News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
NAD Previews New Classic Series Integrated Amp/DAC | Sound & Vision
NAD Electronics has announced a new Classic Series integrated amplifier/DAC that boasts a modular design and evokes the brand’s origins as a maker of fine value-oriented audio gear. The C 379 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier, slated to sell for $1,099 when it becomes available at the end of June, mates a Class D stereo amp and a preamp/32-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in the second generation version of NAD’s modular chassis.
Dolby Atmos Coming to Apple Music App on LG TVs | Sound & Vision
LG today announced a software update that brings native support for Dolby Atmos music to the Apple Music app on its TVs. Hailed as a first for a TV maker, the free update will enable owners of many LG TV models to enjoy music encoded in Dolby Atmos surround sound.
JVC Doubles Down on High-End Projection with Higher Contrast 4K/8K Laser Projectors | Sound & Vision
At a time when TV screens are getting bigger by the day and fast approaching projection screen sizes, JVC remains undeterred and continues to push high-end projection TV with a focus on improved dynamic range and contrast. The company today announced two D-ILA laser projectors designed to input and display images at 8K60p and 4K120p resolutions.
Germany’s ELAC Previews Mix-and-Match Home Theater Speaker Series | Sound & Vision
ELAC, the German maker of high-quality speakers, has announced a new series of mix-and-match home theater speakers that is the culmination of almost 100 years of experience in acoustic design and engineering. Slated to ship in early May, the Vela series includes three floor-standing speakers, two bookshelf models, and a center-channel speaker at prices ranging from $4,300/pair for the flagship tower model (in walnut) to $2,300 for the center speaker.
Remaster Class – Neil Young: Harvest | Sound & Vision
24, and There’s So Much More When I spoke with Neil Young back in April 2014 about his ongoing search for how to share his music in the best resolution possible (Pono, we hardly knew ye), he was laser-focused on what he wanted his audience to experience. “Back when I started recording, we did everything we could so that our listeners could hear the music,” he told me.
MartinLogan, Ascend AV Immerse Listeners at AXPONA | Sound & Vision
The Audio Expo North America showcases the biggest and best that the audio world has to offer, with products coming from all over the world to display. The 2024 show had a record turnout, notably a doubling of Gen Z/age 15-26 participants, an encouraging trend for our hobby.
Brothers in Atmos: Guy Fletcher on Mixing Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits in Atmos | Sound & Vision
One Deep Player: Above, Guy Fletcher is surrounded by an army of keyboards ahead of a recording session for Mark Knopfler’s latest solo album, One Deep River, in British Grove Studios. In-studio self-portrait courtesy Guy Fletcher. If anybody has Mark Knopfler’s ear, it’s Guy Fletcher.
S&V Gift Guide: The Sequel | Sound & Vision
When you have a hit, don't quit! Inspired in some measure by Dune: Part Two's recent smash success on the big screen, we thought, why not revisit our curated sampler of new and exciting gifts you can treat yourself or someone else to? After all, Mother’s and Father’s Days are right around the corner, and then there are all those birthdays and anniversaries that fall throughout the year.
Hisense Announces New Ultra-Short-Throw “Laser TV” Projector | Sound & Vision
Hisense, the Chinese multinational appliance and electronics maker that was virtually unknown on these shores a decade ago, continues to expand its TV and projection lineups, most recently with a new 100-inch 4K LED-backlit LCD TV and now with word that it plans to add a new model to its line of ultra-short-throw (UST) “laser TV” projectors. A follow-up to the Top Pick-rated
Mastering the Maze of Streaming: A Guide to the Marathon TV App | Sound & Vision
In the labyrinthine world of streaming, where TV shows sprawl across many apps, it can be daunting to keep track of what you are watching and want to watch next. The Marathon TV social app replaces posting on Facebook for recommendations or scrolling through Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB ratings. Part tracking app and part social, Marathon TV is similar to Spotify's early days.
It's Hi-Fi Show Time Again! | Sound & Vision
I've blogged on audio (and video) shows before but there's always something more that needs to be said on the subject, even though it's unavoidable that I'll repeat a few things here that you'll also find in those earlier posts. Every year new hi-fi shows seem to pop up, though some will inevitably fade while others come along to fill the gaps.
