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Kraftwerk: Autobahn in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Has it really been 50 years since electro-pop pioneers Kraftwerk graced us with the sprawling techno-majesty of their fourth album, Autobahn? Mein Gott. Technically speaking, Autobahn was released in November 1974 by Philips, so we’re entering Year 51 of its mighty wake—but oh, what a long, sweet ride it has been. Kraftwerk’s enduring influence on electronic, pop, and progressive music writ large is practically incalculable.
Coming Soon To A Theater Near You! | Sound & Vision
It happens every year at this time. The internet is flooded with announcements trumpeting the new films expected to launch in late spring or early summer. The timing is vital. If the scheduled release date is earlier, such as from mid-March to early May, it's likely that the market for the movie has been judged dubious at best. The studio involved won't waste time and money trying to squeeze it into the vital and crowded mid-May to late July window. To soften their likely losses it's thrown to the wolves early to get whatever pennies the filmmakers think they can scratch from it.
Finally Here: Samsung’s 2025 Neo QLED TVs and Flagship Soundbar Hit the Market | Sound & Vision
Samsung has revealed pricing and availability details for its 2025 Neo QLED 8K TVs—led by the QN990F and QN900F series—as well as its updated flagship soundbar, the HW-Q990F. Having already announced the new sets’ advanced features and AI integration, Samsung is now sharing when and how much you can expect to pay to bring them home. QN990F: 8K at the Top End
Lassen Tweeter Simplifies 2-Way xMEMS Earbud Designs | Sound & Vision
xMEMS Labs has introduced Lassen, a new silicon MEMS tweeter for 2-way True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds that eliminates the need for a separate piezo amplifier. xMEMS says this design cuts costs and power use. It also gives manufacturers more space to add advanced features. Lassen focuses on 6kHz to 20kHz, targeting clear, detailed highs. Measuring a miniscule 3.2 x 5 x 1.15 mm, Lassen offers up to 115dB SPL from a standard 1Vrms audio output.
Shape Your Own Sound: iFi Introduces the iDSD Valkyrie | Sound & Vision
The iFi iDSD Valkyrie is a portable headphone amplifier and DAC that, according to the manufacturer, goes far beyond typical designs. Its core promise is customization: users can shape their own sound with tools usually found only in mastering studios. A key feature is K2HD Technology, which iFi claims restores music to a state closer to the original master. Alongside it, a DSD Remastering function converts PCM files into DSD512 or DSD1024.
Elevated Listening: Focal’s Bathys MG Bring Studio-Grade Audio Anywhere | Sound & Vision
Focal is expanding its lineup of premium headphones with the Bathys MG, a Bluetooth model that, according to the manufacturer, delivers a new benchmark in wireless sound. The company points to its background in acoustic engineering to explain how these headphones maintain high-fidelity reproduction while incorporating active noise cancelling.
Iconic Speakers Go Active: Meet the New Klipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6 | Sound & Vision
Klipsch has launched the new versions of two iconic speakers: the Klipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6. These models have new engineering and design updates, but they still deliver that classic horn-loaded sound. According to the company, this new generation is highlighted by updated Tractrix midrange horns, larger compression drivers, and a striking new American Auburn finish.
TV on Disc: Spring 2025 | Sound & Vision
Spring has sprung, which means that a new crop of TV series on Blu-ray, 4K, and humble DVD is ready to harvest. Catch a deep whiff of that fresh-cut grass, then head inside to catch up on old favorites and discover shows that might have flown beneath your radar until now. We’ll also be showcasing an assortment of Japanese animation, starting with…
KEF Spring Savings Event: Time to Up Your Sound Game | Sound & Vision
KEF wants to help you jump into Spring by investing in a sound upgrade. Whether you’re a music lover or a home theater enthusiast, this savings event has something for everyone (including a couple of speakers from KEF’s R Series Meta lineup, which haven’t been on sale in a long time!).
Steven Wilson: The Overview in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Whenever I talk with the once and forever Dolby Atmos mixing king Steven Wilson, I always ask him about what he’s going to be doing next, because he’s always working well beyond the born-on-date of whatever his current project is. At that point in our conversation, we’ll default to talking off the record (a.k.a., OTR) about any of the upcoming Atmos mixes he’s done—or will be doing—for a litany of other artists.
