Isometric resistance training (IRT) is readily available and can be a very useful, inexpensive measure for high blood pressure patients.
A new study examines the specific training method used to treat high blood pressure, isometric resistance training (IRT). So let's start with what is IRT? It's a kind of weight training.
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Isometric resistance training (IRT) is readily available and can be a very useful, inexpensive measure for high blood pressure patients.
A new study examines the specific training method used to treat high blood pressure, isometric resistance training (IRT). So let's start with what is IRT? It's a kind of weight training.
Continue reading
"The LG SP9YA soundbar transforms any room into an immersive, Dolby Atmos-powered home theater."
Great and immersive Dolby Atmos
Easy adjustment
Chromecast and AirPlay 2
Level and EQ controls
Hi-Res audio capabilities
Hard-wired power cord
Cannot access network music libraries
Only one HDMI input
LG has a good track record of making feature-packed sound bars that also produce stunning, room-filling sound. Its $ 1,000 SP9YA is the company's latest effort in the field and continues the 9-series legacy of putting a ton of audio features (like Dolby Atmos and DTS: X) into just one soundbar and wireless subwoofer. For people who want big, cinematic sound and a simple setup, it's an attractive option.
Want to know what LG has changed with the new SP9YA and how it fares? We have all the details here.
The SP9YA takes over the baton of the SN9YG from 2020. Although the two products are almost identical, LG has made two small but important changes:
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Inside the huge shipping box – which uses completely recyclable materials inside and out – you'll find the soundbar, a wireless subwoofer with power cord, two mounting brackets and screws, a wall mount template, a remote control with AA batteries, an optical cable, and some very basic quick start paper materials .
Why LG included an optical cable but not an HDMI cable remains a mystery, but you need one to get the best possible sound from your TV.
Like its predecessors, the SP9YA is a large, 48-inch wide soundbar that looks great in front of a 50-inch or larger TV, but could easily outshine a smaller screen. Its relatively small stature (only 2.24 inches tall) makes it unlikely to obscure the bottom of a large or small TV.
LG kept the look of the brushed aluminum finish on both the soundbar and subwoofer, a smart choice as it minimizes the appearance of a fairly large set of speakers. The only thing that breaks the otherwise seamless design is the circular upward-facing driver grille. I prefer Dolby Atmos soundbars that hide these height drivers, like the Sonos Arc and Vizio Elevate, but that's really a matter of personal preference.
A number of touch controls for volume, power, source selection, play / pause, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi are conveniently located at the top of the bar, but are barely noticeable. In fact, the SP9YA disappears almost entirely in a darkened room with the exception of the front-facing LED display, which is hidden behind the metal grille (which dims but never completely turns off).
The wireless subwoofer uses a front firing design which in my opinion often outperforms down firing units of the same performance.
My only concern is the soundbar's hard-wired power cord – it could make some installations really difficult, especially if you have to run the cord through cabinet openings that are too small to accommodate the size of the wall plug. While LG TVs have detachable power cords, if you remove a faceplate first, I don't see any way to do that with the SP9YA.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
There are only four connections on the back of the SP9YA: a 4K / Dolby Vision-capable HDMI input, an HDMI ARC / eARC output, an optical input and a USB connection for memory-based music playback. I'd prefer to see more HDMI inputs at this price, and I'm surprised there isn't an analog input or ethernet jack, but these aren't deal-breakers.
Basic setup of the SP9YA is a breeze. Grab the remote control and you can enjoy the TV sound.
The good news is that unlike some soundbars that treat the HDMI and Optical inputs as a single input (meaning you can use one or the other, but not both), the SP9YA considers these ports to be discrete inputs . You can connect a streaming media player, cable box, or Blu-ray player to the HDMI input port while using the optical port for an audio source such as a CD player or Sonos device. Each can be selected as their own source, so you have a pretty good range of connected devices.
Basic setup of the SP9YA is a breeze. Simply connect the soundbar to your TV with HDMI or optical cables, connect the wireless subwoofer to the wall, do the same to the soundbar and turn it on. The soundbar and subwoofer automatically establish a wireless connection, which is confirmed by a solid green light on the back of the subwoofer. Grab the remote control and you can enjoy the TV sound.
However, much deeper options are available with the remote control and the free LG Sound Bar app.
