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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Amazon Music HD & New Echo Studio Smart Speaker to Support Dolby Atmos-Encoded Music
SV Staff  |  Sep 26, 2019
Dolby has announced that Dolby Atmos-encoded music is now supported on the Amazon Music HD subscription streaming tier announced last week and the $200 Echo Studio smart speaker Amazon plans to ship later this year.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Marantz Previews Integrated Amp with Wireless Streaming
SV Staff  |  Sep 26, 2019
Marantz today announced plans to introduce a high-performance integrated amplifier with onboard wireless streaming in mid-November.
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Audio Video News
Dirac Teams with RHA to Advance Headphone Listening
SV Staff  |  Sep 26, 2019
Dirac Research, the Swedish technology company best known among S&V readers for its Dirac Live speaker setup/room-correction system, today announced a collaboration with U.K.-based earphone specialist RHA to explore the integration of Dirac algorithms into RHA headphones.
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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsBookshelf Speaker Reviews
Kanto TUK Powered Bookshelf Speakers
Daniel Kumin  |  Sep 25, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $799/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Remarkable bass extension and output
All-in-one solution including phono input
Noteworthy treble clarity and definition
Minus
Soundstage depth less dramatic than some designs
Tiny input labeling

THE VERDICT
With analog, digital, wireless Bluetooth, turntable, and USB computer connections, Kanto's great-sounding TUK powered bookshelf speaker is ready to rock right out of the box.

Kanto is a Canadian firm barely a decade old that specializes in powered loudspeakers. The company has established substantial cred for its active desktop and bookshelf speaker lines, both of which deliver high value and widely noted performance. Now, with a new model called TUK, the company is moving up-range in market-segment, size, and price. Also, utility: TUK is an all-in-one powered-speaker solution, with a phono-preamp, an asynchronous USB DAC, a headphone amp, preamp controls, a subwoofer crossover, and amplification all built right in.

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Audio Video News
McIntosh Bows 7 x 200-Watt Home Theater Amp
SV Staff  |  Sep 25, 2019
McIntosh today pulled the wraps off a power amplifier designed to light up a home theater system with 1,400 watts of power.
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Audio Video News
Apple Music & Siri-Enabled Devices Get TuneIn Radio
SV Staff  |  Sep 25, 2019
TuneIn, the global internet-radio platform with more than 75 million users, today announced that owners of Siri-enabled Apple devices and users of the Apple Music streaming service will soon have access to a diverse lineup of more than 100,000 radio stations from around the world.
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Audio Video News
Best Soundbars of 2019 (So Far)
SV Staff  |  Sep 25, 2019
Soundbars can be a godsend for home theater enthusiasts who crave a lively surround-sound experience but have limited space — or funds. Or for folks who want a less complicated audio setup — one that doesn’t involve hooking up six or more individual speakers and dealing with an overly complicated control interface. Whatever the reason, a good soundbar can bring a satisfying experience — for movies, TV, and music — to your main TV or the TV in your guest room. Simplicity is key. Here are a handful of soundbars we’ve reviewed in recent months — all worth a listen if you fit this profile.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Mixcder’s New Flagship Wireless Headphones Boast Noise-Canceling for $90
SV Staff  |  Sep 24, 2019
Mixcder, the California-based maker of the $80 Top Pick-designated E9 wireless noise canceling headphones, today introduced a new flagship model featuring improved active noise cancellation (ANC), fast-charge capability, and aptX-enabled Bluetooth 5.0.
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CEDIA 2019Wide Angle
CEDIA 2019: Demos to Die For
Al Griffin  |  Sep 24, 2019
Following an overriding trend that started many years back, the annual Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) expo, held this year at the Denver Convention Center, showcased an abundance of home automation technologies — everything from networked, voice-controlled window shades and lighting to home security systems. The show even had “wellness rooms” that seek to bring the outdoor experience indoors via circadian lighting, purified air, and ambient nature sounds.
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Headphone Reviews
Mixcder E9: Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones that Won’t Break the Bank
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 23, 2019

Performance
Build Quality
Comfort
Value
PRICE $80 ($70 on amazon.com)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Satisfying sound
Effective noise canceling
Light weight and not overly bulky
Minus
Sound could be fuller
Some discomfort after an hour or so of listening

THE VERDICT
If you’re looking for wireless, noise-canceling headphones that won’t break the bank, the E9s provide satisfying sound with effective active noise canceling for 80 bucks (or less).

If you’ve never heard of Mixcder, you’re not alone. The company with the awkwardly spelled name — pronounced “mix-see-der” — has only been around for a few years. It’s based in California and specializes in super low-priced headphones sourced in China with a current lineup comprising 10 models, all wireless and ranging in price from $19 to $90 for a set of full-size wireless headphones with active noise canceling (ANC).

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