Audio Video News

MantelMount MM860 Motorized TV Mount: $1,999

People love mounting TVs over fireplaces but rarely stop to think about the downside: It almost always puts the screen too high for comfortable viewing. MantelMount addresses this dilemma with the remote controllable MM860 mounting system that pulls the TV away from the wall and lowers it to eye level so you don’t have to crane your neck. The mount has a 30-inch range of motion — enough to achieve an optimal level no matter how high the mantel — and you can create a preset for your preferred TV height. Resident custom installer John Sciacca found the 860’s operation to be smooth and quiet — a “perfect solution to improve your TV viewing.” Guaranteed to impress guests, the system even has a sensor that automatically retracts the screen if someone decides to watch TV while the fireplace is active.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solves a major TV installation issue
Solid build quality
Out-of-the-box automation
Minus
Limited horizontal swivel range
Awkward power/cable routing
Professional installation highly recommended

Full Review Here

Audio Electronics

Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier: $1,195

Parasound put four decades of electronics experience to work in the NewClassic 200 — an impossibly thin integrated amp/DAC that delivers 110 watts per channel into 4- and 8-ohm loads while providing high quality digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion and surprising flexibility at a reasonable price. Impressed with its rugged build quality and breadth of features — including a host of inputs and outputs, a built-in phono preamp, and a full-function remote control — reviewer Dan Kumin praised the 200 for balancing utility with simplicity and for squeezing “all the music out of your music.” High praise, indeed.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Generous power from a super-slim chassis
Bypass input for surround system integration
Flexible, analog-domain subwoofer filtering
Full-size, backlighted remote control
Minus
Digital conversion limited to 24/96 via USB
No built-in Bluetooth or other wireless features

Full Review Here

NAD C 658 Network Audio Player/Preamplifier: $1,649

Just because you’ve decided to replace an old preamp with a new streaming model doesn’t mean you have to leave your turntable behind. NAD’s C 658 delivers first-rate sound from Tidal and other hi-res streaming services, including those that support MQA processing, and supports a wealth of connections — from HDMI to phono. This well-rounded preamp also gives you the choice of using a conventional remote or NAD’s app for control and puts the exceptional Dirac Live room correction system at your fingertips. All this and more for a fair price.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great sound quality
Onboard Dirac Live room correction
Well-designed control app
Minus
Overly busy remote control

Full Review Here

AudioControl Avalon G4 Four-Channel Amplifier: $2,200

The Avalon G4 makes it easy to expand the power capabilities of an existing system to meet Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround requirements by adding four 230-watt channels so you don’t have to junk any gear. But it’s flexible enough to satisfy other applications as well. Use its four channels to power speakers in a second zone or bridge it to create a 2 x 800-watt stereo powerhouse that can be pressed into action with balanced or unbalanced speaker connections. Regardless of how it’s deployed, the G4 is a superb performer that will not disappoint. It’s even backed by a generous five-year warranty.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Solid performance
Flexible 4-, 3-, or 2-channel setup
Five-year warranty
Minus
Intrusive rear-panel lighting

Full Review Here