The first thing to consider is using the AI. Room calibration function. The bar emits a series of test tones in a matter of seconds, and the two built-in microphones determine how the acoustics of your room affect performance. Conveniently, you can hear pre- and post-noises with the app so that you can decide which is better. I didn't notice much of a difference, but that could simply be a function of the particular space I was using.
You can switch the soundbar to Bluetooth mode at any time and pair it with a phone, tablet or other Bluetooth device. However, if you want a variety of better audio options and deeper settings, it's worth connecting the SP9YA to your Wi-Fi network.
Once you've done that, you can add the soundbar to Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit, use Spotify Connect, and then stream audio to the system via Chromecast or AirPlay 2. I'll discuss why this is a must-do in a moment.
Given that the SP9YA has Chromecast and Google Assistant compatibility, it's great that LG doesn't force you to complete the WiFi setup through the Google Home app – something we do a lot on Chromecast devices like the Bang & Olufsen Beosound see stage. You can always add the SP9YA to the Google Home app if you want, but it's up to you.
Apple's AirPlay 2 is also available as soon as you connect to WiFi – no additional configuration required.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
The included remote control for the SP9YA is well designed from an ergonomic point of view – it fits the hand comfortably and is easy to use – but it has no backlighting, which makes working in a dark room a little more difficult.
When connected to your TV via HDMI ARC / eARC, most TV remotes should be able to control the volume and mute of the soundbar. I've also found that streaming media devices plugged into the soundbar's HDMI input can control these features as well (I've tried it with an Apple TV 4K and an Nvidia Shield TV). Typically televisions connected by the optical cable will not be able to control the volume of the soundbar unless you have an LG TV. In this case, enabling your TV's Sound Sync option should give you this option.
You can also use the remote control for more advanced functions: a four-way directional pad allows you to navigate deeper settings such as speaker levels. But the LG Sound Bar app is so good that I highly recommend using it instead of the remote control for these advanced settings. You can view all available channels (subwoofer, center, side, overhead, etc.) along with the sliders for each.
The SP9YA is an incredibly powerful system for movies and music.
The only area that lacks ease of use is in music playback. As a wifi connected speaker, there should be a way to access your personal media stored on a computer or hard drive connected to your network, but the Sound Bar app lacks that option and there is no way to do this with the remote control either.
If you want to play music from a USB storage device at the same time, you have to use the remote control to navigate through the content – the app cannot see or control this music.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
The SP9YA is an incredibly powerful system for movies and music. When I'm not checking sound bars, my normal system is a Pioneer Dolby Atmos receiver connected to a 5.1.2 set of discrete speakers, including ceiling-mounted speakers just above the listening area. The SP9YA is the first soundbar I've tested that comes close to this setup in terms of immersion.
No, it is not a direct replacement, but a very attractive alternative given its price and simplicity.
Dolby Atmos is the star of this show. I think the soundbar handles all audio formats just fine, but whoever buys the SP9YA owes it to themselves to look for movies on Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video, or other sources that have an Atmos soundtrack.
Whether it's fast-paced car scenes in Mad Max: Fury Road, Ford versus Ferrari, or John Wick: Chapter 2, or the superhero action in a Marvel movie, the SP9YA has the sheer power it takes to recreate the tension in the theater during its Height and side channel drivers deliver convincing 3D effects. The wireless sub does an excellent job of delivering deep bass that you can feel in your chest, but it's also a subtle feat that never drowns out the rest of the soundtrack.
If you live in a condo or share a wall with your neighbors, you might as well invite them to watch with you, as they will hear and feel these explosions too.
If you'd like, you can add LG's optional SPK8-S wireless surround speakers for $ 180 for a 7.1.2 experience. They add to the sense of depth, but they don't add anything to the Dolby Atmos height channels.
Pro tip: Use the soundbar app to level up the overhead channels. This is the key to hearing the sounds that make Atmos, well, Atmos-y.
When playing Atmos content, the optional sound effect settings (eight of which are available) are inactive. However, when playing non-Atmos audio, settings like music, movies, or games can have a huge impact on the sound you get. Rather than relying on LG's labels and assuming that Cinema is best for movies, I suggest that you try them all out. LG's AI Sound Pro setting is supposed to automatically detect what type of audio you're listening to and choose the best setting accordingly, but I didn't always find it to my liking.
For example, when streaming music, the game mode turned out to be a better choice than the actual music setting. Likewise, the Bass Blast mode – which is meant to boost low frequencies – seemed to be doing just the opposite.
