Recent Home Theater Editorials
Rumor: Is Apple Plotting a Sound United Buyout From Masimo?
![Rumor: Is Apple Plotting a Sound United Buyout From Masimo? Rumor: Is Apple Plotting a Sound United Buyout From Masimo?](/static/ph.png)
Apple may have a plan to buy Sound United audio brands including: Denon, Marantz, Bowers&Wilkins;, etc from Masimo. But how far does Apple's plans go to resolve the ongoing patent disputes with Masimo?
My 3D Blu‑ray & 3D Television Adventures at CEDIA
![My 3D Blu-ray & 3D Television Adventures at CEDIA My 3D Blu-ray & 3D Television Adventures at CEDIA](/static/ph.png)
3D. It's the "thing" that everyone has to deal with or risk losing out on this year. I decided to spent a lot of time investigating the various incarnations of 3D from the major manufacturers.
Flat Panel Mounting Safety Tips
![Flat Panel Mounting Safety Tips Flat Panel Mounting Safety Tips](/static/ph.png)
Parent would do well to consider this a must-read article to help prevent accidents at home. This applies, primarily, to those who haven't yet mounted and installed their flat panel TVs on the wall.
A Dialogue on AV Receivers and Features
![A Dialogue on AV Receivers and Features A Dialogue on AV Receivers and Features](/static/ph.png)
It doesn't take much to start an argument here at Audioholics, and we found a good one about AV receivers. What we'd like to know is - what do you value most? Amplifier power? Or Features
3D: The Most Predictable Flop in Recent History
![3D: The Most Predictable Flop in Recent History 3D: The Most Predictable Flop in Recent History](/static/ph.png)
I've been a big critic of 3D for some time. The industry has been pushing it full steam for over a year and it's really been amazing to see such a concerted effort being poured into a temporary fad.
TV Audio Moves Closer to Wireless Speakers
![TV Audio Moves Closer to Wireless Speakers TV Audio Moves Closer to Wireless Speakers](/static/ph.png)
A new technology called Summit Wireless is being embedded in TVs, speakers, A/V receivers, gaming devices, and Blu-ray players, enabling them to broadcast high-definition surround sound wirelessly.
Sony Surreptitiously Confirms 3D Eyestrain Problems
![Sony Surreptitiously Confirms 3D Eyestrain Problems Sony Surreptitiously Confirms 3D Eyestrain Problems](/static/ph.png)
Tucked away in the latest Terms of Service for the PlayStation Network is a lovely little section that seems to confirm issues raised by the recent Audioholic's Editorial: 3D Hazardous to Your Health.
WARNING: 3D Video Hazardous to Your Health
![WARNING: 3D Video Hazardous to Your Health WARNING: 3D Video Hazardous to Your Health](/static/ph.png)
3DS and 3D HDTV health risk. The truth is that prolonged viewing of 3D video may be even more harmful than the consumer electronics industry wants you to know.
The Axiom Audio Blind Listening Test Overview
![The Axiom Audio Blind Listening Test Overview The Axiom Audio Blind Listening Test Overview](/static/ph.png)
This year's visit to Axiom brought about their announcement of their new V3 series of loudspeakers and running me through their blind listening test. It was an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
Mac Mini Wants a Spot in Your Home Theater
![Mac Mini Wants a Spot in Your Home Theater Mac Mini Wants a Spot in Your Home Theater](/static/ph.png)
Apple’s new toy has an HDMI port and Wireless N so it can stream HD video like nobody’s business. The Mac Mini behaves as though it wants a place alongside your home theater System. Its silent …
AV Rant #181: Dog Pillow
![AV Rant #181: Dog Pillow AV Rant #181: Dog Pillow](/static/ph.png)
This week on AV Rant, Tom loses it. Also on tap this week, Onkyo partners with Walmart, the LifeLock dude needs to change his keys, Steven gets a better answer, and moths might improve displays.
Measuring Pandora Radio
![Measuring Pandora Radio Measuring Pandora Radio](/static/ph.png)
If you haven't heard of Pandora, you should. Have you ever wondered which is better - voting up or down a song? Tom did and he designed an experiment to test it. The next step is up to you.
Why MP3's Won't Kill High Fidelity
![Why MP3's Won't Kill High Fidelity Why MP3's Won't Kill High Fidelity](/static/ph.png)
It seems every six months or so there is a diatribe about the death of high end audio. We've even written a few here. Kids are getting used to MP3s and therefore high end audio is dying. I disagree.
Goldmund's Million Dollar Wall of Sound
![Goldmund's Million Dollar Wall of Sound Goldmund's Million Dollar Wall of Sound](/static/ph.png)
Goldmund, a Swiss company who built a reported million dollar studio. Our favorite quote: "Most of you are familiar with 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. With Goldman we are able to do up to 128 channels."