Sequelitis: Riddick and The Chronicles of Riddick on 4K | Sound & Vision
Two different home entertainment labels have released impressive 4K editions of the two sequels to Universal’s 2000 sci-fi actioner, Pitch Black. And yes, I know that the headline above lists the movies in reverse release order, but "The Chronicles of Riddick and Riddick" sounded awkward. The Chronicles of Riddick 4K (Arrow)
WiiM’s Vibelink Amp: Uncomplicated Muscle for Your Setup | Sound & Vision
WiiM has introduced its Vibelink Amp, which the company describes as a streamlined, 100Wpc Class-D amplifier for both digital and analog sources. According to WiiM, this new model delivers about 67% more power than the WiiM Amp Pro, placing an emphasis on fuller, more robust sound for a variety of setups. Key to the design, per WiiM, is the inclusion of an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, specified to handle signals up to 24-bit/192kHz.
LG’s 2025 OLED evo Series: Great for Home Theater and Gaming | Sound & Vision
On March 11, LG Electronics USA revealed its 2025 OLED evo TV lineup. The new G5 and C5 series offer exciting choices for home entertainment and gaming. According to LG, the OLED evo G5 is equipped with an Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen2 and a suite of features. These include a claimed 45% increase in brightness over its predecessor, Dolby Vision and Atmos support, and gaming-oriented specifications like 4K at 165Hz VRR, NVIDIA G‑SYNC, and AMD FreeSync Premium. The G5 series comes in sizes from 55 to 97 inches. It starts at $2,499 and includes a five-year panel warranty.
Fluance Adds Two Powered Models to Reference Speaker Line | Sound & Vision
Fluance has introduced two new powered speakers in its Reference Series: the Ri71 bookshelf speakers and Ri91 tower speakers. Both models incorporate Bluetooth connectivity and active amplification. According to Fluance, the Ri71 bookshelf speakers ($399.99) include a 120-watt built-in amplifier powering a two-way design featuring an Air Motion Transformer (AMT) tweeter and a 5-inch woven glass fiber woofer housed within an MDF cabinet.
Q SUB Series Promises Tight Bass, Flexible Placement | Sound & Vision
Q Acoustics has introduced the Q SUB series, a new trio of active subwoofers designed for home theater and stereo systems. Available in three sizes—the compact 8-inch Q SUB80, the mid-sized 10-inch Q SUB100, and the larger 12-inch Q SUB120—the subs aim for flexible integration through built-in Digital Signal Processing (DSP). The DSP technology, according to Q Acoustics, allows precise tuning of bass response, including phase adjustments, signal delay, and crossover points to better match any speaker setup.
Bowers & Wilkins Extends McLaren Partnership into Formula 1 | Sound & Vision
Bowers & Wilkins is stepping up its decade-long partnership with McLaren, becoming the official audio partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team. This expanded collaboration, initially established in 2015, previously focused solely on audio systems within McLaren's high-performance automotive division. According to Bowers & Wilkins, the companies are developing new collaborative products inspired by McLaren’s recent 2024 Constructors’ Championship win.
Music On YouTube | Sound & Vision
Up until the last hundred years or so music, and the musicians who performed it, were nearly always both heard and seen. Perhaps it was a local (or travelling) minstrel attracting a curious crowd in the town square. Or it might have been the upper crust gathered in a concert hall. In either case the music was heard and the musicians were seen. The experience was always savored. Music at the time was rarely an everyday event. But today music can be called up and experienced at will.
New TCL QM7K TVs Promise Improved HDR, Reduced Blooming | Sound & Vision
TCL has announced its latest television series, the QM7K Precise Dimming Series, featuring the company’s latest QD-Mini LED technology. Following the introduction of its QM6K at CES earlier this year, TCL’s QM7K is designed to improve upon its predecessor with an emphasis on high brightness and precision dimming. Central to the QM7K is TCL's Halo Control System, which the company states is effective at reducing blooming and halo effects. It enhances contrast and color accuracy.
Rotel DX-3: Merging High-Fidelity Integrated Headphone Amplification, Pre-Amplification, and DAC in a Compact Design | Sound & Vision
Rotel’s latest foray into the world of personal audio, the DX-3, is a compact but ambitious piece of kit. Designed in Tokyo and measuring just 8.5" x 3" x 9.75", this integrated headphone amplifier, pre-amplifier, and DAC contradicts the notion that high-end audio has to come in a bulky package. The DX-3 brings plenty of connectivity to the table—supporting inputs like PC-USB (32-bit/384kHz with DSD 4X support), wireless aptX HD and AAC Bluetooth, as well as coaxial, optical (24-bit/192kHz), RCA analog, and an AUX input.
