“Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment – not marketing slogans”
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Recent Home Theater Editorials

Editorials

Razer Buys THX: What This Could Mean for Your Future Man Cave

— October 20, 2016 09:00

Razer Buys THX: What This Could Mean for Your Future Man Cave

On Monday it was announced that Razer, a computer gaming hardware manufacturer, had acquired an ownership share of THX Ltd. Will the merger signify a step forward in Virtual Reality? Read on.

Editorials

Interview Cary Christie of Artison Audio

— August 11, 2016 00:00

Interview Cary Christie of Artison Audio

We sit down with Cary Christie, co-founder of Infinity Loudspeakers, to discuss his vision of sound excellence with Artison. Their products are custom designed to integrate into the room for high WAF.

Editorials

CBS/Paramount Sets Phasers to Kill on Star Trek Fan‑Fiction with New Guidelines

— June 29, 2016 19:00

CBS/Paramount Sets Phasers to Kill on Star Trek Fan-Fiction with New Guidelines

The Star Trek fan-fiction controversy that resulted in legal battles between CBS/Paramount and Axanar Productions may have concluded last week. CBS/Paramount have finally put forth its guidelines.

Editorials

Literary Transgressions of the Audio Community

— June 20, 2016 00:00

Literary Transgressions of the Audio Community

It’s hard to come up with “new stuff” to say about audio and video. In this article we take you through the most common overused audio terms and clichés. Be sure to share your favorites with us.

Editorials

CBS/Paramount are Copyright Trolls ‑ Beyond Bored of Star Trek Reboot

— May 18, 2016 20:00

CBS/Paramount are Copyright Trolls - Beyond Bored of Star Trek Reboot

Paramount is a Copyright Troll and I’m Beyond Bored of This Star Trek Reboot. See how Axanar Productions is slugging it out with them to produce its own fanfiction along with the legal ramifications.

Editorials

Yamaha AVENTAGE AV Receiver DTS:X Firmware Listening Test Results

— April 12, 2016 08:00

Yamaha AVENTAGE AV Receiver DTS:X Firmware Listening Test Results

After upgrading my home theater to UHD/4k, it was time to update the firmware of my Yamaha RX-A2050 AV receiver to enable DTS:X and HDMI 2.0a (for HDR). We include listening tests of DTS:X upmixer.

Editorials

Exciting New AV Gear Debuts at CES 2017 Revolutionizes Home Audio

— April 01, 2016 00:00

Exciting New AV Gear Debuts at CES 2017 Revolutionizes Home Audio

We have an advanced scoop on new custom AV products debuting at CES 2017 including revolutionary new speakers and other products that are sure to revolutionize the home theater experience!

Editorials

Listening Evaluation of DTS:X on the Denon AVR‑X7200WA Receiver

— February 12, 2016 00:00

Listening Evaluation of DTS:X on the Denon AVR-X7200WA Receiver

Denon X7200WA becomes the first AVR to get DTS:X. Downloading the free firmware installs DTS:X; DTS Neural:X, which coverts legacy content to 3D audio, & interactive dialogue control for 11.2 channels

Editorials

Circuit City How the Once Mighty Have Fallen... and Returned

— February 08, 2016 16:00

Circuit City How the Once Mighty Have Fallen... and Returned

Circuit City. Once the largest consumer electronics retailer in America, has announced that it will begin opening new retail outlets and an online store in June 2016. But, will they succeed this time?

Editorials

Potential Audioquest Rigged HDMI Demo Exposed

— February 01, 2016 21:00

Potential Audioquest Rigged HDMI Demo Exposed

Audiophile drama is unfolding as an Audioquest HDMI cable demo, featuring an Audioquest employee showing unrealistic changes in sound, was seemingly debunked as fraudulent by Mark Waldrep, Dr. AIX.

Editorials

Headphone Fashion Guide: Does Style Trump Sound Quality?

— January 29, 2016 09:00

Headphone Fashion Guide: Does Style Trump Sound Quality?

Today, headphone fashion is infinitely more complex. Frank Zappa once said: “No change in music style will survive unless it is accompanied by a change in clothing style.” His words were prophetic.

Editorials

CEDIA 2015 DTS‑X and Dolby Atmos Demos Updated

— December 17, 2015 08:00

CEDIA 2015 DTS-X and Dolby Atmos Demos Updated

We were pleased with the immersive surround demos by MartinLogan, Paradigm, RBH Sound, JBL and others at CEDIA 2015. We heard the very first DTS:X demos and discuss them in our YouTube video report.

Editorials

Apple Wages War on 3.5‑mm Jack, Promotes Economy Through Planned Obsolescence

— December 10, 2015 05:00

Apple Wages War on 3.5-mm Jack, Promotes Economy Through Planned Obsolescence

Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus users are complaining about their phones 3.5-mm headphone jacks failing. Meanwhile speculation is circulating that Apple may do away with the standard connector altogether

Editorials

Is Vintage Better than Modern for Audio Equipment?

