Audio Video News

Onkyo TX-NR787 9.2-Channel Network AV Receiver: $699

Onkyo has outdone itself with a versatile nine-channel AVR that delivers an impressive blend of performance and features at a price that all but assured its status as a Sound & Vision Top Value Pick. With ample processing power to accommodate a DTS:X or Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 setup, the TX-NR787 is capable of delivering impressively rich, powerful sound in rooms as big as 2,000 square feet as confirmed by its THX Select certification. Its robust feature set, which includes ready access to a wealth of wireless streaming options and features like AccuEQ Advance room calibration, will more than satisfy most listeners.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Powerful, full-bodied sound
5.1.4 and 7.1.2-channel surround options
AccuEQ Advance room calibration
Minus
No multichannel preamp outputs
Basic remote control

Full Review Here

 

Naim Mu-so QB 2nd Generation Wireless Music System: $900

U.K. audio specialists Naim Audio have taken an already great multiroom wireless music system and made it even better. Though it looks almost identical to its predecessor, the internals of the second-generation Mu-so Qb have been revamped to improve functionality and expand streaming options, which now include support for Chromecast and Apple’s Airplay 2 streaming platform in addition to providing direct access to Spotify and the repository of hi-res music offered by Tidal. A tad bigger than an 8-inch cube, the diminutive Qb is impeccably built and delivers sound reviewer Bob Ankosko described as “consistently rich and full.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact
Built like a tank
Elegant fit and finish
Excellent sound quality
Minus
Sound can be a little bright
App isn’t always intuitive
Pricey

Full Review Here

 

Klipsch R-41M Home Theater Speaker System: $996 (as reviewed)

If you think it’s impossible to build a kick-ass home theater while spending less than a grand on speakers, think again. The Klipsch R-41M six-piece speaker system is a shining example of why we created the Top Value Pick designation in the first place. With movies, the 5.1-channel setup is fully capable of creating an atmospheric soundscape without sacrificing clarity in dialogue. And with music, it delivers the sort of lively, dynamic sound you’d expect to hear from systems costing much more. Enthusiastically recommended.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dynamic and lively sound
Good stereo and surround sound imaging
Minus
Requires careful setup for best performance
Basic black finish only

Full Review Here

Vizio 5.1.4 Atmos Soundbar: $999

For many of us, a full-blown Dolby Atmos speaker system is simply out of the question due to concerns over complexity, space, budget, or some combination of the three. Enter what may be the ultimate compromise: Vizio’s 5.1.4 soundbar system (model SB46514-F6), which delivers a shockingly good immersive surround experience from a four-piece setup comprising a 46-inch-wide bar with eight drivers (two up-firing), two rear satellite speakers (also with up-firing drivers), and a subwoofer. As a bonus, the system supports wireless streaming via Bluetooth and Chromecast.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Potent sound for the price
5.1.4 Atmos playback
Chromecast built-in for music streaming
Minus
No wireless surround speaker option
No DTS:X decoding

Full Review Here

Vizio M658-G1 M-Series Quantum LCD Ultra HDTV: $1,000

If you’ve budgeted a thousand bucks to spend on a new TV, do yourself a favor and check out Vizio’s 65-inch M658-G1. The new M-series set combines full-array local dimming with quantum-dot illumination to achieve excellent picture quality. At this price, you’ll be sacrificing some high dynamic range (HDR) pop and you won’t experience the blackest black but you will get best-in-class performance that left veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton more than a little impressed: “The brilliant colors on the animated Trolls jumped off the screen. The same held true for The Great Wall, the reds and greens of the army uniforms billowing brilliantly in the sun.” The M658 is a serious contender.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support
Great post-calibration performance
Low price
Minus
Limited HDR brightness
Poor off-center picture uniformity
No useful motion-smoothing options

Full Review Here