to hear the variety of distinct sounds in the clapping.  Impossible? Not on these speakers. We've become accustomed to hearing blurs of sound as our speakers don't fully reproduce the sounds of our music -- to the point that we're not even hearing the full songs.  There's something absolutely exhilerating about actually hearing the music - the strings of the guitar, the drumsticks hitting the drums, the rasp in the voice.   

The speakers, to say the least, are shaped interestingly.  These are not your typical rectangular, box speakers.  These have curves, are spherical on top, with tweeters (that have been mistaken as microphones) resting on top.  For me, they take some getting used to, but when the music plays, the shape just makes sense.  I can't explain why, because I haven't figured that out yet.  These aren't small, compact, or bookshelf speakers in the least, but the power of the sound that plays is worth every square inch of floorspace occupied by their footprint.

I haven't met a single person who doesn't enjoy hearing music live, and these speakers have the horsepower to give that experience from the comfort of your home.  In one word: Amazing.

-Kate

Dancing at My Desk

 

My office doesn’t have a door - kind of like a cubicle (with four walls and a ceiling).  I’m not looking for pity, seriously.  But, it makes jamming to music - one of the few methods of motivation - more difficult to do without forcing my co-workers to also rock out to my favorite music.  Luckily, though, there’s a solution.  (If there wasn’t a solution, this would be a pretty pathetic blog post.)  Headphones.  Ever since Apple released its first iPod, headphones have been the solution to independant music consumption.  Unfortunately, those little earbuds can get pretty uncomfortable after 8 hours at a desk.  My ears feel like they need some fresh air.  Maybe you like the feeling, and I’m not going to hate on you for it, but my ears were just not constructed to hold a piece of plastic for the duration of the workday.  

Enter the around-the-ear headphones.  I’ll probably get some flak for this, from my serious audiophiles out there, but I spend my day with the Dr. Dre Beats (Studio).  Sure, there are plenty of other options, but it’s a personal choice, and I love my Beats.  The music doesn’t feel like it’s being pushed into my ears, rather it just lives in its own space - that I happen to be a part of.

We had a headphone challenge in the Marketing Department, and while we all agreed that anything is better than the Apple earbuds, each of us found our own personal favorites: from the on-ear B&W P5s and Grado headphones to the around-the-ear noise-cancelling Sennheisers.  And while we were challenging the headphones, we weren’t rudely spreading our music throughout the office without care for the preferences of others.  And while there was discussion of the amount of bass and the highs and lows, what it really came down to was: Do I think my music sounds great, and am I comfortable wearing these?  And that’s what it should be about.  Honestly, I don’t care if you prefer your music to be bass-heavy, club beats, classical, or opera, just don’t force me to listen to it through your itsy-bitsy computer speakers.  The only thing that should show me you’re listening to your favorite music is you dancing in your chair at your desk.

 

-Kate

The Travels of Kate's B&W Zeppelin

A few weeks ago my B&W Zeppelin got sick.  It had been about 5 years of using the Zeppelin nonstop: for my iPod & TV speakers.  Just like a car, sometimes electronics need a tune-up and that's what happened.  So, sadly, I packed it up, told it to "get well soon", and shipped it back to B&W for some good ol' fixin.

While my dear Zeppelin was being taken care of, I had the misfortune of having to listen to my flatscreen TV through its itsy-bitsy built-in speakers.  That first night of tinny, reverberating sound was miserable, and I even considered just not watching TV until my Zeppelin was returned to its proper place.  Because, what I've learned is: TV is just not the same when the sound isn't good.  In fact, the emotion (of my beloved dramas, and occasional reality show) vanished when the Zeppelin was off getting its tune-up.  I could hear the sound smashing into the hard plastic backing of the TV, and echoing back and forth.  I found myself playing with the volume, in the hopes that maybe turning the volume way up would eliminate the empty audio quality, but no, it just made it worse.  So, I attempted turning the volume down, to a barely audible level, in the hopes that maybe the tinny sound wouldn't be noticeable at such a low volume.  But, what I discovered, to my dismay, was that no matter what the volume, the audio quality was just flat out bad.

While I was without the Zeppelin, I discovered closed captioning, reading, the great outdoors, my love of cooking, and the fact that even my computer's built-in speakers had more richness and depth to them than the poor wanna-bes in my TV.  

So, when my darling Zeppelin returned, repaired and feeling well again, I was elated.  The most difficult part was getting it out of its box.  I could definitely have used a second set of hands, but the adrenaline of excitement was able to pull me out of the sticky situation (pun intended).  Once the Zeppelin was out of the box, it only took me about five minutes to set it up:

1. Plug into wall outlet.
2. Run cable from TV to the back of the Zeppelin

The only thing that stood in my way was the fact that the puppy had decided to get in the empty box to play, so subtract one minute for me chasing her out of the box, and placing the box up on the table.

Finally, the time had come to turn on the TV.  This was the moment I'd been waiting for.  There's nothing quite like hearing quality sound along with a crystal-clear picture.  And, my iPod, once again, has a place to spend time charging itself while playing some of my favorite music.  

-Kate

Gramophone's 10-Week Music Challenge

Make This Year's Father's Day Stand Out From All the Rest.

