News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Life
Culture & Art
Hobbies
News
Entertainment
Science & Technology
Culture & Art
Hobbies
Premium Subscribers Get Spotify's Long-Awaited Lossless Audio | Sound & Vision
Spotify Premium subscribers can now stream lossless audio, with the service beginning its rollout September 10 across multiple markets. The feature delivers up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz FLAC quality and works with smartphones, tablets, computers, and a range of connected audio devices. The streaming giant is taking a phased approach, starting with twelve countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. More than 50 markets will have access through October. Premium subscribers receive an in-app notification when lossless becomes available in their region.
XGIMI Launches HORIZON 20 Series; Previews Pro-Grade TITAN at IFA 2025 | Sound & Vision
At IFA 2025, XGIMI announced the HORIZON 20 home projector line and previewed TITAN, its first projector aimed at professional installs and enterprise use. The company will show both at ShowStoppers on September 4 and at booth H21-117, September 5–9. Preorders for HORIZON 20 start September 4 with retail availability slated for October 15.
Klipsch Courtyard Landscape Speaker System Debuts: 4.1 Outdoor Kit, Expandable to 8.2 | Sound & Vision
Klipsch has introduced the Courtyard Landscape Speaker system, a full‑range outdoor package built around four horn‑loaded satellite speakers and a low‑profile 10‑inch subwoofer. The single‑box 4.1 kit includes mounting stakes, hardware, and accessories; a two‑satellite expansion pack supports larger spaces, and two systems can be combined for an 8.2 layout.
Dolby Announces Dolby Vision 2; Hisense First TV Partner | Sound & Vision
Dolby Laboratories announced Dolby Vision 2, the next iteration of its HDR video platform for TVs. Dolby says the update centers on a redesigned image engine and new “Content Intelligence” features that adapt playback to the content and viewing environment. According to Dolby, Dolby Vision 2 will roll out in two tiers: Dolby Vision 2 Max for high‑end sets and a standard Dolby Vision 2 tier intended for mainstream models. Dolby also says it has introduced bi‑directional tone mapping to better leverage today’s brighter, wider‑gamut displays while preserving creative intent.
Norman Greenbaum: “Spirit in the Sky” and Jon Batiste: “Angels” in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Summer, it turns me upside down. Actually, I’m more of a fall person, truth be told, so I tend to look forward (and right-side up) to the change in the weather that often coincides with Labor Day Weekend more than others might. Since many of us seem to have a, well, divine connection with all the sun and fun that’s usually associated with these past three months, I figured I’d close out my special, end-of-summertime 360-degree listening sessions with a pair of “spiritual” Dolby Atmos tracks, if you will—one old, one new—to honor the passing of the season.
Samsung, HARMAN Luxury Audio Plan Joint Immersive AV Showcase for CEDIA Expo 2025 | Sound & Vision
Samsung Electronics America and HARMAN Luxury Audio Group will co‑exhibit at CEDIA Expo 2025, September 3–6 in Denver, Colorado, in what the companies describe as the largest booth on the show floor (#2512). The combined space is positioned as a single stop for integrators to see 2025 Samsung displays and soundbars alongside JBL Synthesis, JBL, and Arcam systems.
Theory Adds PLC Amplified Loudspeaker Controllers, Targets Large‑Scale Installs | Sound & Vision
Theory Audio Design is expanding beyond its residential-focused DLC controllers with a new PLC series designed for large and complex systems:residential, commercial, large‑venue, and live sound. The lineup consists of two 8‑channel and two 4‑channel models built on Powersoft class‑D amplification and DSP. Models and power ratings (per channel): • PLC‑4K8 — 8 × 500W • PLC‑8K8 — 8 × 1,000W • PLC‑9K4 — 4 × 2,250W • PLC‑16K4 — 4 × 4,000W
Dirac Live ART Comes to AudioControl’s New Hyperion Series | Sound & Vision
Dirac says its Live Active Room Treatment (ART) will be available on AudioControl’s new Hyperion line of home theater processors and receivers. The series targets professional calibrators and custom installers and begins rolling out in September 2025. Hyperion is AudioControl’s first series to include the full Dirac Live suite: Active Room Treatment, Room Correction, and Bass Control.
Hottest Discs of Summer 2025 | Sound & Vision
With apologies to Florence + the Machine, the dog days may be over but there's still plenty of time to explore the season's fantastic variety of films making their way to 4K disc. From undisputed classics getting the upgrade they've long deserved to beloved cult favorites making a surprise arrival and even some brand-new award-bait, our list has something for everyone. From thrillers to comedy, musicals to sci-fi to westerns, from family-friendly to downright bizarre, these discs are so hot, you'll think you left them sitting on your dashboard.