Sonos Aims to Enhance Streaming Experience with Most Extensive App Redesign Ever | Sound & Vision
Sonos today announced its “most extensive app redesign ever” in an effort to help music lovers overcome the frustrations and challenges of today’s fragmented streaming landscape. The revamped app, slated to go live May 7 through a software update, aims to make it easy for owners of Sonos S2 products to organize favorite playlists, stations, and albums from over 100 streaming services on a new, customizable home screen that also provides quick, one-swipe access to system controls.
Up Close & Personal with SVS's Ultra Evolution Series | Sound & Vision
SVS recently introduced a new line of speakers that has the AV world buzzing, the Ultra Evolution series. The company showcased a 5.2.2 immersion setup and a 2.0 system in two separate rooms at AXPONA 2024 to demonstrate its latest innovations. For example, on all the new models, a diamond/carbon layer is deposited onto the aluminum dome tweeter, with a lattice diffuser added for improved high-frequency dispersion.
iFi Supports Hi-Rez Streaming with New Portable DAC | Sound & Vision
iFi Audio, the UK-based maker of digital-to-analog converters and DAC/amplifiers for use at home and on the go, has introduced a portable DAC for audiophiles and casual listeners who want to squeeze every last drop of resolution out of the music they stream, whether they’re listening over headphones or speakers. The new Zen DAC 3 ($229) features a built-in 390 milliwatt headphone amplifier and supports PCM resolutions up to 32 bits/768kHz and DSD up to DSD512 as well providing DXD support and full MQA decoding — all from a stylish desktop component 6.2 inches wide, 4.6 inches deep
Best Gear of Early 2024 | Sound & Vision
Along with warmer spring weather that couldn’t come soon enough for those of us who live in the Northeast, the early months of 2024 brought a treasure trove of new gear with a decided audio slant — all bona fide Sound & Vision Top Picks ranging in price from $200 to $7,200.
Sony Rolls Out 2024 BRAVIA TV/Home Theater Lineup | Sound & Vision
Sony used a recent elaborate media event at its Sony Pictures Culver City, CA studio to introduce the next phase in its expanded BRAVIA consumer home theater product portfolio. Holding fast to the company's "lens-to-living room" mantra, the new BRAVIA 9 TV flagship will produce some of the company's brightest images for the home, in an effort to approach the look of the company’s professional grading monitor, introduced last year with a whopping 4,000 nits of peak luminance. The 2024 BRAVIA lineup will consist of four new 4K TV series featuring two full-array mini-LED LCD series, a
What’s the Best Way to Improve Bass in a Multiroom Audio System? | Sound & Vision
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com Q I have an existing housewide audio system with a receiver connected to a speaker selector and speakers and volume controls in four rooms. The bass isn’t very good, and I’d like to improve it. How can I add a subwoofer to my housewide audio system? — Don Hamilton A On the surface, this seems like it would be a simple answer: “Just plug a subwoofer into your receiver and set the volume!
Samsung Adds Second, More Affordable 98” 4K TV to 2024 Lineup | Sound & Vision
Samsung today added a second 98-inch 4K TV to its 2024 lineup but this one costs $11,000 less than the 98-inch QN90D Neo QLED set announced earlier this year. Priced at $4,000, the new DU9000 is now the top model in Samsung’s entry-level Crystal series of LED-backlit LCD 4K TVs, which also includes eight models ranging from a 43-inch set that sells for $330 to an 85-inch model priced at $1,200.
Dracula: I Never Read.... Books | Sound & Vision
Hello S&V readers. This is Bram Stoker speaking to you. I passed away in 1912 so if you do the math, I am communicating from beyond the grave. But that's not important right now. What is important is that the classic movie Dracula is complete B.S. Let me explain. I have a real appreciation for well-written prose so I don't read anything that Mr. Pohlmann writes.
Cambridge Audio Previews Upgraded CXA81 Mk II Integrated Amp | Sound & Vision
U.K.-based Cambridge Audio today kicked off the 2024 edition of the Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) with word that an updated version of its popular CXA81 integrated amplifier is on the way. Slated to ship in May, the new CXA81 Mk II is the top model in the company’s midline CX Series and will feature a new reference-level digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and improved amplifier circuitry along with a new price: $1,199, which is $200 more than its predecessor.
