“Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment – not marketing slogans”
Facebook Youtube Twitter instagram pinterest

Home Theater News & Reviews

Reviews & Previews

AV News & Editorials

Editorials

Now And Then: The Last Beatles Song

— December 04, 2023 09:30

Now And Then: The Last Beatles Song

The Beatles released their first song in decades. “Now And Then” started as a demo recording made by John Lennon in 1978 and was completed with technology from Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary.

AV Receiver Reviews Preview

Anthem 5.1CH MRX SLM AV Receiver Fits Behind Your Television

— December 04, 2023 00:00

Anthem 5.1CH MRX SLM AV Receiver Fits Behind Your Television

Anthem’s new MRX SLM ($1,299) takes the “small size, big sound” concept to extremes. This remarkably slim AVR solution promises to bring Anthem’s superb audio performance while fitting behind your display.

Product Awards and Gift Guides

2023 Audioholics Christmas Gift Guide

— November 30, 2023 11:00

2023 Audioholics Christmas Gift Guide

If you're gift shopping for an AV enthusiast, we have the guide for you. From receivers to headphones, loudspeakers and subwoofers, we have you covered with what we think are some great gift ideas.

Home Theater Projector Reviews Preview

JVC DLA‑NZ8 8K Laser Projector Preview ‑ Price/Performance Champ?

— November 27, 2023 00:00

JVC DLA-NZ8 8K Laser Projector Preview - Price/Performance Champ?

JVC's DLA-NZ8 (RS3100) may be the perfect projector with a BLU-escent laser, e-shiftX for 8K images, the latest HDR10/HDR10+, frame adapt HDR Gen2, and JVC's industry leading tone mapping and blacks.

Editorials

This Is Your Brain On Pink Floyd

— November 27, 2023 08:00

This Is Your Brain On Pink Floyd

Dolby sponsored a study of how the Pink Floyd song “The Great Gig in the Sky” affects brain waves. The study analyzed the brain waves of 100 people as they listened to the song in Dolby Atmos.

AV Receiver Reviews Preview

Onkyo TX‑SR3100 5.2CH 8K Atmos Receiver For $400!?!

— November 24, 2023 00:00

Onkyo TX-SR3100 5.2CH 8K Atmos Receiver For $400!?!

Onkyo's new TX-SR3100 is a 5.2CH home theater receiver that includes Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 80 W/CH and all the latest 8K video features for under $400! But, does it really give you true Atmos experience?

Product Awards and Gift Guides

2023 Audioholics Black Friday Home Audio Gear Deals

— November 20, 2023 00:00

2023 Audioholics Black Friday Home Audio Gear Deals

Black Friday is here early with the best deals of 2023 on audio gear we’ve reviewed!. Our guide includes loudspeakers, subwoofers, AV receivers, theater chairs and much more. Big savings for you!

AV Receiver Reviews Preview

The Marantz Stereo 70s: A 2CH HiFi AV Receiver?

— November 21, 2023 00:00

The Marantz Stereo 70s: A 2CH HiFi AV Receiver?

The new Marantz Stereo 70s ($1,000) is a 2-channel receiver with 8K HDMI connectivity, 75 wpc, and uses Marantz’s HDAM preamp modules. How does it compare to similar Marantz Cinema products? Read on.

Editorials

Audio Listening Test That Fooled the Hollywood Sapphire Group

Hank Landsberg — November 14, 2023 00:15

Audio Listening Test That Fooled the Hollywood Sapphire Group

Some of the most highly trained audiophiles in the industry were asked to do a blind “A-B” listening comparison test of two audio circuits. Were they able to hear a difference, or were they fooled?

Subwoofer Reviews Review

RTJ Audio 18Sub Subwoofer Review

— November 18, 2023 00:00

RTJ Audio 18Sub Subwoofer Review

The RTJ Audio 18Sub features the ultimate 18” bass driver, giving users the highest performance per footprint of any sub on the market and making it Ideal for baffle wall subwoofer systems installations.

AV News

Lenbrook Bought Bankrupt MQA. Now What?

— November 12, 2023 00:35

Lenbrook Bought Bankrupt MQA. Now What?