Aside from the quirk of the label, I had no problem with the SP9YA producing satisfactory audio from TV shows, movies, and music. If you've been thinking of a soundbar to improve the clarity of dialogue, the SP9YA is a solid choice. I found speech very intelligible even with the default settings, and was able to make it clearer with both the Clear Voice mode and by boosting the center channel output.
For music, I can't recommend using Wi-Fi strongly enough. Bluetooth comes in handy when you have guests and want them to quickly play something from their phones, but for pure audio quality, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are orders of magnitude better than Bluetooth.
LG's SP9YA delivers amazing immersive sound from a single soundbar and subwoofer, making it one of the easiest ways to enjoy Dolby Atmos movies and music at home.
Finding a direct alternative to the LG SP9YA is difficult. Not many sound bars offer a full 5.1.2 channel configuration from a single speaker plus subwoofer.
The $ 799 Sonos Arc is great for Dolby Atmos and overall a more versatile choice as it can be used as an Alexa or Google Assistant smart speaker and has the best streaming and multiroom capabilities in the industry. But you can only use it with a Sonos Sub – a very expensive wireless speaker for $ 699. That combination is well above the $ 1,000 price of the SP9YA. The Arc also lacks an HDMI input, making it less convenient for those with a lot of HDMI source devices.
The $ 1,000 Vizio Elevate is probably the best comparison. It has excellent Dolby Atmos and DTS: X sound and one of the best soundbar remotes, but you have to deal with the extra surround speakers that are firmly attached to the wireless subwoofer. It's also a better choice for movies than music – there's no support for Hi-Res lossless audio or Apple AirPlay 2.
We haven't reviewed Samsung's new $ 1,300 in 2021 HW-Q900A 7.1.2 Soundbar yet, but given its specs and our reviews of previous Samsung soundbars, it could be the SP9YA's toughest competitor.
Audio devices such as sound bars tend to last for many years. They are not moved much after installation, and heat build-up (the cause of many electronic failures) is rarely a problem. It is only unknown how long LG will keep the SP9YA up to date with new software. It should still work fine without updates to TV audio, but some features, like AirPlay streaming, could lose support in the long run. LG backs the SP9YA with a standard one-year warranty.
Yes. If you're ready to dive into immersive Dolby Atmos audio and have access to streaming movies or music using this 3D format, this is the LG SP9YA is a fantastic choice.
Editor's recommendations
Hemp headphones from Grado Labs
"It's hard to imagine that headphones look better or sound better."
Amazingly detailed sound
Precise and clear compensation
Nice wood design
Comfortable for long listening sessions
Strong quality control
Some rough surfaces
Open design limits usability
Restrained bass reproduction
Grado Labs made headlines with its affordable hemp headphones for $ 420. When John Grado explained to me why hemp is an excellent material for making headphones, I was curious to hear the results for myself.
Now that I have done it, I am beginning to understand the complex tone of coziness and seriousness that I heard from Grado during this interview. Hemp may seem like a gimmick, but the performance of these cans is no joke.
There is not much to consider with the functions of the Grado Hemp headphones. They are refreshingly simple. Plug them in and they work. The hemp headphones come in a discreet white box with a letter from the Grado family.
These open-ended wired monitors consist of only two parts – the headphones themselves and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter, which I immediately detached from the end of the cable and placed in a drawer because I didn't have any Playing the electric guitar or not recording in the studio.
After using over-ears with a single cable that ran from one side for years, it initially felt strange to put on the hemp headphones. They throw you back to a time when cables were king and every headset needed them.
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
Speaking of cables, the cables are particularly thick with the hemp headphones. Compared to my Sony MDR-7506 studio monitors, they are about twice the size and not wrapped. If I don't wind the cable, I won't get it nearly as much as my MDRs, but the cable is incredibly long.
I understand why Grado contains so much wire, but there is a lot of cable to find a place and it usually ends up in my lap. Plus, the added cable has a certain weight, and although it's not that much of a nuisance, I've definitely noticed it compared to other wired headphones.
The ear cups are simple. Nowadays, you generally see some kind of leather or leather-like material wrapped around memory foam, but Grado chooses a material that they have chosen specifically because it works with the drivers to produce sound. In this case it is a simple, classic foam. It feels a little rough, but the headphones breathe well and are good for long listening sessions, provided you don't move them a lot.
