Audio Video News

Apple HomePod (Gen 2) Wireless Smart Speaker: $300

It took a few years but Apple has finally updated the all-in-one HomePod smart speaker it introduced in 2018. Like its predecessor, the updated HomePod is quite the streaming marvel, capable of delivering sound that is clear, detailed, and spacious, while doubling as a Siri voice controller for all kinds of smart devices. Put two HomePods in play and you are rewarded with true stereo sound and a genuinely immersive experience whether you’re listening to music, watching a movie, or playing a videogame. The system even decodes object-based Dolby Atmos soundtracks with remarkable results. Better yet, you can put the speakers almost anywhere and they will automatically adapt to the acoustics of the environment.

Following a super easy setup, reviewer Mark Henninger paired two speakers with an Apple TV 4K box and was stunned by how close the sonic experience was to what you’d expect to hear from a full-blown multispeaker AV system. “For the first time I can recall, I got goosebumps listening to a smart speaker…I also marveled at the amount of bass these charming pods managed to muster.” In an impressive feat of technical prowess, Apple has figured out how to provide an all-encompassing listening experience from just two speakers at a price that won’t break the bank.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clear and detailed sound
Easy to set up and use
Supports Dolby Atmos, eARC
Pair two with an Apple TV 4K for a complete system
Minus
Needs an iOS device for setup
No optional subwoofer
Limited maximum volume

Full Review Here (posted 1/31/23)

Samsung HW-Q990B Atmos Soundbar: $1,500

In 1998 Altec Lansing introduced the Voice of the Digital Theatre before anyone knew what a soundbar was. With its companion subwoofer, the system offered an impressive space-saving solution for improving TV sound but it was before its time and never gained traction. By the early 2000s the concept started to catch on as a convenient alternative to the complexity of a standard surround setup with five speakers and subwoofer. Fast forward to today and soundbars are everywhere and provide levels of performance, ranging from a simple three-channel soundbar to sophisticated systems like Samsung's impressive HW-Q990B, which is designed to deliver a credible home theater experience from a svelte 4-foot-wide soundbar housing 15 (!) drivers, two wireless surround speakers, and a wireless subwoofer.

With a total of 22 drivers powered by 400 watts of integrated power, the 11.1.4 setup is remarkable for providing a convenient, space saving path to powerful sound — including object-based Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. It didn’t take long for veteran reviewer Rob Sabin to be wowed by what he heard. ”The resulting sound bubble was enthralling…World Cup soccer and NFL football games were delivered with convincing stadium sound that placed me in the middle of the crowd noise and gave voice announcements an appropriately echoey feel.” The Q990B can hold its own against a full-fledged surround-sound speaker setup but it also excels with music. At $1,500, it’s not cheap but boy can it deliver.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
11.1.4-channel Atmos/DTS:X with wireless rear surrounds
Audiophile-grade sonics
Superb dynamics
Extensive adjustability
Intuitive SmartThings app for control
Minus
Some functions hard to reach with remote
No Atmos/DTS:X indicator on app

Full Review Here (posted 2/8/23)

Sony VPL-XW5000ES 4K HDR Laser Projector: $6,000

The VPL-XW5000ES is a follow-up to the VPL-VW325ES we reviewed last year. Upgrades are significant and include better video processing, higher brightness, and a much longer light source lifespan thanks to a laser rated for 20,000 hours, more than three times the traditional bulb used in the VW325ES. The projector trades a motorized lens for one requiring manual setup, a necessary concession to hit the price point, but deploys the same three-chip SXRD LCoS imagers and “X1 Ultimate for Projector” processor found in Sony models costing two to five times as much.

Mark Henninger paired the Sony with a 140-inch with a 1.0 gain and was not disappointed by what he saw in a darkened room. Setup is straightforward and your efforts are rewarded with exceptional color accuracy that mitigates the need for professional calibration. The projector’s motion handling is likewise outstanding and Sony provides a handful of useful picture modes, including two Cinema settings and IMAX Enhanced. The 5000ES is particularly well suited for gaming with an incredibly smooth frame rate, low lag (11 milliseconds) and support for 1080p at 120 Hz. As reviewer Mark Henninger put it, “Gameplay feels incredibly responsive, and I definitely gain a competitive advantage from the low lag.” The bottom line: Combining a laser light source with the X1 Ultimate processor gives the XW5000ES an edge over its competitors.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Native 4K
Accurate color
Laser light source
2,000 ANSI lumens brightness
Powerful image processor (X1 Ultimate for Projector)
Minus
Manual lens adjustment
Lens could be sharper
Does not cover DCI/P3 gamut
Lacks HDMI 2.1

Full Review Here (posted 2/21/23)

Fluance Ai81 Active Stereo Speaker System: $499/pair

We’ve had good luck with bookshelf speakers from Canada’s Fluance so we were intrigued when they came out with the Ai81, a medium-height floorstander, which like its smaller siblings has onboard power — 75 watts/channel in this case — and supports wireless streaming via Bluetooth. The speaker mates a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter with two 6.5-inch woofers in a sealed cabinet that stands just under 38 inches tall with a woodgrain vinyl finish offered in black or the two-tone white/woodgrain shown here. What’s most enticing is the price: 500 bucks for a pair of full-range speakers is an achievement worth celebrating, especially if they sound good. And they do.

Grab your phone, select Fluance from its Bluetooth menu and you’re off and running. Otherwise, the speaker is of the just-add-source variety, offering two sets of analog RCA jacks and an optical digital input, plus a subwoofer output for those who crave truly deep bass. Recording engineer-turned-reviewer Leslie Shapiro found the speakers to be on the bright (but never harsh) side and fully capable of putting up a realistic stereo image. “I was instantly impressed. There was no surround processing, just precise stereo placement.” The Ai81s are an option worth exploring for anyone who is on a budget.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Convenient (outboard amp not required)
Budget-friendly
Multiple input options
Excellent soundstage
Minus
Needs a subwoofer for movies
Veiled midrange
Bright treble

Full Review Here (posted 2/22/23)