LATEST ADDITIONS

Chris Chiarella  |  May 06, 2023
When the big studios have big anniversaries, they tend to make a big splash. Warner Bros. is celebrating their centennial this year and their Home Entertainment unit is commemorating the occasion with—among other retail offerings—four themed film compilations on high-definition Blu-ray, 25 titles each for an appropriate total of 100. Staring down a list price of $150 per collection, I needed to be selective with my disposable income and after some research I ultimately settled on the 100 Years of Warner Bros. Volume Four: Thrillers, Sci-Fi & Horror 25-Film Blu-ray + Digital Collection...
Chris Chiarella  |  May 05, 2023
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Endless kudos to Kubo’s studio, Laika, for doing more than anyone to keep the waning art of stop-motion animation feature films alive. Shout! Factory has been celebrating their most popular titles in recent 4K upgrades (available in standard or steelbook); among them The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline; and now Kubo and the Two Strings. An original story with classic underpinnings, Kubo takes us along on a boy’s quest to acquire some mystical armor in anticipation of a showdown with a powerfully malevolent foe.

Barb Gonzalez  |  May 04, 2023
The FAST (free ad-supported TV) trend in streaming shows no signs of letting up. On the heels of Google TV’s recent addition of 800 free channels, Amazon has announced plans to add 400 free Fire TV Channels.
Bob Ankosko  |  May 04, 2023
China-based Dangbei today introduced a portable 1080p projector with built-in Netflix streaming capability.
Daniel Kumin  |  May 03, 2023

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $4500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Outstanding sound quality, dynamic abilities
Deep bass extension
Subwoofer output
Minus
No music-data or volume display
On the large side for stand-mount use

THE VERDICT
Big, powerful, flexible, dynamic, and all-around-excellent streaming loudspeakers.

How do you know when an audio trend is more than just a bandwagon? When America’s oldest hi-fi brand climbs on board. (Yes, I know that JBL and Klipsch were both founded in 1946. But JBL’s earliest incarnation goes back to the 1930’s.)

Bob Ankosko  |  May 03, 2023
Denon has introduced a versatile network player designed to handle most digital audio sources, including TV sound, with built-in support for wireless streaming and multiroom playback through the company’s HEOS streaming platform.
Bob Ankosko  |  May 02, 2023
Sony has announced pricing and shipment details for the 2023 Bravia XR lineup of mini-LED, LED, and OLED TVs it previewed in March. Seven mini-LED and OLED models are either available to order now or will be available for preorder in the coming weeks with LED-based models coming later in the year.
Bob Ankosko  |  May 01, 2023
Is there anyone out there who is going to complain about being able to buy AV gear today at pre-COVID prices? I didn’t think so — and that’s what makes today’s announcement from Premium Audio Company (PAC), the company behind Klipsch, Pioneer Elite, Onkyo, and a handful of other AV brands, so refreshing.
Bob Ankosko  |  May 01, 2023
McIntosh Labs has announced that the MA252 integrated amplifier, the first to feature the intriguing Hybrid Drive circuit design the company introduced last year, is now available to purchase online through several authorized dealers. The amp had previously been available only in dealer showrooms.
Josef Krebs  |  May 01, 2023
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Extras
Made by British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter Sir Sam Mendes, Empire of Light is set in the English seaside town of Margate of 1980-81 (where I grew up) in a two-screen cinema. Regular life for duty manager Hilary (Olivia Colman), the box-office and concession staff, and the projectionist is gradually changed after handsome, young black man, Stephen (Micheal Ward), is hired by the manager (Colin Firth) to be a ticket taker.

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