Audio Video News

Summer 2023 is off to a great start. In recent weeks we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and recommending a topnotch speaker system from a revered speaker brand known for its exceptional sounding electrostatic speakers, a flagship-level AVR with four subwoofer outputs that forgoes the flagship price, a speaker system you can conceal in your walls, and an ultra-wide QD-OLED monitor that propels gaming to new heights.

Denon AVR-X3800H AV Receiver: $1,700

Decades after the “marriage of audio and video” finally materialized in the form of VCRs with stereo sound and receivers with built-in surround-sound decoding, the AudioVideo (AV) receiver continues to impress with its seemingly limitless ability to cram ever more technology into a single component that also houses enough wattage to drive a gaggle of speakers. Denon’s AVR-X3800H is an impressive modern-day specimen that combines nine channels of power with all of the features you’ll need to assemble a kick-ass home theater at a price that is unexpectedly reasonable. The list includes three flavors of immersive surround-sound processing — Dolby Atmos, DTS:X (with an IMAX Enhanced mode), and Auro-3D — multiroom wireless streaming via Denon’s Heos system, HDMI 2.1 on all inputs and outputs, 8K video capability with upscaling, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range (HDR) processing, top-level Audyssey room-acoustics processing, and plenty more.

But for serious system builders, what really stands out is the inclusion of four independent subwoofer outputs to support setups that have two or more subwoofers and the ability to direct some (or all) of the receiver’s nine amplifier channels to preamplifier outputs to accommodate more advanced AV setups with different power requirements.

Reviewer Dan Kumin used the X3800H to drive a 5.1.4-channel Atmos speaker system that he was able to calibrate to a T using the onboard Audyssey system. From there, he auditioned a series of stereo music and multichannel music and movie selections to gauge overall performance, which, in a word, was superb. With music, the Dolby Atmos mix of a Stravinsky violin concerto stood out for its natural tone, hall-sound, and spatial localization. Shifting over to movies, the Atmos soundtrack of 2013’s Gravity came through with its brilliant use of spatial location to elevate the drama of being stranded in space. All in all, the Denon AVR-X3800H AV receiver shines for its ability to deliver flagship performance without the flagship price.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Audyssey XT32 room correction (with extra-cost Dirac Live option)
9 channels for powering a full Atmos/DTS:X layout
4 subwoofer outputs to integrate and EQ multiple subs
Handy global-preset feature
Minus
HEOS app required for streaming music services
Non-backlit remote

Full Review Here (posted 6/16/23)

MartinLogan Motion Home Theater Speakers and BalancedForce Subwoofer: $9,194 (as tested)

When MartinLogan introduced the Motion Series more than a decade ago, the line represented a new direction for a brand that had built its reputation around the magnificent sounding electrostatic speakers it had been producing since 1983. It embraced a traditional box speaker design with one important exception: instead of a standard dome tweeter, it used an innovative Folded Motion tweeter — a rectangular thin-film diaphragm that’s folded like an accordion and suspended in a magnetic field. The tweeter, which offers many of the same performance benefits of electrostatic technology but in a smaller package, remains a cornerstone of the Motion Series, now in its fourth generation, and sounds as sweet as ever.

The 5.1 home theater ensemble we reviewed mated two Motion F20 towers with a Motion C10 center, two stand-mounted Motion B10 bookshelf/surround speakers, and a BalancedForce 210 subwoofer — all beautifully appointed and built with exceptional care. Once the system was set up and the requisite subwoofer adjustments made, reviewer Jim Wilson settled in for an extended movie-watching session that included the World War II chaos of Fury, old-school-western-style mayhem courtesy of Open Range, and the all-natural prehistoric sounds of 10,000 BC. Though the action and corresponding audio in these three films is very different, the Motion speakers conveyed the wide ranging sounds with authenticity. Voices, in particular, were a standout. As Wilson put it, “One of the most telling aspects of a speaker is whether or not it can accurately replicate the human voice. “ The system passed this test with ease.

