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Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor Review

Mark Henninger | Sep 18, 2023 | 1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $2,500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Cutting-edge graphics
Extreme immersion
Futuristic design
DisplayPort 2.1
Accurate colors
Handles HDR well
Minus
Expensive
Needs a powerful PC for gaming
No remote

THE VERDICT
While it requires a cutting edge, top-of-the-line PC to get the most out of it, If you love simulated driving or flying, the Neo G9 57-inch monitor was made for you.

When it comes to visual immersion, Samsung's curved, ultra-wide Odyssey gaming monitors are about as close as you can get to VR without donning goggles. And no such monitor that Samsung has released embodies this more than the Odyssey Neo G9, a 57-inch beast that is the resolution equivalent of two 4K 16:9 monitors side-by-side.

Other Tech A/V Veteran

How I Put Audyssey Room Correction to Work for Me

Thomas J. Norton | Dec 05, 2018 | First Published: Dec 04, 2018 | 28 comments

Room correction is a process by which you eliminate (or I should say, attempt to eliminate) the nasty acoustic qualities of a small room. Many variables are at play, not the least of which are the acoustic characteristics of your room, but today’s room correction systems can be very helpful in improving room response. Here I share my recent experience with one of these systems.

Audio Separates Buying Tips Other Tech

Class Act: Amplifier Classes Explained

Daniel Kumin | Dec 22, 2016 | 3 comments

From time to time, in these pages—err, screens—and elsewhere, you’ll see references to amplifier “class”: Class A, Class D, and so on. What’s it mean?

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UHD Blu-ray vs. HDMI – Pt. 2: Which Cables Can Actually Pass HDMI 2.0?

David Vaughn | Nov 11, 2016 | 21 comments

Earlier this year, shortly after the release of the first Ultra HD (UHD) Blu-ray Disc player from Samsung, I wrote about the challenges of getting the player's full-bandwidth video signals to travel over longer distances in “UHD Blu-ray vs. HDMI: Let the Battle Begin”. Unfortunately, nearly 8 months later, consumers whose displays are more than 15 feet away from the Samsung UBD-K8500 are still in a pickle when it comes to choosing the proper HDMI cable to get the menu screen to properly come up on screen.

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Streaming 4K Video: What You Need to Know

John Sciacca | May 27, 2016 | 2 comments

Your new 4K, Ultra High Definition (UHD) TV is finally home and now you’re ready to start enjoying 8 million pixels of next-gen, ultra-video awesomeness. But that screen isn’t gonna just fill itself with UHD. Doing so is going to take a bit of planning and logistics to ensure you wring every bit of performance you can from it. Should you buy one of the new UHD Blu-ray players? If you care first about image quality, you probably should. But what about Ultra HD streaming from Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, and others—should you write them off? Negative!

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Guide To Hi-Res Audio - Finding Hi-Res Music

SV Staff | May 06, 2016 | 8 comments

Finding Hi-Res Music: Hi-Res Audio is becoming more plentiful and easier to find online. Here’s where to go and what you’ll discover there.

Heard of Hi-Res Audio? While most folks argue the merits of Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Pandora, enlightened music lovers busily seek out other online sources for their music fix. These destinations are generally small Websites that specialize in selling albums and individual song downloads in Hi-Res Audio formats. But just what is Hi-Res Audio?

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What You Need to Know About Hi-Res Audio

SV Staff | Apr 19, 2016 | 5 comments

Trying to get a handle on Hi-Res Audio and how it relates to your enjoyment of music? Get answers to frequently-asked questions.

Streaming Device Reviews Other Tech

D-Link DIR890L/R Tri-Band Router Review

Barb Gonzalez | Aug 07, 2015 | 0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics

PRICE $130

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Three bands with automatic switching for greater dedicated bandwidth to individual devices
Fast, reliable streaming throughout home network
Two USB ports make hard drives accessible within home and remotely
Minus
Dashboard makes it hard to customize some settings
Automated band switching and QoS remove options to change settings to suit your needs
No backup or media management software

THE VERDICT
A speedy, reliable router that’s great if you accept its automatic settings.