Lenbrook Corp., the parent company to NAD Electronics, PSB Loudspeakers, and Bluesound, has acquired Bankrupt MQA. We speculate if SCL6 technology is the driving force behind the acquisition of MQA.

Headphone Reviews Preview

Bang and Olufsen Cisco Release Security Enhanced 950 Wireless Earbuds

— November 10, 2023 00:00

Bang and Olufsen Cisco Release Security Enhanced 950 Wireless Earbuds

Bang & Olufsen and Cisco released the 950 IEM, an IT security enhanced wireless earbud with tools for managing and viewing real-time analytics from a single platform while providing secure connections.

Editorials

Is Home Theater As We Knew It – Dead?

— November 06, 2023 17:00

Is Home Theater As We Knew It – Dead?

Home theater is accessible for almost everyone today and is easier to use and more affordable than ever. But are true home theaters a thing of the past? Read on to find out.

AV Gadget Reviews Preview

Arylic B50 Amplifier Turns Your Bookshelf Speakers Into a Streaming Machine

— November 06, 2023 00:00

Arylic B50 Amplifier Turns Your Bookshelf Speakers Into a Streaming Machine

The $139 Arylic Audio's new B50 Wireless Amplifier pushes 50 watts x 2, has a sub and phono out, HDMI ARC and is an easy way to turn a pair of passive speakers into a streaming powerhouse!

AV News

Cambridge Audio’s New ‘Black Edition’ Dac & Streamer

— November 03, 2023 00:00

Cambridge Audio’s New ‘Black Edition’ Dac & Streamer

Cambridge Audio released their DacMagic 200M DAC($549) and MXN10 network streamer ($499). The DACMagic comes with Dual ESS ES9028Q2M chips and supports TONS of digital options. Read on.

Bookshelf Speaker Reviews Review

RBH Sound 61/AX Active Monitor Speaker Review

Don Dunn — October 31, 2023 00:00

RBH Sound 61/AX Active Monitor Speaker Review

The RBH Sound 61/AX is a fully active 2-way bookshelf speaker system that employs SOTA DSP with active crossovers and 400 watts of built in amplification for pristine, dynamic sound quality we review.

AV News

Perlisten R210s Subwoofer Giveaway & Special Promo for All Registrants!

— November 01, 2023 00:00

Perlisten R210s Subwoofer Giveaway & Special Promo for All Registrants!

Enter to Win a THX Ultra Certified Perlisten R210s Subwoofer($4,995 value) & get a free special promo for entering! Perlisten, where luxury meets engineering in audio, and YOU take home the best bass!

Audio Amplifier Reviews Preview

Marantz MODEL 50 Integrated Amplifier & CD 50n Streaming HDMI CD Player!

— October 25, 2023 00:00

Marantz MODEL 50 Integrated Amplifier & CD 50n Streaming HDMI CD Player!

The Marantz MODEL 50 integrated amplifier and CD 50n streaming HDMI CD player ($1,800/ea) boast audiophile componentry, low impedance power drive, and unmatched digital source connectivity options.

AV News

GPS Tech Company Garmin Acquires JL Audio ‑ Yacht Rock Lives On!

— October 30, 2023 00:00

GPS Tech Company Garmin Acquires JL Audio - Yacht Rock Lives On!

Garmin has signed a purchase agreement to acquire JL Audio, the maker of some of the world’s best subwoofers. It might seem like a mismatch if you don’t follow JL Audio’s hugely successful offerings.

Floorstanding Speaker Reviews Review

Monolith Audition T5 Floor‑Standing Speaker Review

— October 20, 2023 00:00

Monolith Audition T5 Floor-Standing Speaker Review

Monoprice’s Audition T5 speakers are floorstanders for the audiophile on a tight budget, but trade-offs must be made to achieve their $500/pr pricing. On sale at $230/pr, ignore the trade offs and buy them!

AV News

3 New Monitor Audio Anthra Subwoofers You Can Make Wireless with REL HT‑Air MKII

— October 27, 2023 00:00

3 New Monitor Audio Anthra Subwoofers You Can Make Wireless with REL HT-Air MKII

This 3-strong lineup of Monitor Audio's Anthra subwoofers feature all new drivers, amps, and app control. Make them wireless with REL’s new HT-Air MKII Wireless subwoofer connection kit for only $139!

