Home Theater News & Reviews

RSL Speakers generally get rave reviews for their products, so whenever they release something new, audio enthusiasts take note. Their recent release of the CG5 and CG25 speakers raised the eyebrows in the audio industry since the buzz was that RSL was pushing into a higher-end product than they had heretofore. It was with great anticipation that we awaited a sample of these new speakers. We are excited to finally bring you a full in-depth review of both speakers. Read on to find out all about the RSL CG5 and CG25.

Do you want to build a respectable and aesthetically pleasing home theater, but only have $1,500 to spend on the whole kit and caboodle? Forget that HTiB system from your local big box and check out our Audioholics Amazon exclusive $1,500 5.2.4 recommended home theater system featuring components from Sony, Polk and Onkyo. We built a setup on a shoestring budget that will provide much better than HTiB performance, features immersive surround. Some of these deals are limited time so act quickly.

Major filmmakers and Hollywood studios have teamed up with an industry coalition called The UHD Alliance to develop a new TV viewing mode called Filmmaker Mode. This mode would automatically, or with the push of a single button, disable post-processing such as motion smoothing (a.k.a. “The Soap Opera Effect”) and preserve the correct aspect ratios, colors, and frame rates chosen by the content creators. With Filmmaker Mode, your TV would always display your movies and TV shows exactly as the filmmakers intended them to be seen. Read on to learn more.

Control4 has released its first new remote control product since the acquisition of the Swiss home automation company Neeo earlier this year. The elegant Neeo Remote for Control4 ($600) is designed to be sophisticated enough for the power user but intuitive enough for the whole family to use. The remote features a machined aluminum body and a high-res touchscreen that unlocks the full potential of Control4’s Smart Home OS 3 platform. Read on to learn more.

What happens when your pre/pro separates are a hair too big for your entertainment center and your new replacement amp fails after a year and a half? Follow the saga of finding just the right amplifier for a three zone house. The journey will take you to an unexpected ending that leads to a vintage audio piece saving the day. Buckle up and enjoy the ride...

Yamaha launched a new series of premium two-channel audio components called the 5000 Series. Designed to be paired with the company’s NS-5000 speakers ($15,000/pair), the new GT-5000 turntable ($8,000), C-5000 preamplifier ($10,000), and M-5000 power amplifier ($10,000) make a bold statement about Yamaha’s commitment to high-end audio. The electronics feature patented circuit designs that are “floated” from the ground in order to eliminate noise. Read on to learn more.

Focal's 300 series architectural speakers are designed from the ground up for music or cinema aficionados. Each speaker in the 300 series sports a true, tool-less design with the company's patented EQI (Easy Quick Install) system. The EQI system is a blessing for installers and DIYers alike. Featuring a Flax cone and Focal's signature inverted dome tweeter, the Focal 300 Series delivers reference performance for aesthetically demanding spaces. We took the Focals for a spin in a complete 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos and DTS:X configuration. Our take? Focal's 300 series proves you don't have to sacrifice performance for aesthetics.

The rivalry between Marvel and DC is still alive and well through the three major conglomerates that now own all of the most popular characters that were born in comics. But the next battleground for popularity will be in the digital delivery of Marvel and DC characters to your favorite screen. The decision-makers behind the capes and cowls may sit in the air-conditioned offices of AT&T, Disney and Sony but the contest remains as fierce as it ever was in print-publishing as our favorite heroes do battle in the new business-arena of Streaming Video on-Demand. The stakes couldn't be higher, the objective is nothing less than the total subjugation of rival SVoD apps.

When it comes to streaming services, we have the big players like Apple, Amazon, and Spotify. Now we can add Qobuz to the list of boutique brands like Tidal that cater to audiophiles. Given that Tidal seems to be struggling, we wondered if there was in fact a need for yet another niche streaming service. We extensively tested the two Hi-Res streaming services for the last SIX MONTHS! See what our conclusions were between the two services in our article and which one sounded best. Be sure to watch our recently added YouTube discussion.

Fluance has been making quality turntables for over 20 years, so it was with great enthusiasm that they sent out the RT85 turntable for review. This good-looking turntable had my expectation high for their new and attractive mid-level turntable. At $499 the Fluance RT85 turntable is touted to be a great bargain with amazing looks and a platform punching above its price point. Read the full review to find out if this was the case.

Dealing with acoustics in small rooms is no trivial matter. The quest for the “perfect” room all depends on your expectations, why you are listening (business or pleasure), what program you are listening to, and the condition of the ears you are listening through. This article and recently added YouTube discussion focuses on the topic of early reflections in small room acoustics and how to deal with them based on listening preferences and the accuracy of your loudspeakers. The portions of side walls responsible for first lateral reflections are specified as “optional areas: absorb, diffuse, reflect.” It is a decision to be made by the customer and/or the installer.

New speakers from Revel and JBL stole the spotlight at the 2019 CEDIA Expo. Revel added three models to its Performa Beryllium range, including a large flagship tower with an all-new beryllium tweeter. Meanwhile, JBL announced a completely new line of speakers called the HDI Series, featuring stylish curved cabinets and a new compression driver based on JBL’s professional gear. Read on to learn more and be sure to watch our detailed YouTube overview video.

Audioholics was on hand at Denver, Colorado's CEDIA 2019. In this video, Gene visits the Savant booth where the company unveiled a new product that lives at the intersection of high-performance home audio and digital home connectivity, designed for those who may not have thought much about complete home automation before. The Smart Audio soundbar may be loaded with network-connected features by Savant, but it also brings a true hi-fi pedigree with speaker designs by Cary Christie of Artison.

MartinLogan, famous for their curved panel electrostatic speakers, has recently revamped their Motion line of loudspeakers that use a more traditional enclosure. While the cabinet may be more conventional than their higher-tiered loudspeakers, the Motion speakers are still not without design distinctions that set them apart from other speakers in the same class. In for review today, we have the Motion 35XTi, the larger bookshelf speaker within the Motion series featuring a 6.5" woofer and AMT tweeter. Read our in-depth review to see what MartinLogan does to retain their signature electrostatic sound within a box-enclosure loudspeaker.