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AV Excellence: Our Curated Top Picks for 2025 | Sound & Vision
Looking ahead, we've refreshed our Sound & Vision Top Picks list to better reflect how AV enthusiasts shop today. There are numerous excellent product evaluation sites online, all diligently testing the equipment we consider for inclusion in our lists. Year after year, these sources typically arrive at a consensus—though the concept of labeling a single product as "best" remains inherently subjective. After all, what might be "best" for one person's budget and preferences may not align perfectly with another's needs.
Beyond the Glow: Inside VIP Home Theaters’ Ambitious Dream | Sound & Vision
It's the last day of AXPONA 2025. Late on Sunday afternoon, somewhere between exhaustion and curiosity, I was camped on the Renaissance Convention Center carpet when a father‑and‑daughter team approached. Tom Adamczyk and his daughter Monica weren’t exhibiting; but they were sponsors. They urged me to leave the show and audition a “world‑class” private cinema they’d built under their design/build outfit, VIP Home Theaters. Their pitch: We don’t just design the room—we build the speakers, too. A Detour to an Industrial Park
FAST Times: The Rise of Free Ad-Supported Television | Sound & Vision
From Reruns to Resurgence: The Origins of FAST Free, ad-supported television (FAST) services began to take root in the early-to-mid 2010s, when a handful of pioneering platforms set out to recreate the linear TV experience in a streaming environment.
One-Word-Title Movies on 4K | Sound & Vision
Sometimes, we just want to get right to it. Many of the movies landing on my desk of late have fallen into a specific, unexpected category: single-word titles. Maybe it’s the protagonist, or the setting, or the theme, but the filmmakers are betting that a single name on the poster (or cover) is enough to make us commit. Let’s find out if they’re right.
Victrola Acquires KLH Audio, Uniting Two Iconic Legacy Brands | Sound & Vision
Victrola’s recent acquisition of KLH Audio brings together two long-standing names in American hi-fi. KLH started in 1957. Henry Kloss, Malcolm S. Low, and Josef Anton Hofmann founded it. They gained fame for their innovative loudspeaker designs and cutting-edge acoustic research. Victrola started in 1906. It became famous for popularizing in-home record players. Under the terms of the acquisition, KLH will continue operating under its own name, with David Kelley—formerly KLH’s CEO and a onetime Klipsch executive—taking on the role of Brand President.
Pi8 McLaren Edition Wireless Earbuds Launched by Bowers & Wilkins | Sound & Vision
Bowers & Wilkins, in partnership with McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula 1 Team, has introduced the Pi8 McLaren Edition wireless earbuds. The new edition offers the existing Pi8’s hi-res audio capabilities wrapped in McLaren's distinctive Galvanic Gray and Papaya orange color scheme. According to Bowers & Wilkins, the Pi8 McLaren Edition combines audiophile-grade sound, premium comfort, and enhanced wireless connectivity with distinctive McLaren styling.
Kaleidescape Debuts New Entry-Level 2K Strato M Movie Player | Sound & Vision
Kaleidescape has unveiled the Strato M, an entry-level movie player designed for home, marine, and commercial theater systems. The new player offers reference-quality 2K video output, surpassing standard Blu-ray quality, along with support for lossless audio. The Strato M provides access to the Kaleidescape movie store, which delivers digital downloads with lossless audio and full reference video quality. The movie store includes thousands of titles available for purchase or rental, spanning films, TV series, and concert videos.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.