Leon Debuts Edge Atlas Video‑Wall Frame, Expands Design‑First Lineup for CEDIA 2025 | Sound & Vision
Leon’s CEDIA 2025 theme “Leave Nothing Unfinished” centers on design‑first integration. Headliners include the new Edge Atlas video‑wall frame system, refreshed TV frames and FrameBar soundbars, Terra outdoor audio, and new collaborations in acoustics and materials. Leon says it will use CEDIA Expo 2025 to push integrators toward a more deliberate aesthetic—treating AV as part of the room, not an add‑on. The company’s booth will anchor around a new product, Edge Atlas, with the rest of the lineup focused on frames, concealment, and custom audio that match interiors.
SKYWORTH Introduces Canvas Elite Art TV Line, Including a 100‑Inch “Art TV” | Sound & Vision
Skyworth has announced the Canvas Elite Art TV line, led by what the company calls the world’s largest Art TV at 100 inches, alongside an 86‑inch model. The series will debut at CEDIA Expo 2025 in Denver and targets custom‑integration use cases where large‑format display, low‑reflection viewing, and framed‑art presentation are priorities.
xMEMS to Demo AI‑Glasses Prototypes with MEMS Speaker and In‑Frame Cooling at xMEMS Live Asia | Sound & Vision
xMEMS Labswill show working AI‑glasses prototypes combining its Sycamore MEMS loudspeaker and μCooling “fan‑on‑a‑chip” at the company’s xMEMS Live Asia seminar series, September 16 (Taipei) and September 18 (Shenzhen), the company said. According to xMEMS, the glasses integrate Sycamore (described by the company as its thinnest, lightest high‑fidelity MEMS loudspeaker) with a 1.28 mm package that is up to 70% smaller and 90% lighter than conventional coil speakers. The near‑field, full‑bandwidth driver is intended for voice interfaces and media playback in all‑day wearables.
Why I’m Sitting Out CEDIA This Year | Sound & Vision
Short version: bandwidth, budget, and better coverage from home. For the last dozen years, CEDIA has been a fixed point on my calendar;a reset button for the custom‑install world and a reality check for what’s actually shipping versus what’s still a render. This year, I’m skipping it.
Best TV on Disc: Summer 2025 | Sound & Vision
Long days, late nights: Summer’s made for bingeing, and S&V readers know there’s no better way to revisit our favorites or catch up on recent hits than with a complete series package: every episode, every story arc, every watercooler moment on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD. Some arrive newly remastered, others are just finally getting their due, but all arrive shelf-ready to defy the capricious whims of streaming. Whether you're a longtime fan or just checking a title off your wish list, these TV treasures were made to be owned, watched, and proudly displayed.
Richard King: The Sound & Vision Interview | Sound & Vision
Sound designer Richard King won the first of his Academy Awards for his magnificent sound effects editing work on Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, director Peter Weir’s thrilling period adventure set on the high seas. He’s now taken home a total of five of the shiny statues, most recently for Dune: Part Two, as well as becoming Christopher Nolan’s go-to guy (The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer, etc.) and snagging a boatload of Grammys along the way, too.
Gunna: “WGFT” and “Him All Along” in Dolby Atmos | Sound & Vision
Southern hip-hop superstar Gunna is on top. The proof can be found throughout the Atlanta rapper’s latest and sixth full-lengther, The Last Wun, which is chock full of the beats, traps, and themes that got him there. The Last Wun just dropped on all major streaming platforms via Young Stoner Life/300 Entertainment on August 8, 2025, and it follows the trajectory of Gunna’s masterful ATL-centric 2024 release One of Wun, in turn bringing the artist’s ever-evolving vibes up an extra notch (or five) in the process.
Summer in Steel (Updated) | Sound & Vision
The hot weather’s here: Skip the beach and catch a cool wave of new SteelBooks instead. No pesky sand, seaweed or seagulls, just a refreshing splash of movies and TV, mostly in 4K and all in distinctively designed, collectible metal cases that are cooler than an icy tallboy straight out of the Yeti.
Focal Diva Mezza Utopia Speaker System Demoed at Audio Advice Live | Sound & Vision
One of the show’s headline demos was Focal’s Diva Mezza Utopia, the larger, more powerful sibling to Diva Utopia. Launched July 2025 at $69,000/pair, it is sold exclusively through the Focal Powered by Naim dealer network (Audio Advice included). Focal positions Mezza as “the new hi-fi”: an ultra-connected, all-in-one, high-end system designed to deliver a full-range experience without the usual rack of separates.
