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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Top Gun: Maverick
Chris Chiarella  |  Nov 12, 2022
Picture
Sound
Extras
Someone once posited that the way to gauge the quality of a sequel is to plot the delta—better or worse—from the movie that spawned it. Employing that metric, Top Gun: Maverick might be the best damned sequel that I've ever seen.
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Ask S&V
Don’t Be Shy. . . Ask S&V!
SV Staff  |  Nov 10, 2022
Got tech questions? Looking for advice on how to get the most out of your A/V gear? The experts at Sound & Vision have answers! Email your questions to AskSandV@gmail.com.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
News & Gear: Mid-Fall 2022
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 10, 2022
MicroLED gets a market update while KEF rolls out the holiday discounts and McIntosh presents its latest two-channel amplifier. We also cover a new cabinet that makes your TV disappear and stylish surge protectors you can mount on the wall.
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Stream On
Livestream Platform Mandolin Brings Concerts to You
Mike Mettler  |  Nov 10, 2022
Burgeoning fan-oriented livestreaming platform Mandolin is making all the right moves when it comes to offering high-quality live music options for home consumption.
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4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Samsung S95B Quantum Dot OLED 4K TV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 09, 2022

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1900

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Superb HDR
Outstanding contrast
Wide viewing angle
Minus
No Dolby Vision
Frustrating menus

THE VERDICT
An appealing price for what is essentially a new and ground-breaking application of OLED is almost as much of a surprise as how much Samsung has upped the ante on what we can expect from an OLED HDTV.

We've become so accustomed to what an OLED TV can do that we risk reciting its benefits in our sleep. Great black levels, check. Viewable with little picture change from as far off center as you might want to sit, double check. Bright enough for modestly lit to very dark rooms (but not a sun porch!), check. High prices? That too. But in the past few years, nothing dramatic has muscled its way into the OLED world, though prices have slowly become less intimidating—until now. Samsung, which for years resisted joining the OLED TV parade, has developed a relatively radical way to build an OLED display with Quantum Dot Technology.

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SmartStream
Netflix Basic With Ads Tier Is a Good Budget Choice
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 09, 2022
The Netflix ads tier has launched. After years of being considered the antithesis of commercial broadcast TV, Netflix has succumbed and now offers a less expensive option with ads. But is Netflix’s new ads tier a good choice?
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Audio Video News
MQA Goes Wireless
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 09, 2022
MQA, the high-resolution audio technology developed by Meridian Audio co-founder Bob Stuart, announced today that the prestigious Japan Audio Society (JAS) has certified the new MQAir codec for its ability to transmit high-resolution audio wirelessly.
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Director's Intent: Kaleidescape 4K
‘Saving Private Ryan’ Review
David Vaughn  |  Nov 07, 2022

Picture
Sound
Kaleidescape Scenes
Extras
After surviving the near suicidal assault on Omaha beach, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) and his band of brothers receive orders from the desk of General Marshal to find and bring home Private James Francis Ryan, a paratrooper lost in action behind enemy lines. Sadly, Ryan’s three older brothers lost their lives in the war effort so Miller and his team of eight men must risk their lives to save the Ryan family from further heartache.
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Audio Video News
Capital Audiofest 2022 Kicks Off Friday
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 07, 2022
Capital Audiofest 2022 returns to the metro Washington, D.C. this Friday and runs through Sunday, November 13, offering enthusiasts the chance see and hear the latest audio gear. Sound & Vision will be there to cover the event.
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4K TV Reviews
Odyssey Ark 55" 4K Neo QLED Gaming Monitor Review
Mark Henninger  |  Nov 06, 2022  |  First Published: Nov 07, 2022

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $3500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Peerless sense of immersion in video games
Like having your own private IMAX theater
One Connect box eliminates cable clutter
Matte screen coating eradicates reflections

Minus
Expensive for a 55" display
Might be too large or heavy to place on some desks
Need to sit in sweet spot for full visual benefit
Requires two people to assemble and to move

THE VERDICT
Samsung's over-the-top gaming monitor is beyond compare. It puts you in the action with a huge curved screen and pumps out some of the most jaw-dropping visuals I've seen, thanks to the optimal close-range viewing experience. It is the most badass gaming monitor I have ever used.

When it comes to 4K gaming displays, the Samsung Odyssey ARK monitor doesn't just push the envelope, it bursts right out of it. The massive 55" curved, rotatable screen is unique among displays of its type. If you enjoy total visual immersion, this outrageous gaming monitor offers next-level performance.

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