Recently Published AV News
Spotify Premium Is Lossless Listening At Last, But with Caveats?

After years of delays, Spotify is finally rolling out lossless audio quality to subscribers of its Premium plan. Lossless audio is offered via FLAC, but it maxes out at 24-bit/44.1kHz. Any caveats?
FCC's AllVid to Bail Out Failed CableCARD Technology

CableCARD. The technology that would allow any manufacturer to interface with satellite and cableTV programming. Except that, like the Tiger Woods Center for Marriage Enrichment, it failed miserably.
Denon Turns 100 ‑ New Receivers, Blu‑ray, Headphones

Denon turns 100 and releases new receivers, Blu-ray players, and headphones. The headphones will be noise-canceling, the Blu-ray players universal, and the receivers feature packed.
VUDU Scoops Avatar HD Streaming

VUDU announced this morning that they are the only streaming media service provider that will offer Avatar in HD on April 22nd at 12:01 am EST, Earth Day, in a rare day-and-date release.
Niles Audio ZR‑6 Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

The Niles ZR-6 Multi-zone receiver was voluntarily conducted by Niles Audio Corp. of Miami, Florida in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
D&M Holdings Discontinues Snell and Escient

D&M Holdings issued a press release today that it is discontinuing Escient and Snell and rolling much of those technologies into its remaining brands: Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and Boston Acoustics.
Are You an AV Professional? This Music Video is for You

Every once in a while we see something that's funny enough to put on our home page. This time around it's a video called A/V Professional by "HiPhi" and directed by Joel T Wilson.
Redbox Announces Blu‑rays at Walmart ‑ Soon Everywhere

Redbox, who has over 22,400 kiosks across the country is getting ready to release Blu-ray Discs to consumers. Blu-ray Discs will be available in a majority of Redbox kiosks by July.
You Want Speakers? We Got Speakers!

Long time members of the Audioholics Forums will know that we often have contests. This month, we have something a little special. Speakers from Aperion Audio, ZVOX, and Orb Audio.
HDMI Releases 1.4a Specification

HDMI Licensing, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface specification, today announced the release of HDMI Specification Version 1.4a featuring key enhancements.
AV123 Mark Schifter Indicted by Grand Jury on Five Counts

The story was first reported at length on our own Audioholics Forums several months ago, but the official grand jury indictment finally came through for Mark L. Schifter of AV123.com.
2010 Mobile World Congress; Software over Bling

This year's Mobile World Congress was short on new handset bling but big on new software, the GSM mobile world is not recession proof. An underlying optimism springs from the announcements; promise.
Walmart Acquires VUDU Inc

In a surprising announcement, Walmart announced today a definitive agreement to acquire VUDU, Inc., a leading provider of streaming digital technologies and services to stream media to TVs.
2010: The Year AACS and HDMI Kill Off Component Video

AACS is going to royally screw up a lot of home theaters next year. After December 31, 2010, manufacturers will not be "allowed" introduce new hardware with high-definition component video outputs.
After Only 2 Years, Sony Drops OLED in Japan

Once trumpeted as Sony's return to high technology leadership, the company has stopped production of OLED TV in Japan. With worldwide shipments of just 2000 units it's not entirely an unexpected move.
Sony PS3 Upgradable to 3D Blu‑ray and Gaming

The Sony PlayStation 3 is being set up for another huge transformation, one that will further its reputation as the "buy it once, use it forever" Blu-ray player. A firmware update will make it 3D.
Vizio Brand Redux, Featuring Beyonce and The Internet

Vizio, the once budget TV maker has used the pricey Superbowl XLIV ad-space and Beyonce to rebuild its brand. The new Vizio wants to transform into a leading-edge, Internet connectivity.
Netflix in 1080p and 5.1 Surround Sound ‑ Not so Fast!

A flurry of activity went on today as Cnet broke a story about Netflix adding 1080p and 5.1 audio to its entire streaming library later this year. Turns out it wasn't entirely accurate... we'll wait.
Super Bowl XLIV Uncompressed Feed: Will You Get The Immaculate Reception?

Super Bowl XLIV will be transmitted to CBS in pristine, compression free HDTV thanks to Level 3 Communications Inc. Unfortunately most Cable and Satellite TV won't see this year's Immaculate Reception
Apple iPhones it in with iPad

Apple's iPad announcement has been met with disappointment among tech-press. The biggest disappointment with iPad, besides its unfortunate name, is not about features... it's the interface.
MagicJack Casts A Spell On Your Cell Phone

The wizards at YMAX Corporation, the company that created MagicJack, have a new trick up their sleeve – they want to turn into Skype. Unfortunately, YMAX's sudden rise, is a case of growing too fast.
Nintendo Wii Scores Netflix… But Why?

Nintendo Wii picks up a new feature, Netflix streaming. The biggest question here is... why? We hope Mario and company hasn't changed the gaming first philosophy. Still, Wii users get a nice bonus.
Denon Upgrades AVR‑3310CI and AVR‑990 to DSX

The AVR-3310CI and AVR-990 (both retailing for $1500) join the ranks of the AVR-4310CI and AVR-4810CI with Audyssey DSX. The upgrade will be available on Feburary 1st at a cost of $100.
Denon Covers the Olympics... Again

When you are looking for audio quality control, who do you look to? Well, if you are NBC Universal and you are covering something as important as the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, you look to Denon.
Wireless Power and Electricity Coming Soon!

Chinese manufacturer Haier decided to steal the show at CES this week by showing off a 32-inch TV set at CES that is running completely wirelessly. And when we say completely... we mean COMPLETELY.
Monster Introduces Noise Making/Power Line Conditioning Home Theater Plug?

Monster is introducing the PowerNet 1G power line conditioning home theater plug that may actually make a little of its own digital noise as it sends high speed networking over your home's power lines
2009 Consumer Excellence Awards

Audioholics is ready once again to accept entries for the 2009 Consumer Excellence Awards that it will deliver to manufacturers for products that push the limits of consumer excellence.
NBC Grinching Christmas Rockefeller Center telecast?

The union that represents NBC’s producers, writers and technicians today vowed to pull the plug on the network’s "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" telecast in response to a failed union negotiation.
Microsoft Bans 1 Million Xbox 360 Pirates

Over 1 million Xbox Live players around the world lost their ability to access their online accounts when Microsoft dropped the bomb on suspected "pirates". The ban is linked to the console hard drive