The speakers also acquitted themselves honorably with music, leaving Wilson impressed with their ability to blend exquisite detail with razor-sharp imaging and rich bass. If you’re a serious audiophile looking for a new thrill, MartinLogan’s updated Motion Series speakers will do the trick.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Incredible mids and highs
Elegant appearance
Exceptional build quality
Minus
Not inexpensive
Perfect Bass Kit not included with sub
MAP (Manufacturers Advertised Pricing) enforced

Full Review Here (posted 6/8/23)

RSL W25E In-Wall Speaker System: $2,020 (as tested)

When speakers designed specifically for mounting in a wall or ceiling first appeared on the market 30 or so years ago, they were ridiculed by audiophiles. So-called “architectural speakers” could never match the sound produced by freestanding speakers, they scoffed. But over time, in-wall/ceiling speaker designs improved to the point where the best of the lot can sound every bit as good as traditional stand-alone speakers and do so at prices that are quite reasonable. Case in point is the W25E in-wall speaker system from Rogersound Labs (a.k.a. RSL).

The 5.1 setup we reviewed mated four W25E in-walls with a timbre-matched freestanding CG25 center speaker and standalone Speedwoofer 12s. The W25E speakers used in the front left/right and rear surround positions feature the company’s patented Compression Guide enclosure for reduced cabinet resonance and an MTM (midrange-tweeter-midrange) driver arrangement in which the tweeter is offset; the layout, which also places the drivers on an angled baffle, is designed to improve vertical and horizontal dispersion to achieve a smoother response at the listening position. Guess what? It works.

To make the switch from cumbersome wall-mounted speakers to in-wall speakers that sit flush in the wall, long-time reviewer David Vaughn broke out his toolbox and installed the RSL system in his den. He was immediately impressed by what he heard, first with music and then with movie soundtracks. Imaging was precise and, with movies, the speakers “excelled at creating a solid wall of sound that emanated from the front of the room.” The system also won over his wife for its inconspicuous presence. Audiophiles who think it’s impossible to get credible sound from in-wall speakers that all but disappear will be shocked when they hear what RSL’s W25E speakers can do.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clean output
Edgeless magnetic grille
Angled baffle design improves imaging
Minus
Installation requires insulation behind the speaker

Full Review Here (posted 6/22/23)

Samsung 49" Odyssey OLED G9 Ultra-Wide Gaming Monitor: $2,200

Samsung’s sleek G95SC is a first-of-its-kind technological marvel that will leave you drooling — especially if you’re a serious gamer. The monitor boasts an expansive 32:9-aspect-ratio QD-OLED screen that stretches 4 feet across with dual QHD (5,120 x 1,440) resolution and a super-fast 240-Hz refresh rate for displaying some of the most fluid and ultra-detail graphics you will see. The use of quantum dots — the “QD” in QD-OLED — takes OLED's already topnotch picture quality to new heights with increased brightness and even more natural color while the gentle “1800R” curvature of the screen enhances immersion without being too extreme.

The G9 is remarkably accurate out of the box and draws on Samsung’s powerful Neo Quantum Processor Pro to optimize video quality in near real time for an outstanding picture with a lightning fast 0.03 millisecond response time (in 240-Hz mode). The monitor also features high dynamic range (HDR) that leverages OLED's “infinite” contrast and a wide color gamut covering the DCI/P3 space. Adding to the appeal of the G9 is streaming support for cloud gaming via the Samsung Gaming Hub, app-based access to Netflix and other popular streaming services, a programmable smart remote offering plenty of customization, and a robust stand that is super easy to adjust.

To give the G9 a thorough workout, S&V editor Mark Henninger used a fiber-optic HDMI cable to connect the G9 to a 12-core PC equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and was immediately struck by an image he described as hyper detailed and three dimensional. “Graphics possess unparalleled contrast, color, and sharpness [with] no perceptible color shift or loss of contrast when viewed off-axis,” and latency is non-existent when the monitor is running in 240-Hz mode. The G9 delivers “all the elements needed for great gaming: color, contrast, resolution, aspect ratio, low input lag, viewing angles, and high frame rate.” If you’re looking to step up to an ultimate gaming experience with a display that offers the added potential of supercharged photo/video productivity, the Samsung G95SC will get you there.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
State-of-the-art graphics
Great for gaming and productivity
Statement-making design
Packed with smart features
Factory calibrated
Minus
Pricey
Needs a powerful PC for gaming

Full Review Here (posted 6/26/23)

To browse all Sound & Vision-recommended AV gear, broken out by category, visit our Top Picks page.

Also see 2022 Top Picks of the Year.