Recent Home Theater Editorials

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.

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.

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.

The day we get big, impressive new speakers is an important day to us audiophiles. We’ve spent years researching them, listening to all the contenders, planning, plotting, saving. No one else really understands, except other audiophiles. Here’s the story of what are probably my last pair of loudspeakers.

The hobby of audio has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Whether you call it hi-fi, stereo, audio, home theater, immersive, the interest and pursuit of high-quality reproduced sound in the home has long been an enduring interest for a very large number of people. Is there one time period that can be said to be audio’s “Golden Age?” Does any particular era stand out from the rest? We take you on a tour of the decades in audio starting from the 60's until today to answer those questions.

I recently tested positive for COVID-19 after struggling with what I thought at the time was a stomach bug or flu on and off for 8 straight days. While I'm in quarantine until I produce 2 consecutive negative test results, I decided to write up this little Coronavirus survival guide from the perspective of an Audioholic. I offer some treatments that helped relieve my symptoms while also suggesting some good audio and visual reference materials to entertain you while you get better. Check out my Youtube discussion of symptoms and treatments for COVID-19 for more information.

The coronavirus strain known as COVID-19 has dominated the news as of lately. You can’t open a newspaper, read a news app, or turn on the television without some reference to this disease. But what of my beloved electronics? What will happen to our industry? I was shocked to see the devastating impact that this virus, in China, was having on American electronics companies. How will this affect the distribution of the electronics industry and how has it impacted Audioholics so far? Read on to find out.

Ted Denney who owns and operates a company called Synergistic Research. Synergistic Research is an audio company specializing in expensive, exotic cables and audio tweaks based on pseudoscience. Ted Denney not only mocked my COVID-19 situation publicly, but also threatened to report our GoFundMe to the IRS. High-end audio maybe, but low integrity, definitely.