Recent Home Theater Editorials

The tractor beam has long been the stuff of science fiction, but it turns out that this technical milestone of nerd culture already exists thanks to developments in acoustic technology. Today, you can find instructions online to build your own tractor beam with a 3D printer. However, because it uses sound, the technology is limited to very small but visible objects. But it’s already being used to study the effects on life in space and shows potential as a component in a future medical tricorder. This is just another example of technology predicted by Star Trek.

Norway became the first country to begin a campaign of shutting down FM radio signals this week. The nation’s “Radio Digitization” program began on 1/11 at 11:11 am – a start time with a very “digital” feel. The FM shutdown will run through 2017 county by county, until the last FM signal is squelched and the airwaves over Norway go cold and silent in mid-December. Is Norway the first of what may eventually become a global push to 86 FM forever?

It's been a tough year of loss for so many of the musicians we love, especially those that grew up in the 80s and revered them as icons. Yet, I know it’s ridiculous to blame the arbitrary goal posts in time we call a year for the loss of the many beloved celebrities gone in 2016. I’m certain our perception of 2016 is skewed, yet I can't help but be glad to see an end to this year. Rest in peace 2016. And good riddance.

On Monday THX announced that it was purchased by Razer, a computer gaming hardware company. Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan promises to let THX run independently. Tan added that there will be collaborations bringing together THX audio experience and Razer computer technology. But many see the deal as yet another low point for the once proud THX logo. Let's take a closer look at what the deal could mean to the future of home entertainment and how it could possibly leap forward Virtual Reality technologies.

We got a chance to pick the brain of Cary Christie, a legend in the audio industry and co-founder of Infinity Loudspeakers. This interview will give you a historical perspective of Cary's contributions to the audio world as well as his roadmap for his current company Artison. If you are looking for a killer sound system with high WAF that is virtually invisible, you owe it to yourself to check out the very innovative products coming out from Artison.

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 long-awaited guidelines intended to clarify acceptable fan-fiction so that it won’t get the creative Star Trek fan sued for copyright infringement. But in doing so, it may have launched Star Trek fan-fiction’s torpedo casket into space with a solemn salute. To be or not to be is the question which we ask about the future of Star Trek fanfilm.

We live in an audio world of cliché, hyperbole, misinformation, lies, factoids, and general horsehockey. And those of us who toil in this arena are all somewhat guilty. It’s hard to come up with “new stuff” to say about audio and video. In this article we guide you through some of the most commonly overused audio terms in the industry. The thing you have to remember is that a tired, worn out cliché is…a tired, worn out cliché. Be sure to share your favorites in the related forum thread.

After success at the box office, the Star Trek franchise reboot has proven it's profitable to turn out forgettable action movies that bear only superficial similarity to the Star Trek universe. Meanwhile, fanfiction like Axanar Productions have earned recognition with high production quality this becoming easier to obtain with today's digital technology. So, why is Axanar being sued instead of hired to make the next Trek movie? Why do some Trek fans think Axanar is bad for all fanfiction? Bad rap or is Axanar Productions getting the shaft from BIG Corp?

After months of planning and executing a UHD/4k upgrade to my home theater, it was time to implement the final piece of the puzzle; a firmware update to my Yamaha RX-A2050 AV receiver that enables two key elements - DTS:X and HDMI 2.0a (for HDR). This article takes you through the process of the firmware upgrade and summarizes my experiences and listening tests of the new DTS:X format and how the upmixer compares to DSU and Yamaha's own DSP modes.

Audioholics is always at the forefront when it comes to finding innovative new audio products. Our industry experts search out the latest and greatest, and we separate the serious, significant products from the snake oil and the frivolous. Here is just a sampling of some of the ingenious new custom speaker items (and more) we have an advanced scoop on that will debut at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show that may just revolutionize your two-channel audiophile experience. Remember you saw it here first!

The wait is over. DTS:X is finally here and the Denon AVR-X7200W/WA has the distinction of being the first AVR to get the DTS:X firmware update. With our Denon X7200WA on-hand, we took DTS:X for a spin, providing the real story about its supported speaker layouts, and our listening impressions of DTS' next generation audio codec. We also checked out DTS Neural:X upmixer, which coverts legacy content to 3D immersive audio; and interactive dialogue control for up to 11.2 channels.

Circuit City is getting the band back together. Yes, that Circuit City. Once the largest consumer electronics retailer in America turned cautionary tale for executive mismanagement, has announced that it will begin opening new retail outlets and an online store in June 2016. The stores will include a mix of in-store products and kiosks on which visitors to the new stores can order from a library of over a million products. Do you think they will succeed this time? Read on and please share your thoughts in our forum discussion.

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, aka Dr. AIX, in a recent blog post. A subsequent "Open Letter" from Audioquest owner William Low admitted he heard the video a year ago, found the audio difference "unbelievable", but did not ask to have the video removed until after Mark Waldrep published his findings a year later. Is this an isolated incident, or just the latest in a string of misleading behavior perpetuated in the high-end cable industry? Read on to find out and be sure to watch our recently added YouTube video discussion for further insights.

It's safe to assume that Audioholics readers are the kinds of people who choose headphones, or any audio equipment, on the merits of sound quality first. But headphones are one of the oldest wearable technologies that have become highly mobile in recent years, so it makes sense they have also morphed into one of the fastest growing fashion trends in recent years. Although our primary requirement from a pair of headphones is sound quality, these days is it even possible to totally avoid headphone fashion trends?