Lyngdorf TDAI-2210: North American Debut at Audio Advice Live | Sound & Vision
Lyngdorf introduced the TDAI-2210 integrated streaming amplifier at Audio Advice Live 2025 in Raleigh, NC, the next generation in the company’s True Digital Amplifier line. Rated at 2 × 210W into 4 ohms, the TDAI-2210 keeps the signal in the digital domain and incorporates RoomPerfect room correction.
madVR Labs Previews Dynamic Subtitle Overlay at Audio Advice Live 2025 | Sound & Vision
At Audio Advice Live 2025 in Raleigh, madVR Labs co‑founder and CEO Richard Litofsky previewed Dynamic Subtitle Overlay (DSO), a feature designed to make subtitles easier to live with—both for viewers who prefer them on and for those who find them distracting. The demo ran on a Sony BRAVIA 9 configured to emulate a scope screen.
Marantz’s Grand Horizon Aims to Marry Hi‑Fi Sound with Living‑Room Design | Sound & Vision
At Audio Advice Live 2025, Masimo Consumer’s Phil Jones described Marantz’s new Grand Horizon as “musical art”—a single‑chassis, luxury wireless speaker built to deliver hi‑fi scale without the usual stack of black boxes. The target owner is clear: someone who wants serious sound and a statement object that can live in plain sight.
Audio Advice Debuts Revelation Luxury Home Theater Chair | Sound & Vision
At Audio Advice Live 2025, North Carolina–based retailer Audio Advice showed the latest addition to its house-brand seating line: the Revelation Luxury theater chair. It follows earlier “Revolution” and “Revelation” models and adds heating, massage, and other usability tweaks aimed at feature-hungry buyers at a mid-tier price. According to Audio Advice, the Revelation Luxury is designed to deliver the feature set found in higher-priced home-theater recliners at a lower cost.
Best of the Sets, Summer Edition | Sound & Vision
Any fireworks left over? Whatever the theme—a movie star, a character, a single title or an entire genre—collections like these are a celebration of film and music, catering to a wide variety of tastes. With painstaking restorations, remixes, remasters and rediscoveries on 4K, Blu-ray, CD and delicious vinyl, this sweet summer crop has been fresh-picked for our enjoyment, many with new supplements that only deepen our appreciation.
Onkyo Expands Icon Series with C-30 CD Player | Sound & Vision
Onkyo has announced the C-30, a new CD player that joins its recently introduced Icon Series of high-fidelity components. Scheduled for release in October 2025, the C-30 is priced at $349 and is designed to serve music listeners who still value physical media and dedicated playback hardware. The C-30 supports playback of standard CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, as well as MP3 and WMA files. It features a 24-bit/192kHz DAC and includes Onkyo’s proprietary Vector Linear Shaping Circuit (VLSC), a noise-reduction technology designed to eliminate pulse noise from the signal path.
Epson Announces Pro Cinema LS9000 Laser Projector | Sound & Vision
At Audio Advice Live in Raleigh, NC, Epson will introduce the Pro Cinema LS9000, a 4K HDR laser projector aimed at the custom integration market. Priced at $3,999, the LS9000 joins the company’s Pro Cinema lineup with a spec sheet that includes 4K UHD resolution, HDR10+ support, 2,200 lumens of brightness (both color and white), and gaming compatibility up to 4K/120fps.
Epson and Bose Partner on Projector Lineup | Sound & Vision
Epson and Bose have announced a partnership resulting in a new line of projectors incorporating Sound by Bose audio systems. The first product in the series is slated for release in the United States and China in September 2025, with global expansion to follow.
Klipsch to Preview New Red Oak Finish, Demo Active Crossover at Audio Advice Live 2025 | Sound & Vision
Klipsch will debut a Red Oak finish for its Heritage Forte IV and Heresy IV loudspeakers at Audio Advice Live 2025, paired with gray heathered grilles. This marks the first public showing of the new aesthetic.
Musical Fidelity B1xi Integrated Amplifier Revives the B-Series | Sound & Vision
Musical Fidelity has introduced the B1xi, an integrated amplifier that revives the company’s B-Series lineup and echoes the original B1 from the 1990s. The new model is a pure transistor class-A/B design rated at 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms and up to 140 watts into 2 ohms.