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Subwoofer ReviewsSurround Sound System ReviewsTower Speaker Reviews
Paradigm Premier 700F Speaker System Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 31, 2019

Premier 700F Speaker System
Performance
Build Quality
Value

Defiance X-12 subwoofer
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $4,700 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Crisp detail
Big, powerful sound
Minus
Tower unstable on thick carpet
Poorly designed grilles

THE VERDICT
The Premier range is far from the most expensive in Paradigm's speaker lineup, but the performance and build quality that it offers lets it compete with speakers twice the price.

The other day a friend who's neither a videophile nor an audiophile dropped by my home to watch a movie. A pair of loudspeakers I had just finished reviewing for Stereophile, our sister publication, were sitting in a corner, waiting to be packed up. When I told him their price—$6,000/pair—he appeared shocked. Even Paradigm's affordable new 700F speakers, then as now serving as the left/right channels in my system, are pricier than he would like were he to invest in a system of his own (unlikely!).

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Throwback Thursday
Flashback 2000: Super Bowl Broadcast in HD for the First Time
SV Staff  |  Jan 31, 2019
Super Bowl XXXIV is historic not only because it is the Ram’s one and only Super Bowl triumph, but because it marked the first time the Super Bowl was broadcast in glorious high-definition…
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Audio Video News
YouTube Music Now Available on Sonos
SV Staff  |  Jan 31, 2019
Sonos has announced that subscribers of YouTube Music and YouTube Premium can now access the YouTube Music streaming service through the Sonos app.
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Audio Video News
Audio Excellence to Unveil ‘Out-of-Sight’ Speaker that Localizes Sound on TV Screen
SV Staff  |  Jan 31, 2019
Audio Excellence, the audio arm of UK-based Screen Excellence, will unveil a speaker system next week at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Amsterdam that creates the illusion of sound coming from the middle of your TV screen.
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The S&V Interview
Steve Hackett: At the Edge of Sonic Exploration
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 30, 2019
We got on the line with iconoclast guitarist Steve Hackett to discuss the rudiments of the soundscapes that comprise his stunning new album At the Edge of Light, the importance of physical packaging in the digital age, and, of course, his plans for future solo-catalog-derived surround sound reissues.
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Audio Video News
Survey: ‘Another Merciless Year of Cord Cutting’
SV Staff  |  Jan 30, 2019
Source: Waterstone Management Group

Americans are “cutting the cord” on cable TV subscriptions in droves, according to a new report from Chicago/San Francisco-based management consulting firm Waterstone.

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Audio Video News
Vizio’s 5.1.4 Atmos Soundbar Nabs Top Value Pick, Gets $100 Discount
SV Staff  |  Jan 30, 2019
Need a quick audio fix for your Super Bowl party? We might have a solution...
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Audio Video News
Sonos Reportedly Developing High-End Headphones
SV Staff  |  Jan 30, 2019
When you think about it, it’s pretty remarkable that wireless-speaker pioneer Sonos hasn’t ventured outside of the home since shipping its first music streaming system 13 years ago. That may be about to change.
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Soundbar Reviews
Vizio 5.1.4 Atmos Soundbar Review
Al Griffin  |  Jan 29, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $999

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

THE VERDICT
Vizio's 5.1.4 soundbar system delivers powerful, immersive sound plus Chromecast built-in streaming at a reasonable price.

Vizio's top-of-the-line Atmos soundbar comes with a cumbersome model number: SB46514-F6. Outside of that, this $1,000 Atmos system is a sleek, well-designed package that delivers surprisingly potent sound for the money. The addition of Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth streaming, along with Google Assistant compatibility, make it a compelling option for anyone seeking an all-in-one immersive audio solution to pair with their new TV.

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A/V Veteran
TV at CES 2019, The Sequel
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jan 29, 2019
With apologies to Samsung and a few others who haven’t made the OLED plunge, and show no signs of doing so, OLED remains today’s hottest flat screen technology. But the battle continues as UHDTV manufacturers scramble to take the next big technological leap. That will likely be Micro LED...
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