With only 10 Days until Father's Day, these are some of our top picks!

It is almost impossible to write about the "Top Three Gadgets for Father's Day"  There are far more gadgets that Dad would love to have than just three.  How to decide? Headphones top our list of great Father's Day gifts, but there are also great iPod Dock solutions.  And we didn't limit ourselves to picking just three.  We'll let you figure out which of the following would make this year's Father's Day stand out from all the rest.

Better than a tie, but not quite a set of nice cuff links.

Sennheiser's line of headphones offers a great gift for dad for when he goes to the gym.  The adidas Performance headphones with volume control are portable, washable, and simply the way to go when it comes to athletic headphones. Wired Magazine's Product Review Section says: The Sennheiser/Adidas PMX680s provide "Exceptional sound quality. Marvelous bass. Stays put securely. Water resistant and dog-proof."

Better than the really nice cuff links, but not quite his dream golf club set.

At less than $300, this gift is far better than a set of nice cuff links , but not quite at the level of a really nice set of golf clubs.  For the Dad whose music taste is stuck back in time somewhere, these headphones will take him back and let him relive those days -- without causing the whole family to cringe.

Looking for a review? Wired Magazine's Product Review Section says: Heavenly Headphones Create Symphony Hall for Your Ears

Dad has an iPod?

Actually, this gift will be something an entire family enjoys...if Dad's the sharing type.  Starting at less than $400, you can get dad the B&W Mini-Zeppelin or the "big-daddy" of the two, the B&W Zeppelin.  These two are both iPod docking stations that are easy to use and have great sound quality. He'll love the fact that they have digital signal processing, digital amplifiers, as well as s-video & composite outputs. But in addition to that, they just make his music sound amazing. 

Don't take our word for it: Wired Magazine's Geek Dad Section says: "B&W Zeppelin: Still Soaring Above The Crowd After Three Years"

Dad Deserves Quiet Time.

Noise canceling headphones might just be the gift every dad has been wanting. Sennheiser's PXC310 noise canceling, collapsible headphones might just improve Dad's mood when the dog's barking, the baby's crying, and the kids are squealing with delight.  We won't tell if you use them every once in a while too!

 

Dad Wants To Spend As Much Time Outside As Possible (But he still loves movies...)

There's only one choice for this Dad: Epson MovieMate.  "Epson's MovieMate 60 combines an HD projector, A CD/DVD player, microphone unit, and stereo speakers in one portable unit" (And it comes with parental controls, so the kids can't watch movies you don't want them to see!

For less than $700, you can create your very own drive-in movie theater, have a karaoke night, watch a slideshow of family pictures, and more on a picture that can be 120"!

Want to know more about it?  The Today Show featured it!

Dad Hates Digital Music, But It's Time He Move Into the 21st Century

He needs the Peachtree iDecco. Hands Down. The best thing to do is experience the difference it makes in taking the flat sound of digital music and allowing it to breathe and have depth again.  Certainly, you can read reviews. Or, you can just come in and see how simple it is to make your digital music sing!

Dad Needs To Relax In His Very Own...Motorized Chair.

Sometimes Dad just needs to take a seat.  Oh, and this seat will make him feel like a king!  This chair is available in more than 20 colors of high grade woven fabric, and 25 colors of top grain, aniline leathers. With cupholders for his favorite drink, possible snack table, and cushions that will force his body to relax.  Don't go with the La-Z-boy, go with the VIP line of seating that offers so much more!

Dad Loves The Kids And Wants To Spend Lots of Family Time With Them

Is it time to splurge on Dad & the family at the same time?  Spend quality time with Dad while letting him win Wii Golf, snuggling on the couch as a family watching the latest blockbuster, or cheering on your favorite sports team on a 100" screen.  If this sounds like the perfect gift for Dad, they you'll want to check out the Epson Ensemble HD Theater System.  For $5999, it's an all-inclusive investment in Family Time, and what better time to start that investment than Father's Day?  The teenagers just might stay at home to watch movies with the family every once in a while too, but we won't make any promises on that!

We could offer so many other great ideas, such as:

• the portable, wireless, outdoor speaker Dad can take with him anywhere (tailgating included!). Oh, and it links right up with his iPod!
• the outdoor tv for the Dad who loves watching baseball and early season football, but also wants to be outside with the kids!

You want more? Give us a call. Stop by.  We want Dad to be thrilled!

B&W Loudspeakers Enters the Social Music Scene with the Society of Sound

B&W’s new Society of Sound Music Club is a welcome response to the overly stylized and overly commercial air play of mainstream recording today. The Music Club is a chance to rediscover what made people  fall in love with music to begin with: original artists, immaculate recordings and moving songwriting. Hallelujah.

The Music Club is a partnership between B&W and Peter Gabriel’s state-of-the-art Real World recording studios. The goal of the project is to produce and record specially commissioned albums from exceptional artists all over the world – many well known and many as yet undiscovered.

You can become a member of the Music Club, which grants you access to monthly downloads. Each recording is presented as an Apple Lossless file, which is a larger format than typical MP3 files. Apple Lossless files are identical to the original recording created in studio so you hear the recording in super high fidelity.