Sounding Off in Hope: A 121st Birthday Bash for Klipsch | Sound & Vision
It turns out that if you mix a little history with high-performance audio (and sprinkle on a dash of irreverence) you get the 2025 Klipsch Pilgrimage. Happening on March 7 and 8 in Hope, AR (the town that gave birth to Klipsch), this two-day extravaganza is a full-throttle celebration of Paul W. Klipsch’s 121st birthday.
Doechii: “Denial Is a River” and “Boiled Peanuts” in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
As Black History Month comes to a close, we wanted to put our final BHM aural spotlight on the always dynamic Tampa rapper Doechii. Not only did she perform a mightily charged set in New Orleans the night before Super Bowl LIX just 19 days ago, but on February 2, 2025, Doechii also won the Grammy for Best Rap Album for her powerful August 2024 mixtape release, Alligator Bites Never Heal (Top Dawg/Capitol). Even better, all of Bites is available in Dolby Atmos—and I’m now going to immersively delve into a pair of that album’s best tracks.
Chevy Volt Cabin Concept Demo at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025 | Sound & Vision
Arc Audio is pushing the envelope on what a car can be with his transformative work on a 2012 Chevy Volt. Brian Mitchell explained the concept and how it is a sneak peek into the future of automotive design and audio integration. While the Volt might not have the flash of a McLaren, it offered the perfect platform to explore a future where self-driving cars render traditional controls obsolete. Imagine a vehicle without a steering wheel or brake pedal, where the cabin evolves into a dynamic, immersive space.
Tuning for the Perfect Ride: 2023 Cadillac XD5 Demo at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025 | Sound & Vision
I had a blast at the 2025 Florida International Audio Expo, especially checking out the high-fidelity automotive setups. One standout was a 2023 Cadillac XD5 that combines factory looks with cutting-edge sound tech. I chatted with Wayne Barron, a longtime IASCA competitor, who walked me through his installation.
Inside the Mazda REF6: A Custom Car Audio Masterpiece by Jeffrey Hald Shown at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025 | Sound & Vision
I recently got an exclusive look at the Mazda REF6—a custom audio project car built by none other than Jeffrey Hald. This isn’t your everyday Mazda; it’s a 1,200‑hour masterpiece crafted over five years, boasting accolades like three triple crowns, an expert win last year, and four install championships. From the moment I stepped in, I was struck by the attention to detail. The REF6 is designed for both one‑seat and two‑seat configurations, featuring a bespoke mixer and center channel setup that can switch between driver‑focused and passenger‑optimized modes.
Is Automotive Audio Ready to Enter the Audiophile Realm? | Sound & Vision
Here we are at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025. This year’s show has an automotive sound element to it. Step outside into the warm and sunny Florida weather and the future of high fidelity sound is taking shape in the parking lot.
Aloe Blacc: “Don’t Go Alone” and “Breakthrough” in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Staying on the positive tip here in the home stretch of Black History Month, soulful singer/rapper Aloe Blacc has released five tracks in Dolby Atmos ahead of the official February 28, 2025, release of his new, 12-song album from whence they came, Stand Together (Grand Scheme Productions).
NLE Choppa: “Crescent Moon” and “Can We Live?” in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Memphis rapper NLE Choppa is in the midst of celebrating Black History Month by releasing a new single each week here in February 2025. His first two BHM offerings, via NLE Entertainment/Warner Records—the hopeful confessional of “Crescent Moon,” and the anti-gun-violence hip-hop hymnal “Can We Live?”—both aspire to achieve loftier heights and goals in Dolby Atmos (albeit in slightly different ways).
LEDs, OLEDs, and Micro LEDs | Sound & Vision
This blog will be old-hat for many veteran Sound & Vision readers, but there are always newbies flummoxed by this whole LED vs OLED vs Micro LED business. The oldest and most basic form of a flat screen television is the LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display. A layer of liquid crystals is sandwiched between two layers of polarizing filters. When an electric signal is applied to those filters (that signal being the source to be displayed) the liquid crystals align in changing patterns to produce the moving and (where needed) color image.