Roku Explores an Insidious Way to Serve up Commercials Via Idle HDMI Inputs | Sound & Vision
Ads, ads, everywhere. Seems to be a trend that begs the question: Is ad-free viewing going the way of cable TV? Are we heading back to the days when ads were accepted (and unavoidable until TiVo came along with its ad-skipping DVR and streaming liberated us from those invasive commercial breaks). The rapid growth of free-ad-supported TV (FAST) seems to suggest so. And now comes word that Roku is exploring a novel (sinister?) way to serve up advertising on your idle HDMI inputs. You can’t make this stuff up.
A Few of My Favorite Female Singers | Sound & Vision
While movies and other categories of (primarily) non-musical programming dominate what we hear and see in our home theaters, it's a good bet that if you've been into this hobby for more than a few years it all began with music. And even now music is often in heavy rotation on our systems. But as I've noted before, there's more to music than simply listening to it with no images involved apart from those in our head. But music is often sung by one or more singers who might also have written it, though not always.
Roku Unveils New Pro Series TVs & Announces Updates | Sound & Vision
It must be springtime as Roku today introduced its 2024 Pro Series of mini-LED 4K TVs and announced new features for its forthcoming OS 13 update. The new TVs are offered in 55- ($900), 65- ($1,200), and 75-inch ($1,700) screen sizes and feature Roku Smart Picture Max processing, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically select the optimal picture mode based on what you’re watching and adjust color, contrast, and sharpness scene-by-scene in real-time.
Klipsch Ships Onkyo-Powered Flexus Soundbar System | Sound & Vision
Klipsch today announced that it is now shipping the soundbar-based Flexus Sound System previewed at CES 2024. The mix-and-match series marks a new collaboration with Japanese electronics powerhouse Onkyo, which is contributing system amplification and expertise gleaned from decades of making some of the world’s most popular AV receivers.
Welcome to the Wonderful World of AI | Sound & Vision
I have great news for you! All that gear in your home theater will soon be junk. Or, more specifically, obsolete junk. You see, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will soon revolutionize everything, including audio/video. Instead of wasting precious time twiddling knobs, you will simply have a pleasant conversation with an AI that, I am told, is far more intelligent than any of us. AI: Good Evening, Mr. Pohlmann. How may I help you?
New Open-Ear Earphones Sit On (Not In) Your Ears | Sound & Vision
Baseus, a Chinese accessory maker that also sells inexpensive wireless earbuds, is the latest company to offer open-ear earphones that don’t fully block your ear canals like conventional earbuds. Instead of being secured by silicone or foam tips you push into your ears, the new Eli Sport 1 earphones and are held in place by bendable, silicone-wrapped hooks that fit around your ears, allowing you to listen music without being completely shut out from the world around you.
Visions of the Future | Sound & Vision
When Apple first announced the Vision Pro mixed reality headset, it set off a chain reaction of responses and predictions. There are those who’ve been waiting for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology to mature, to manifest as a genuine leap forward, as the iPhone did upon its release — back when physical keyboard lovers scoffed at the notion of an all-screen phone. There are, of course, many applications for Apple’s new toy.
Kaleidescape Unveils 96-Terabyte Movie Server — its Biggest Ever | Sound & Vision
Kaleidescape, the Silicon Valley firm that pioneered the home movie server more than two decades ago, today introduced a server that packs a mind-boggling 96 terabytes (TB) of storage space — enough to house around 1,600 high-bitrate 4K movies. The new Terra Prime 96 TB is Kaleidescape’s highest capacity server to date and features a new board design said to enhance overall system performance while delivering faster movie downloads.
BREAKING NEWS: Government Ban On Turntables! | Sound & Vision
When I saw the press release, I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought it was some kind of joke or, as they say — misinformation. But I checked and double-checked and even placed a call to a high-ranking official in Washington. They confirmed that it is true. Starting in 2025, sales of turntables will be banned in the United States. Honestly, I am in shock. I am sitting here at my typewriter, fingers poised, ready to write, but I really don't know what to say. After 150 years of faithful sound reproduction, the needle is about to leave the groove. I am in shock.