Product: Able Planet Sound Clarity NC510B
Price: $124.95 (Amazon)
Rating: Recommend*

Active noise-canceling headphones have been around for ages, but models truly effective in counteracting ambient sounds can still easily set you back beyond $300. Can a pair of headphones priced at half the price of premium models compete on the grounds of audio performance and noise-canceling technology, or is this a case of "you get what you pay for"?

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Spring means mid-season TV premieres, and at my house we're all giddy with anticipation for new seasons of Doctor Who, Game of Thrones and Mad Men . The only problem? Avoiding spoilers whilst doing some casual internet browsing feels a little like navigating an entertainment mine field.

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YouTube playback can be painfully unbearable to watch over at our apartment, with an annoying propensity for playback of almost any 720-1080p video to stutter and even stop completely mid-video. Little did I know the problem wasn't a slow internet connection or even YouTube servers, but possible behind-the-scene shenanigans from our service provider throttling connections to cached servers...

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If there's anything we believe here at Apartment Therapy is using what you've already got, whether it be an old chair makeover or leftovers cooked up to perfection. So goes the same for old tech...in this case old audio speakers you might have laying around the garage, attic, or basement waiting to be brought back to service...and with wireless connectivity! More

For the full home theater experience nothing beats the immersive experience of a massive projection screen setup. But projection screens come with their own issues, most notably setup costs and space/placement requirements. With flat screen TVs continually being offered at larger sizes at lower prices each year, I can't help but wonder if the days of projection screens as the high-end standard of home theaters is numbered.

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Spring has officially begun and if you're not yet seeing green in your part of the world, then who's to stop you from jumpstarting the season with some green accessories for the home office. Bring on the green brigade!

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THX tune-up
• Free for limited time
• THX 

 Most people purchase a new HDTV, surround sound system, or projection system, set it up, but never go beyond the default settings. It's like buying a suit off the rack: sure, it may fit, but it could be MUCH better with a little tailoring specific to your fit. That's the gist of video and audio calibration, nip and tuck changes to the settings for optimal playback tailored to your room and equipment. And for a short time one of the biggest brands in theater technology (I bet you're imagining this sound now) is offering an app to walk you through the process using your iOS device and its built-in camera for the oh-so-nice price of "free". Watch the video below and improve your home system over this weekend!

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Product: Denon Cocoon
Price: $599.00
Rating: Weak Recommend*

With speaker docks becoming the boombox of today, it's no surprise that Denon has finally come to the table with its own offering. Features for ease of use are always important, but a full listen often reveals the true tonal balance capabilities of any speaker system. Here we'll dive in and evaluate the true sonic signature of this new Sound Dock from Denon.

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Despite the fact I've donated and sold almost every CD I own, I've yet to let go of one of my favorite designs: the Muji Wall Mounted CD Player (I have the original, shown above, without the FM feature added later). The "pull the cord to turn on/off" feature, alongside the minimalist design from Naoto Fukasawa/IDEO look as fresh as the first day it was prototyped back in 1999. But times and technologies have changed, and so must this design...

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