AV Gadget Reviews Preview

Kaleidescape Releases Bigger and Faster Terra Prime Movie Servers

— October 14, 2023 12:00

Kaleidescape Releases Bigger and Faster Terra Prime Movie Servers

Kaleidescape, the premier digital media server for the best 4K and Dolby Atmos source playback, released Terra Prime series with SSD drives making it possible to download 4K content in 4 minutes!

Audio Technologies

Dirac Live Active Room Treatment On StormAudio Gear!

— October 23, 2023 12:55

Dirac Live Active Room Treatment On StormAudio Gear!

Dirac Live Active Room Treatment, available on StormAudio processors, promises to minimize the need for bulky low frequency acoustic room treatments and uses All of your speakers to fix the bass.

Floorstanding Speaker Reviews Preview

Paradigm Celebrates 41 ‑ New Founder Series Premium Finishes & Power Amplifier

— October 13, 2023 00:05

Paradigm Celebrates 41 - New Founder Series Premium Finishes & Power Amplifier

Paradigm came to CEDIA 2023 with everything from new premium finishes to the brand’s respected Founder Series speakers to the new SVX-1202 Power Amplifier and the updated Decor Series v2 Soundbars.

AV News

Primare SPA25 Prisma 11.2CH AV Receiver & Tidal RISING

— October 23, 2023 00:00

Primare SPA25 Prisma 11.2CH AV Receiver & Tidal RISING

Today we look at the SPA25 Prisma, an 11 channel high-end AVR with Dirac Live from the Swedish audio manufacturer Primare. We also look at Tidal’s newly revamped artist support program, Tidal Rising.

In-Wall & Outdoor Speaker Reviews Preview

Theory Audio Design Debuts Weatherproof Loudspeaker & New Architectural Subwoofers

— October 11, 2023 00:35

Theory Audio Design Debuts Weatherproof Loudspeaker & New Architectural Subwoofers

Theory Audio released a new all-weather speaker, the sb25aw which is a revised version of their sb25. Also released are 2 in-wall Subs, the iws12-6 and iws12-9 with reported 124dB SPL output at 1m!

AV News

Bluesound Node X, PSB Alpha iQ, Radical NAD M66 Streaming Preamp

— October 16, 2023 00:00

Bluesound Node X, PSB Alpha iQ, Radical NAD M66 Streaming Preamp

We’re taking a look at 3 promising BluOS streaming products; the Bluesound Node X Streaming amp, PSB Alpha iQ streaming speaker, and the NAD M66 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier with Dirac and 4 sub outs!

Subwoofer Reviews Review

Arendal Sound 1723 Subwoofer 2S Review

— October 06, 2023 00:00

Arendal Sound 1723 Subwoofer 2S Review

The Arendal Sound 1723 Subwoofer 2S stuffs two heavy-duty 13.8” drivers and a 1,200-watt RMS amp into a reasonable enclosure. This might be the sweet spot for size to performance of ALL subs we’ve reviewed!

AV News

PlayStation Adds Atmos and Tidal’s FLAC Woes

— October 12, 2023 00:00

PlayStation Adds Atmos and Tidal’s FLAC Woes

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is getting support for Dolby Atmos gaming! Less exciting is the news that Tidal’s adoption of high-res FLAC is turning out to be less of a crowd-pleaser than we first expected.

In-Wall & Outdoor Speaker Reviews Preview

Revel Expands PerformaBe Loudspeakers With In‑Wall Architectural Series

— October 04, 2023 00:00

Revel Expands PerformaBe Loudspeakers With In-Wall Architectural Series

We got a chance to see the new Revel PerformaBe Architectural line of speakers at CEDIA 2023. The lineup includes three in-wall models, (W126Be, W226Be, W228Be) and one in-ceiling (C128Be). Read on.

AV News

Audeze MM‑100 & Sennheiser HD 660S2 Two Affordable Open‑Back Headphones!

— October 09, 2023 00:15

Audeze MM-100 & Sennheiser HD 660S2 Two Affordable Open-Back Headphones!

Audeze MM-100 ($399) planar magnetic headphone and Sennheiser's HD 660S2 headphone($599.95), both are open-back designs with neutral sound signatures aimed at the pro audio and audiophile communities.