LATEST ADDITIONS

Signals
Merry Christmas from 1924
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Dec 21, 2022
Take a look at this photograph. What do you think this thing is? Since you're reading this magazine, you are probably technology-oriented. But unless you are 98-years old, you might not recognize that this device played a major role in the early days of radio and audio technology. Let me explain.

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A/V Veteran
’Tis the Season for Christmas Movies
Tom Norton  |  Dec 21, 2022
Christmas! Chestnuts roasting on an open fire (hopefully in a fireplace). Jack Frost nipping at your nose. And lots of Christmas movies. Here are a few of my favorites.
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Audio Video News
Mark Your Calendar: Florida Audio Expo 2023
SV Staff  |  Dec 21, 2022
The organizers of the fourth annual Florida International Audio Expo want to get next year’s show on your calendar. The three-day event will return to Tampa Friday, February 17 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton.
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Music and Soundtrack Features
Remaster Class: The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies & Everybody's In Show-Biz
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 20, 2022
The Kinks were at a crossroads. As they entered the 1970s, the British pop/rockers hadn't yet ascended to the next toppermost level, even after achieving new heights following the songwriting leap Ray Davies took with the still poignant 1967 track, "Waterloo Sunset." It took two critical back-to-back albums, November 1971's Muswell Hillbillies and August 1972's Everybody's in Show-Biz, to fully get them there—and then they never looked back.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Solar-Powered Earbuds Promise Endless Playtime, No Charging Cables
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 20, 2022
Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle brand specializing in reasonably priced wireless headphones and earbuds, is now shipping the solar-powered Phoenix noise-canceling wireless earbuds it announced in August.
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Director's Intent: Kaleidescape 4K
Hacksaw Ridge
David Vaughn  |  Dec 19, 2022

Picture
Sound
Kaleidescape Scenes
Extras
One of the bloodiest battles of World War II happened on Okinawa in 1945 and it wasn’t a place you wanted to be if you didn’t carry a weapon. But for contentious objector Desmond Doss, this wasn’t an option. While he believed the war was justified — which is why he volunteered — his personal belief was that killing was wrong and he wasn’t going to be a party to it. He joined the military to be a medic and was there to save lives, not take them. And save lives he did — 75 of them over the course of one night when he was stuck behind enemy li
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Casablanca
Ralph Potts  |  Dec 16, 2022
Picture
Sound
Extras
As a film enthusiast and writer, I often find myself involved in discussions revolving around what are my favorite films, and what I consider to be The Best Film of All Time. Neither question can be simply answered, however there is no doubt that Casablanca will always be a part of the conversation.
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Audio Video News
10 S&V-Approved Gifts from $200 to $800
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 15, 2022
Okay, now we’re really getting down to the wire. Christmas is 10 days away and it’s awfully late to be still thinking about holiday shopping…yet I know I’m not alone. The good news: There’s still time to squeak in a few last-minute gifts and there are some really sweet deals to be had. Adding to last week’s holiday gift list, here’s another 10 potential gifts to give (and get) — all Top Picks, vetted and approved by Sound & Vision reviewers — 11 if you count our just-posted Top Pick: Bowers & Wilkins’ excellent Px8 noise-canceling wireless headphones. This week’s picks range in price from $230 to $800 and are presented here from least to most expensive with current discounts noted. Happy last-minute shopping!
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SmartStream
Why Westworld and Other Titles Will Be Removed From HBO Max
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 14, 2022
Following this past year’s merger of HBO Max and Discovery, it appears the new service will be called simply “Max.” This could be a foretelling of the new service, as many series, including Westworld, were canceled and will soon be removed from the service altogether. CEO David Zaslav is taking a radical stance to reduce costs and make investors happy.
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Headphone Reviews
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Headphones Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Dec 14, 2022

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $699

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent sound quality
Beautiful fit and finish
Very good noise-cancellation algorithms
High-quality streaming codec
Minus
Expensive, and even more expensive for the James Bond special edition
Very snug fit might not be comfortable while wearing glasses
Increased bass boost in noise-cancellation mode

THE VERDICT
I tried, honestly, I did. I closed my eyes; I listened in the dark. However, try as I might, I could not separate the absolutely stunning fit and finish of the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones from their sound quality. That initial feeling that this would be something special pervaded throughout my review experience. Bottom line: the Px8 sounds exactly as good as you would expect from something that looks and feels so luxurious.

There's a certain expectation when you pay up for a product. Buy a premium car, and you'll expect a certain feel, fit and finish to every aspect, from the dashboard to the tailpipe. Buy a luxury watch and every component—the links, clasp, and crown—feels deluxe. The Px8 gives you that instantaneous expectation of quality. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones are the newest flagship over-ear noise-canceling headphones, firmly placed at the top of their "reference" quality lineup. While the price is a gut-punching $699, the build and sound quality just might be worth it.

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