Home Theater AV News

To end 2020 on a good note, Audioholics teamed up with Marantz to give away a brand new AV7705 11CH AV Processor. If you're looking to set up a new 7.2.4 Atmos/DTS:X home theater system, the AV7705 will meet your needs nicely. Enter by 12/31/20 for your chance to win this prize and kick the new year off as the envy of your friends. Good luck!

An inferno that blazed for three straight days devastated the AKM semiconductor factory in Nobeoka City, Japan. The result has been a disruption to the supply chain for audio products that use AKM DACs, ADCs that will be felt in both professional and consumer audio markets for at least the next six months. This comes only months after a fire destroyed the Apollo Masters lacquer facility and one year after news of exactly how much was lost in the 2008 fire at Universal Music finally went public. The losses beg one critical question; will fire please leave our music alone? Let's hope this is the last stop in the spate of BAD news that has been 2020.

Although AVR receivers get firmware updates periodically, both Denon and Marantz AVRs will receive a firmware update this Nov 11th, 2020 thanks in part to Audioholics requests from our Youtube videos and in depth reviews. Sound United heard our call to action and our reader feedback and made things happen. This firmware update packs many incredible features to enhance the products such as DTS:X Pro and IMAX enhanced features. We are happy with the one update that will restore a key feature because of you, the reader. Read on to find out what updates are coming to your Denon or Marantz receiver.

Among other things, COVID-19 has changed the way we setup and listen to our Audiophile systems. High end audio can often be a solo hobby. Do you plan to upgrade your system to include family and friends and what changes have you made to your system to embrace the future? Has your system or media consumption changed during COVID-19? These are all questions discussed in this article on the future of audiophile systems and keeping the passion alive.

I recently purchased a pair of Legacy Audio Signature SE speakers and said that they are most likely the last pair of speakers I will ever buy. I was instrumental in the development and creation of the Boston Acoustics Micro Reference 90's back in the mid 1990s. See how the Boston Acoustics Micro Reference 90's came to be the final destination for another famous reviewer.

Yesterday a German audio website discovered a bug in the latest HDMI 2.1 chipsets sourced by Panasonic and utilized in the new Denon, Marantz and Yamaha HDMI 2.1 AV receivers. This bug can inhibit pass through of 4k/120Hz HDR and 8k/60 HDR for some devices like NVIDIA's newest graphics cards and the latest XBOX Series X gaming console. We reached out to Sound United and Yamaha for officials responses which includes a work around and plan going forward towards a permanent fix.

Microsoft buys Zenimax in the second biggest acquisition in gaming history, an atomic blast to the industry and the fallout is all Xbox. Xbox Game Studios at once solved its exclusive titles problem, revved up pre-orders for Xbox Series S/X while getting the gaming world talking about what the future holds for hardcore triple-A gamers. Let's take a closer look at Microsoft's long-game strategy in gaming and what makes it distinct from Sony. The two console makers represent two different schools of thought in consumer electronics, and 2020 may only be the beginning as Xbox Game Studio's plan for a gaming empire emerges that none can ignore.

Sound United LLC, parent company to Denon, Polk Audio, Marantz, Definitive Technology, Classé, and Boston Acoustics, today announced that it has finalized the acquisition of Bowers & Wilkins, a leading designer and manufacturer of luxury home audio speakers, headphones, custom installation products, wireless speakers, and branded audio systems in the automotive and television markets. What does this mean for the brand? Read on as we speculate the future of this premium loudspeaker company.

October is another Audioholics giveaway month! As always, the Audioholics giveaway contest is free to enter, just leave us your email address and on the last day of October the winner will be announced. Maybe YOU will be haunted this Halloween by our PRIZE... the Arylic A50 WiFi & Bluetooth 5.0 Stereo Amplifier. So, get to ready bring all-new wireless, Internet radio capabilities, your favorite music streaming service and Class-D amplification to almost any old pair of passive speakers. It's a great way to resurrect the dead!

When this awful COVID-19 virus messed with all of our lives, it also messed with our connectivity. Without solid connectivity, the new-world idea of working from home is pretty much impossible. How do we deal with dropped internet, loss of cell service, and more when our whole life is hooked up to home automation and the internet?

Nobody saw COVID-19 coming until it was ready to kick our collective butts in early 2020. All of us being stuck at home thanks to COVID-19 has changed our way of life in so many impactful ways. 20 years ago, owning a home theater was an extreme luxury. Today you get a much better home theater experience than ever before at a fraction of the cost. In this article we briefly look at how home theater has changed over the last 20 years FOR THE BETTER.

After 45 years Onkyo USA closes its doors handing distribution duties over to the owner of another popular audio brand, Klipsch. In theory the new "strategic distribution alliance" changes nothing for Onkyo dealers and customers. But could arrangements like this be symptomatic for the post-COVID A/V industry?

Over and over again, the supply chain again is hammered here in the United States, with global overtones. It is affecting all sorts of businesses, within and beyond the AV industry. If you are in the market for some new AV gear, and you have the chance to make a purchase, you might want to do it now as it isn’t clear when the next shortage or shipping delay might get in your way. Read on to find out how this is going to affect you and your beloved hobby.

With rumors floating that AT&T might spin-off, merge, or outright close DirecTV - the news that 954,000 subscribers left the service in Q2-2020 isn’t a good sign. Mainstream as well as enthusiasts are looking at “cord cutting” more than ever before. But before you sink your scissors into your COAX cable, you'll want to take a careful look at the state of cable and satellite TV versus the growing number of powerful streaming services on the market today.