— December 03, 2015 01:00

Is Vintage Better than Modern for Audio Equipment?

Are the glowing memories of vintage audio gear and automobiles justified? Read this comparison to see how vintage vs modern pans out and if you should keep your old gear or embrace the modern era.

Editorials

What Makes the Biggest Audible Differences in Home Theater?

— November 06, 2015 00:00

What Makes the Biggest Audible Differences in Home Theater?

While some focus on minutiae to “improve” the fidelity of their Hi-Fi system, we focus on the three areas that matter most, the quality of the source, room acoustics and speakers. Read on to see why.

Editorials

Tidal: The Worst Music Service Online — Except for All the Others

— November 05, 2015 00:00

Tidal: The Worst Music Service Online — Except for All the Others

Tidal has earned notoriety as a new online music business since it arrived last spring. But, it’s making headlines for everything but the high quality music it can stream.

Editorials

Art vs Science of Audio Reproduction: Which Team Are You In?

— October 07, 2015 11:00

Art vs Science of Audio Reproduction: Which Team Are You In?

In this latest YouTube video, Hugo and I discuss the art and science of audio as well as which is the right way to approach. In order to have a Zen line balance in audio, you must embrace both sides.

Editorials

Brick and Mortar AV Retail vs Internet Direct: Which is Right for You?

— September 02, 2015 17:00

Brick and Mortar AV Retail vs Internet Direct: Which is Right for You?

Retail or Internet? Are you having a tough time deciding which is best avenue for you to purchase your AV home theater gear? We discuss the pros and cons of each along with entertaining anecdotes.

Editorials

The Rotating Immersive Surround Speaker Concept

— August 07, 2015 16:00

The Rotating Immersive Surround Speaker Concept

In an industry where MORE is better, what happens when the existing Atmos & DTS:X technology becomes yesterday's news? We propose a new rotating surround sound speaker for the next sound generation.

Editorials

Four Cool AV Gadgets Born By Combining Health and Consumer Electronics

— July 17, 2015 09:00

Four Cool AV Gadgets Born By Combining Health and Consumer Electronics

How does Occupational Health and Consumer Electronics go together? Read the following editorial to find out that when they do the most innovative and coolest products are born.

Editorials

Harman Research vs Consumer Product Development Are They Related?

— June 01, 2015 08:00

Harman Research vs Consumer Product Development Are They Related?

Our loudspeaker myths YouTube video put in question whether the research loudspeaker companies claim to do actually trickles into their products. Does Harman's research benefit their products?

Editorials Preview

AIX Records, Revel Speakers, Benchmark Audio 5.1 High Resolution Demo

Michael Kneznekoff — May 15, 2015 08:00

AIX Records, Revel Speakers, Benchmark Audio 5.1 High Resolution Demo

What do you get when you combine five Revel Salon2 speakers, audio equipment from Benchmark Audio and Oppo and music from AIX records? An incredible mult-channel surround experience at AXPONA 2015.

Editorials

History of High Fidelity Headphones & Hearing Preservation

— May 12, 2015 08:00

History of High Fidelity Headphones & Hearing Preservation

Audiophiles enjoy getting their hi-fi fix on a personal level with headphones. The technology has evolved to support surround sound and wireless convenience. But, are we listening at safe levels?

Editorials

Where are all the Dolby Atmos‑enabled Speakers?

— April 27, 2015 08:00

Where are all the Dolby Atmos-enabled Speakers?

Dolby introduced the Atmos-enabled speaker to add height to existing systems in support of immersive surround sound. It was marketed as the "preferred" option, but one year later where are they now?

Editorials

Star Wars: Episode VII Force Awakens New Details Look Promising?

— April 17, 2015 16:55

Star Wars: Episode VII Force Awakens New Details Look Promising?

Based on the latest YouTube trailer, the new Star Wars: Episode VII Force Awakens movie looks promising. Can this movie bring balance back to the franchise sorely missed since the original movies?

Editorials

AV Products that Should Make a Come Back?

— April 01, 2015 15:20

AV Products that Should Make a Come Back?

We all have a nostalgic side to us for vintage gear. But what about the obscure products like 8-track, battery powered cables, Lexicon Blu-ray players and Atmos reflection speakers? Tell us yours.

Editorials

Dolby Wants to Make the Atmos Cinema Experience Mobile

— March 18, 2015 08:00

Dolby Wants to Make the Atmos Cinema Experience Mobile

At Mobile World Congress 2015 Dolby said it wants to put better speakers onto the face of your smartphone and tablet device to create an immersive, theatrical experience. Gimmick or true advancement?

Editorials

Net Neutrality Objections: The 'Big Cable' Propoganda Machine

— March 02, 2015 08:00

Net Neutrality Objections: The 'Big Cable' Propoganda Machine

Last Thursday the FCC voted in favor of reclassifying the Internet as a Title II public utility. This means all US-based Internet services enjoy FCC enforced net neutrality. How will things change?