As I’ve taken to streaming as much 4K video as I can from Netflix and Amazon, it was important to get the fastest router. Perhaps there’s something psychological about the candy-apple red glossy exterior that reminds me of a cross between a drag racer and a spaceship, or perhaps it was its impressive specs, but either way, I was inspired to try out D-Link’s DIR890L/R top-of-the-line tri-band router.

Other Tech

Video Tour: PS Audio Sprout and Teac AI-301DA AmpDAC Combos

Rob Sabin | Jul 10, 2015 | 0 comments

What's an "integrated amplifier/asynchronous digital-to-analog converter combo" (a.k.a. amp/DAC)? Editor-in-Chief Rob Sabin explains and presents an overview of the PS Audio Sprout and Teac AI-301DA reviewed by Dan Kumin.

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Four Steps to Hi-Res Heaven

Al Griffin | Apr 21, 2015 | 16 comments

The difference between regular and high-definition video is something that most folks will immediately recognize when they see it. But what about high-resolution audio? Unlike HDTV, which caught on fairly quickly and enjoyed a broad base of support from program providers and hardware manufacturers, hi-res audio or HRA, (now an industry-sanctioned term) has struggled to move out of its audiophile niche since downloadable content first came online back in 2008.

Other Tech Audio Video News

Eye on Atmos: 15 Minutes with Dolby’s Brett Crockett

Bob Ankosko | Aug 11, 2014 | 3 comments

In preparation for the launch of the first wave of Dolby Atmos-enabled products, Dolby is conducting press demos in New York and Los Angeles this week. Stay tuned for our reports later in the week. In the meantime, we touched base with Brett Crockett, director of sound research at Dolby Labs, to learn more about Atmos and its promise of taking home theater to new heights.

S&V: Why does the world need another surround format? What does Atmos bring to the home theater experience?
Brett Crockett: Dolby Atmos moves beyond the paradigm of channel-based audio, which has gone as far as it can in the home. Captivating sound surrounds you from all directions, including overhead, filling the room with astonishing clarity, richness, detail, and depth. The specific sounds of people, music, and things move all around you in multidimensional space, so you feel like you are inside the action.

S&V: How does the “object-based” Atmos system compare with the familiar channel-based system?
BC: Until now, cinema sound designers have had to mix independent sounds together into channels for soundtrack creation. A discrete sound, such as a helicopter, has been assigned to an individual channel rather than precisely to where it would occur naturally in the scene. While a sound can move across channels, there’s no height dimension. For example, you might hear the helicopter from a side channel (and speaker array) but not above you. This approach limits your audio experience because it can’t come close to matching the way you hear in real life, with sounds coming from every direction.

Other Tech New Products

Nipping Hearing Loss in the (Ear)bud: Asius Technologies Ambrose Diaphonic Ear Lens

Bob Ankosko | Jul 09, 2014 | 0 comments

It’s no secret that prolonged exposure to loud music can lead to tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears) and permanent hearing loss. Any number of famous rock musicians have acknowledged having hearing problems. Hitting closer to home, the Hearing Health Foundation reports that 50 million Americans live with hearing loss, a staggering statistic that includes one in five teens, whose hearing problems are largely attributed to listening to music through headphones—especially earbuds—at high volumes for an extended period.

Custom Installation How-To Other Tech Audio Video News

Vicoustic: A Designer Take on Room Acoustics

Kris Deering | Dec 02, 2013 | 1 comments

This year’s CEDIA convention had a lot of high profile products that generated a lot of buzz. One of the companies that caught my eye was Vicoustic, whose booth featured an assortment of acoustic panels that looked nothing like the boring rectangles and squares we typically associate with room treatments; instead, they looked like something you’d find in the lobby of an upscale office or hotel.

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