LATEST ADDITIONS

February may be the shortest month of the year but it was long on noteworthy product recommendations from your favorite magazine, including three that made our Top Picks of the Year list. Among these most recent picks is a cinema-caliber projector, an affordable yet powerful home automation system, a killer subwoofer, and a speaker system that is striking sonically and visually.

Sound United today announced its acquisition of the D+M Group, a move that unites five venerable brands in one of the biggest brand consolidations in the history of audio.

Vizio today unveiled the new SmartCast E-Series of video displays featuring built-in Chromecast streaming, full-array LED backlighting in screen sizes from 32 to 80 inches, and high dynamic range (HDR) capability in models with screens 55 inches and larger.

PRICE $35,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
True 4K (4096 x 2160) D-ILA panels
Improved HDR support including HLG
Reference-quality optics
Minus
Fan noise can be intrusive
HDMI sluggish to sync
Native contrast not quite on par with rest of JVC line

THE VERDICT
While JVC’s first native 4K projector for consumers doesn’t quite deliver the contrast of its 1080p lineup, its projected image is breathtaking with both 1080p and 4K content. With its advanced laser light engine, reference-quality optics, and enough lumens to light up a massive range of screens, you have a true flagship-caliber offering from JVC.

While 4K has become the new norm for the flat-panel industry, its adoption into the home projection market has been slow, to say the least. Until now, Sony has been trailblazing native 4K for the consumer home theater market while others have offered quasi-4K options that use techniques to deliver near4K quality with 1080p imaging systems at more affordable pricing. Among those manufacturers, JVC led the way with their e-shift system, which over time has matured to contend quite convincingly with native 4K designs.