Coaxially Cool

The most common type of speaker design has a tweeter towards the top of the speaker and a woofer below it. Some speakers mix it up with a woofer above too, or maybe a mid-range in there somewhere.

The XQ40 from KEF, like most of their speakers, does something a little different. The tweeter is inside the woofer.

The only interesting drum solo. Ever.

"What did the drummer get on his IQ test? Drool."

Drum solos may be the part of the concert where everyone but other drummers gets up to get another beer, but this one is from one of the greats, and it's easy to see why.

Something Old, Something New, Something Red, Green and Blue

I have this déjà-vu feeling that I've reviewed this projector before. And in some ways, I have. Much of this projector is very similar to the VW70 I reviewed last year, which itself was similar to the VW60 and the 50 and so on.

Each generation, though, has had notable and noticeable improvements, each a step up from its predecessor. The new VW85 brings us a big jump not just in contrast ratio or brightness, but in resolution.

Hands

So I'm starting a new feature here on the website. YouTube is great for a lot of things, but I think one of its greatest uses is as a repository of amazing performances by the world's greatest musicians.

Now I'm not talking about ripping a concert DVD, but of meaningful, remarkable performances that are likely not found anywhere else. First up, the Rach 3 by Martha Argerich.

Sync Sounds

I don't drive big cars. Hate them. In my book, if a car's going to weigh 4,300 pounds it better have a second car sitting on top of it.

And despite all that, I was sad to see the MKS go. It's a fantastic ride, mostly due to the THX sound system and, gasp, Microsoft's Sync.

Clearly Different

If that pun made you roll your eyes, they only get worse from here.

There are cool speaker designs, and then there are cool speaker designs. Most of the designs we audiophiles drool over include words like "ribbon," "ultra-tweeter" or maybe "plasmawoofer." Drivers and crossovers with specs to make a techy salivate wrapped in a swoopy MDF and veneered cabinet.

Or maybe not so swoopy.

Serving Up Higher-Fi

The vast majority of the 4HD is the same as the 4 we reviewed last month.

But that's not to say all. The 4HD lives up to its moniker by offering storage and playback of high-resolution audio files, up to 24-bit/192Khz on its 2 terabyte hard drive. More bits are always good. As are a few cool new features.

M-O-O-N that spells USB
Building on their experience with such products as the award winning i3.3, Simaudio is now offering the 300D USB DAC.

Digital in, sweet sound out.

Details after the jump.