I do not recommend exchanging them, although you can. I switched it to the "more typical" leather foam as a test, and the audio quality dropped dramatically. Grado knows what it does when it selects materials.
The outstanding feature of the hemp headphones is of course the hemp. Because of the way they had to mix it to make the material work like normal wood, the grain of each headset appears unique. The two-tone circular wooden swirls are beautiful from afar and up close. The ear cups attract your eyes and keep them there.
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
This is good because other parts of the headset are not quite as sophisticated. The joints that connect the hemp and maple earphones to the headband are made of plastic and are not completely smooth. If you've ever designed a model that requires you to pull the parts out of a plastic sheet, you know what I mean when I say that there are edges and slight bumps that you can feel when you run your finger over them .
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
In addition, the mesh that separates the driver from your ear is somewhat frayed and imperfect.
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
In short, it looks like this headset was assembled by hand. What it was. I can't blame them too much for that, but since the hemp headphones cost $ 420, I should mention that most of that cost doesn't apply to some of the non-audio parts.
That doesn't mean they're overpriced. No, they are worth every penny.
I've always been a headphone junkie, so I have a lot of experience of how music sounds from a variety of sources. Despite this experience, I wasn't prepared for what the hemp headphones sounded like.
I sat motionless for about 15 minutes when I let Tidal play a series of songs based on an artist I like (The Decemberists, for those who are wondering). While it was run by artists I didn't know and tracks I had never heard, it didn't matter. I feel with these Grado headphones.
I heard the nuances of the vocals, the melody, every single instrument and the nice mix of everyone who came together. The reproduction is both different and mixed. It's a beautiful audio paradox that I'm still trying to turn my head around.
But I can hear everything and it almost brought me to tears. I heard not only with my ears, but also with my heart.
I feel with these Grado headphones.
With the Grado I have the feeling that at a concert I pressed my ear to each Soundstage speaker at the same time, but without being limited to my unique physical existence (and blowing out my hearing). I played drums in a band and this music makes me feel like I'm back on the top of the stage.
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends
Speaking of volume, these can be loud. Given the fact that the hemp headphones really produce excellent audio, it can be tempting to really increase this volume, which seems to improve in quality when I press it up. Keep in mind that if you press it too loudly for too long, you can really damage your hearing.
I think the best way to describe how the sound sounds is in one word: balance. I claim that music in highs, mids or lows shouldn't be too strong. Sure, booming bass may sound good, but too much bass overwhelms other frequencies and hides too much of the nuance of the music. These hemp headphones are like studio monitors on steroids because they are superbly balanced, offer neutral reproduction and at the same time offer a really outstanding clarity. My Sony MDR-7506 monitors are also balanced, but don't offer the level of detail that the hemp headphones offer.
If you turn my arm, I admit that the Grado's bass isn't quite as strong as I would like it to be, but it could also be because most people are used to overblowing the bass. To be completely honest, I prefer the detail and precision that can be found here.
I think the best way to describe how the sound sounds is in one word: balance.
The hemp headphones have an open style that is praised for their sound quality but not for their sound isolation. To enjoy them to the fullest, you need a quiet room in which you can be alone with your music. Open backs also tend to let out as much sound as they let in. Therefore, they are not suitable for an office environment (not that this will be a big problem in 2020).
The swirling hemp looks beautiful and its implementation in headphones from Grado sounds so good here that it makes your heart beat faster. This is a masterful combination of visual and auditory beauty. The details of the build are not perfect, but it doesn't matter. You will find it hard to find this type of music experience anywhere else, and almost certainly not at a lower price.
"Better" is subjective here, but there are alternatives. The V-Moda M200 Studio reference monitors are a little cheaper and offer a similar EQ experience, but they don't offer the same expansive sound that we praise Grado for. For much less, the Sony MDR-7506 studio monitors offer the same neutral sound, albeit an overall flatter audio expression in comparison. They honestly don't consider a candle to be audio for hemp headphones, but they are the industry standard, so this has some weight.
Grado offers a one-year warranty on the hemp headphones, which is pretty standard. Open-back headphones are inherently more fragile than their closed-back brothers. Therefore, treat them with caution. If you do this, they should take a long time.
Yes. The Grado hemp headphones are absolutely worth the price just for their sound reproduction, and you get the added benefit of a unique hemp wood pattern.
Editor's recommendations