And So It Begins... FCC Allows MPAA to Control Your TV
![And So It Begins... FCC Allows MPAA to Control Your TV And So It Begins... FCC Allows MPAA to Control Your TV](/static/ph.png)
After years of wrangling with regulators at the FCC to allow retroactive disabling of analog HDTV outputs, the MPAA was finally able to convince the agency to allow them to SOC it to consumers.
Avatar Blu‑ray Highlights DRM Troubles
![Avatar Blu-ray Highlights DRM Troubles Avatar Blu-ray Highlights DRM Troubles](/static/ph.png)
So many consumers went home disappointed this week, hoping to watch a brand new copy of Avatar in flawless HD, that Best Buy put firmware update notices online and in stores to stave off mass returns.
Is 3D HDTV Right For You?
![Is 3D HDTV Right For You? Is 3D HDTV Right For You?](/static/ph.png)
Just in case you haven't purchased enough A/V upgrades in the last few years, the home 3D home-video age is now upon us with plenty of new upgrades for your home theater system.
Universal to Sell CDs for $10 ‑ Duh.
![Universal to Sell CDs for $10 - Duh. Universal to Sell CDs for $10 - Duh.](/static/ph.png)
In a remarkable, but delayed, achievement of common sense, Universal Music Group announced plans to drop prices on all of their new CDs to $10 or less in many music retailers across the country.
The 10 Audioholics Commandments
![The 10 Audioholics Commandments The 10 Audioholics Commandments](/static/ph.png)
After being in the AV business for over 10 years and with literally hundreds of product reviews under our collective belts, we can't help but come to a few conclusions. Commandments if you will.
AV Rant #166: All About MP3s
![AV Rant #166: All About MP3s AV Rant #166: All About MP3s](/static/ph.png)
Ever wonder what you are missing when you compress something into an MP3? Tom and guest co-host Austin Omaha take you through not only the specifics of what MP3 is, but give you real world examples.
TV Technology Innovations at CES 2010
![TV Technology Innovations at CES 2010 TV Technology Innovations at CES 2010](/static/ph.png)
New innovations emerge every year at CES, but this year seems especially flush with big news from the major television manufacturers. And the big news isn’t about size - it's about tech: lot's of it.
The DVD / Blu‑ray RentalGate Scandal
![The DVD / Blu-ray RentalGate Scandal The DVD / Blu-ray RentalGate Scandal](/static/ph.png)
You rent a new release Blu-ray disc to watch in the comforts of your home only to soon find special features, BD Live access and the "R" rated version of the movie missing. Read on to find out why.
NBComcast ‑ Destined to Fail No Matter What
![NBComcast - Destined to Fail No Matter What NBComcast - Destined to Fail No Matter What](/static/ph.png)
So, what happens when one of the largest cable operators in the nation makes a deal for one of the big names in TV and movie content? People start to get worried.
Full of AV Thanks
![Full of AV Thanks Full of AV Thanks](/static/ph.png)
With everyone so full of thanks that they can barely stand it, an AV nut takes a stand. Here are 14 things he is "thankful" for.
CEDIA Bashes CA Ruling on Big TVs... So Do We
![CEDIA Bashes CA Ruling on Big TVs... So Do We CEDIA Bashes CA Ruling on Big TVs... So Do We](/static/ph.png)
CEDIA is outraged by the adoption of the unnecessary and harmful regulation regarding the California TV energy efficiency standard. Folks, this is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Sicker Than H1N1
![Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Sicker Than H1N1 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Sicker Than H1N1](/static/ph.png)
The economy is dicey and NPD analysts say video game revenue is down 13 percent. But when the going gets tough, Activision Blizzard gets going – with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Don't Like Your Job at Blockbuster? Stab Yourself!
![Don't Like Your Job at Blockbuster? Stab Yourself! Don't Like Your Job at Blockbuster? Stab Yourself!](/static/ph.png)
According to an article at The Smoking Gun, Aaron Siebers, a 27-year-old Blockbuster employee, decided that it woudl be better to stab himself than go work at Blockbuster Video.
Hands On Xbox 360, Facebook, Twitter, Last.Fm, Instant Streaming
![Hands On Xbox 360, Facebook, Twitter, Last.Fm, Instant Streaming Hands On Xbox 360, Facebook, Twitter, Last.Fm, Instant Streaming](/static/ph.png)
There is a lot to be excited about with this new Xbox Live update - Facebook and Twitter (ho hum), Last.Fm (hmm... not bad), and 1080p Instant Streaming (not that's cool). See what it's all about.
Hulu ‑ Its Own Worst Enemy
![Hulu - Its Own Worst Enemy Hulu - Its Own Worst Enemy](/static/ph.png)
One doesn't have too look too hard to find examples of businesses mismanaged into oblivion. Is Hulu next? It very well may be and here's why: They are afraid of losing advertising dollars.