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Music Reviews
Neil Young: Archives Vol. II: 1972-1976 (Deluxe Edition)

Mike Mettler  |  Apr 23, 2021
Performance
Sound
Neil Young is an international treasure. Perhaps he should adopt Frank Sinatra's signature mantra "I did it my way" as his own, because his artistic vision is, frankly, unparalleled in the history of popular music. Neil always does what he wants, releases new and archival material whenever he wants, and often chooses to lay it all down in whatever genre strikes his fancy. Even better, he takes great pains to ensure we the listeners get to hear all of it in the highest resolution possible.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
New Sony 4K Projectors Boast BRAVIA’s X1 Processing
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 22, 2021
Sony is extending the reach of its prized X1 image processing to video projection with two native 4K SXRD projectors slated for release in early May.
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Editor's Eye
New TV Tech Makes Super Big-Screen TV Appealing
Al Griffin  |  Apr 22, 2021
In a recent letter to the editor, reader Paul Brians makes the case that current home theater systems, including ones that use a 65-inch TV, offer a superior viewing experience in comparison with a typical movie theater. I’ll confess to having had that same thought many times, even as I continue to be a fan of theatrical venues such as the Cinerama in Seattle that Mr. Brians mentions.
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Smart Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Sonos Roam Portable Wireless Speaker Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 21, 2021

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $169 (Shadow Black or Lunar White)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Rich, warm, sound
Impressive bass
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay 2
IP67 water- and dust-proof
Minus
Lacks treble clarity at high volumes
Pricey for a portable speaker

THE VERDICT
If portability and sound quality are important to you, the Sonos Roam smart speaker is an outstanding choice.

When a company known for inventing the multiroom speaker announces a new fully portable model, we sit up and take notice. The new Sonos Roam ($169) is an ultra-compact, IP67 water- and dust-proof smart speaker that weighs less than one pound and links with your phone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0. But that's not the whole story. The Roam can also connect with your home Sonos ecosystem, automatically making the switch between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as you come and go.

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A/V Veteran
The Cinerama Dome: Take 2
Thomas J. Norton  |  Apr 20, 2021
Ken Pohlmann got the jump on me in his blog this week, but the recent permanent (?) closing of the Cinerama Dome theater in Hollywood is a significant event. Perhaps I can add a slightly different perspective.

When I lived in LA from 2000 to 2015 the Arclight theater in Hollywood was one of my go-to haunts whenever I wanted to see a top-drawer movie release in a premier theater. The Cinerama Dome was the main attraction in this multiplex, but the other Arclight screens were also impressive...

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Audio Video News
Epson Discounts EpiqVision Ultra LS500 Projector
SV Staff  |  Apr 19, 2021
Sad that your local movie megaplex—or palace—is still shuttered? Epson feels your pain, and to make things better, the company is offering a 10 percent discount on its Sound & Vision Top Pick-winning EpiqVision Ultra LS500 Laser Projection TV. The deal runs only for a limited time, so you have until June 1 to clear space in your pad for Epson’s ultra short throw projector, which comes bundled with either a 100-inch or 120-inch Epson SilverFlex Ultra ALR Mega Screen.
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Signals
The Last Picture Show?
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Apr 19, 2021
Global pandemics and lockdowns have consequences. Who knew? Apparently, not everyone.

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Love and Monsters
Thomas J. Norton  |  Apr 16, 2021
Picture
Sound
Extras
(Cue deep, sonorous narration.) In a world infested with giant, hungry bugs, what's left of mankind has hunkered down in underground colonies where they're safe (mostly) from being eaten alive. How this post-apocalyptic nightmare began is explained in the brief opening sequence of Love and Monsters, but in short it was mankind (as usual) that messed things up.
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Audio Video NewsINSTALLS============
A Garden Oasis in the Heart of Pittsburgh
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 15, 2021
How Pittsburgh’s Simply Automated transformed a garden oasis in the heart of the city into a magnificent outdoor entertainment space.
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Subwoofer Reviews
OSD Audio Nero TubeBass 10 Subwoofer Review
Al Griffin  |  Apr 14, 2021

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $179

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Inexpensive
Compact form factor
Good extension and output
Minus
Limited features
No wireless option

THE VERDICT
There’s nothing fancy about OSD Audio’s Nero TubeBass 10, but if you’re looking to get decent bass performance in smaller-size room without a paying a premium, it’s well worth a listen.

As someone who appreciates the benefit deep bass brings to music and movie soundtracks, I've come to accept that having a box the size of a small refrigerator in my living room is a reality of life I need to contend with. That box, of course, is a subwoofer, and welcoming one into your space is the deal you must strike in order to get deep bass. Some cleverly engineered models use innovative DSP-driven solutions, along with serious amplifier power, to coax extended bass from compact boxes— certain subs we've reviewed from JL Audio and KEF come to mind. And while such models definitely make a better fit with non-mancave-like interior spaces, you'll pay handsomely for the tech wizardry that brings about the bass miniaturization.

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