Home Theater News & Reviews

The latest rumor about Apple comes via online prediction from Variety that says the iPhone maker will acquire Sony Pictures in 2019. Apple has big-budget plans to push into original content production for its upcoming streaming video service, and acquiring an established studio may be its strategy to help it compete with Netflix and Amazon in 2019.

Some other speaker manufacturers look at subwoofers as "accessory" products, high in price, but low on precision and design. Paradigm though has always given us high performance subs at reasonable price points. Will they continue this tradition with their affordable V12 and heavy hitting X12? Read on to find out what our detailed product review and precision measurements had to say and be sure to also check out our YouTube video overview of the Defiance series of subwoofers.

Internet direct company Monoprice released details on their state of the art Monolith HTP-1 16 Channel Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D home theater processor with Dirac & Alexa compatibility. This 16 channel processor looks to be engineered for the most demanding audiophile and comes in at $1,000 less than the Emotiva RMC-1. Does it have all the features you need for your new fully immersive home theater? Read on to find out.

The new Atlantic Technology Gatecrasher 1 is the first in a series of smart, multi-room wireless speakers from the company. The $499 Wi-Fi and bluetooth-enabled tabletop speaker is a 2.1-channel design with a premium look and high-performance aspirations. Will the Gatecrasher 1 have what it takes to carve out a niche in the increasingly crowded multi-room speaker market?

Bose. The mere mention of the name conjures up all manner of reaction, response and opinion from the audio community. Are their products really as awful as some people think? Are they really "all marketing and no engineering?" Here's a fascinating look from an "insider" who was there when the AM-5 and Wave Radio were introduced. Some things will confirm your suspicions and some things will surprise the heck out of you. Be sure to watch our related YouTube video discussion on "Why Audiophiles Hate Bose" for further insights.

Which is more accurate at detecting sound: our ears or a microphone? Most people might automatically assume a microphone since a good microphone can measure sound pressure over frequency so precisely, but the reality is even the most sophisticated microphones are relatively simple devices compared to human hearing. What makes our hearing so special compared to the exactitude of a microphone? You will have to read our article to see if the ear is mightier than the microphone at gauging sound.

RSL recently announced the CG5 Bookshelf Speaker and CG25 Monitor / Center Channel Speaker which pushes RSL Speaker’s products into higher price points and higher levels of performance. The $400 and $500 each price points don't have buyers shying away as they are completely sold out for December. Find out why in our preview of RSL's newest products and see what performance upgrades you get over their popular CG3 line.

Wharfedale’s new D300 Series seeks to redefine expectations for low-cost, high-performance loudspeakers. The four-strong range consists of two compact bookshelf speakers, one floor-stander, and one center-channel speaker, all priced to challenge Elac’s Debut 2 series for the entry-level crown. Will the Wharfedale D300 Series speakers have what it takes? Read on to learn more.

Fluance has followed up its successful 2016 entrance into the turntable business with four new models. The RT82 ($300), RT83 ($350), RT84 ($450), and RT85 ($500) offer industry-leading build quality and high-end components at reasonable prices. All built upon a common shared platform, the four models are distinguished by the different platters and cartridges that come as part of the package. We compare the differences to help you decide which one is right for you. Read on.

2018 was a great year to be an audiophile whether you were on a budget or the sky's the limit. Our choices this year were based on direct review or demo experience of products that really stood out among their peers in loudspeakers, subwoofers, two-channel gear and AV receivers. You'll be surprised as some of the picks in this list that cost as little as $100! But, if you want the ultimate performance, regardless of price, we've got you covered too. Be sure to check out our recently added YouTube discussion. Merry Christmas and a Happy 2019 ahead!

There is no shortage of floor-standing speakers in the $2k/pair price range, yet Paradigm has decided to jump back in this market segment with a brand new design. Using technology trickled down from their acclaimed Persona series, Paradigm has launched the Premier line so audio enthusiasts can get some of the high-end sound of the Personas but without paying the high-end price tags. In this full review, we take a close look at the Premier 800F floor-standing and 500C center speakers to determine if Paradigm pulled off a sonic miracle.

What can wild west outlaw Arthur Morgan teach America’s legions of gaming young males about masculinity in modern times? During times of existential crisis in America, the old West has a way of returning to popular consciousness. Red Dead Redemption 2 has arrived at a time when young men may have never been so unsure of their place in the world. Got an Xbox One or PS4? You'll want to get a copy of this game. Read on to find out why.

GoldenEar Technology announced the introduction of their newest tower speaker, the Triton One.R. This new reference quality loudspeaker is a smaller, less expensive follow up to the Triton Reference, which has had a remarkable response in the marketplace from both music and hifi enthusiasts. It carries many of the same technologies found in the Triton Reference along with new innovations. Will the new Triton One.R get the same response as its larger predecessor? Read on to find out.

Mark Levinson has introduced two new integrated amplifiers: the № 5802 ($7,000), and the № 5805 ($8,500). Though hardly cheap, these new products represent the least expensive amplification options from the company. Both feature built-in DACs, and both deliver 125 watts of class A/B power. The № 5802 is designed for digital sources only, while the № 5805 includes a patent-pending analog preamp section. Read on to learn more.