CATEGORIES

Quantum Leap

HISENSE 65H8G QUANTUM LCD ULTRA HDTV

The A/V Strato-Sphere

KALEIDESCAPE STRATO S MOVIE PLAYER

OLED Remastered

The XBR-65A8H rests on legs positioned 40 inches apart for a tabletop setup, allowing it to sit securely on any solid piece of furniture you might reasonably choose for a 65-inch diagonal (57-inch wide) television.

Instant Theater

VAVA VA-LT002 4K LASER DLP PROJECTOR

PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR

2020-2021 HOME THEATER VIDEO+AUDIO

A Smarter Soundbar

Today, some 15 years after its founding by tech entrepreneur/billionaire Bob Madonna, Savant continues to expand its Mac-based smart home solution, and with some recent acquisitions, to broaden its market reach.

Affordable Nirvana

For a single person who just wants to head out and have fun, then maybe.

Klipsch The Fives Powered Speaker System

I’m all about simplicity so I welcomed The Fives with open arms.

VICTORIAN MEETS MODERN TECH

A Toronto manor gets outfitted with state-of-the-art automation, multiroom A/V, and a high-end home cinema

LG SN8YG 3.1.2 Atmos Soundbar

Atmos Made Easy

What's Local Dimming?

Q/A Wide angle

FACE-OFF: NOISE-CANCELING TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

Nine wire-free options to self-isolate (from noise) on the go

Home Theater Hero

EPSON’S Home Cinema LCD projector lineup ranges from basic, inexpensive beamers designed for portable use to high-end models meant for serious home theater installations. Of these, we typically devote space to the company’s premium UB (Ultra Black) offerings such as the 5050UB 4K PRO-UHD (reviewed in the August/September issue and also on sound and vision. com), along with mid-range models like the 3800 under evaluation here.

Voice Control: The Good and the Bad

If George Orwell had lived to see millions of people voluntarily shelling out money to have listening devices installed inside of their homes, he’d likely shout, “I KNEW IT!” With untold R&D dollars having been poured into the development of voice assistants by Amazon, Google, and Apple, one of the most exciting developments in the home-control world over the past few years has been the addition of voice commands to systems. And while voice control is fantastic for doing some things, the experience comes up a bit short for others.

Baby Boomer

JL Audio Fathom F11OV2 Powered Subwoofer

A New Classic

ASK A CAR GUY to identify any classic American car from the 1950s or 60s, and most would be able to pin it down to the exact year of production.

The Sound of Silver

IN 2020 many of us will get to witness the summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan—on TV at least.

SUBWOOFER SETUP STEPS

SUBWOOFERS ARE LIKE the magic beans of audio, expanding a playback system’s dynamic range in a way that dramatically enhances the listening experience. There’s an attitude among some audiophiles that subwoofers represent, if not the spawn of the devil (there are numerous or More Subs for such spawns in audio lore), a bad compromise at minimum. But the truth is that adding a modest but well-designed subwoofer to speakers, even compact bookshelf models, can result in better performance than what you’d get from full-range towers that cost considerably more.

Screen Gem

I OFTEN FEEL that the screen is the most overlooked component of a video projection system.

Movin' On Up

WHAT WOULD you pay for a 75-inch Ultra HDTV that’s bright enough to handle virtually all high dynamic range programs without having to perform the tone mapping most 4K/HDR sets require?

Smart Shades, Smart Lights

A dedicated room represents the ultimate space to attain movie watching nirvana. With the ability to minimize visual distractions, maximize acoustics, and optimally position seating and speakers, a dedicated room more easily lends itself to the creation of a no-holds-barred home theater than a space with an open floor plan.

Simply Powerful

Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier

Movies on the Move

THE PORTABLE video projector market is packed with options for anyone seeking a convenient, compact beamer to carry from room to room, indoors to outdoors, or home to vacation home.

Edge of Tomorrow

WHEN TIVO burst on the scene in 1999 it changed the way millions of people watched TV.

Dynamic Tone Mapping Update

JVC DLA-NX9 D-ILA Projector

Tech To Make Guests Feel At Home, Part Two

In my last column, I discussed the generational improvements my custom installation company has witnessed since we started installing whole-house distributed audio systems back in 1995. Of course, almost everything has gotten better—and cheaper—over time, but one thing often overlooked in modern installations is operational simplicity for the guests who visit your home.

A Budget 4K Beamer

BenQ Cineprime HT3550 4K DLP Projector

Vizio 36-inch 2.1-Channel Soundbar System

Vizio’s latest soundbar is a compact system with a wireless subwoofer that sells for $150. If you just spent big bucks on a new TV and realized that its built-in audio is horrific, this 2.1 package will deliver significantly better sound without consuming what remains of your budget.

Triton One.R

from GoldenEar Technology®

The Stereo Advantage

DENON DRA-800H STEREO NETWORK RECEIVER