LATEST ADDITIONS

A/V Veteran
TV Calibration vs. Auto-Calibration: What's the Difference?
Thomas J. Norton  |  Dec 28, 2021
The discussion here was inspired by a letter from a reader. He noted that in a recent review I mentioned that the set in question offered auto calibration. But the remainder of the letter suggested that my comment was misunderstood (or perhaps not precise enough to begin with). In the review/calibration/video-crazy business world, auto-cal refers to a specialized subroutine in a standard calibration program such as Calman from Portrait Displays. A different version of this subroutine exists for each brand/model of TV, and perhaps even for each year of each brand/model. Once set up it's fast and accurate. But this auto-cal requires the same expensive test gear and calibrator training as any manual calibration...
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The S&V Interview
Keyboardist Don Airey Reveals Why Deep Purple Turned to a Recorded Life of Crime
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 24, 2021
Like many of the great bands from the classic rock era of the latter half of the 20th century, British hard-rock stalwarts Deep Purple cut their teeth with an uncanny ability to turn cover songs into original statements. If it pleases the aural court, may we present the Rod Evans/Ritchie Blackmore era of the band's trippy, deeply shaded 1968 bookend renditions of Joe South's "Hush" and Neil Diamond's "Kentucky Woman" as prime evidence? (Case closed.)
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The Connected Life
Troubleshoot Your Network Like a Boss, Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Dec 23, 2021
Given the proliferation of internet-connected devices in the home, the most common system problems can often be boiled down to network issues. Whether it is slow Wi-Fi, choppy streaming quality, or a total inability to connect, if something is amiss with your home’s network, there will be a cascade of glitches. Here's how to figure out what's going on.
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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsWireless Multiroom Speaker Reviews
Q Acoustics Q Active 200 Loudspeaker Review
Daniel Kumin  |  Dec 22, 2021

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Accurate response and tonal balance
Spacious imaging with impressive off-axis performance
Unique looks and fine finish
Minus
Peak level may fall short for very large rooms
Ergonomics of physical controls and indicators

THE VERDICT
The Q Active 200 is a lifestyle-friendly system with serious chops, delivering impressive accuracy and range from a compact wireless design.

If there were any doubts that we are well into the Age of Stream, the recent proliferation of "just add music" audio systems should lay them to rest. Whether toaster-sized Bluetooth portables or full floor-standing systems, wireless all-in-one speakers conceived around high-quality streaming are definitely a thing, and one of the latest examples comes from Q Acoustics.

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SmartStream
How to Gift and Redeem a Streaming Subscription
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 22, 2021
A streaming service subscription makes a great last-minute gift or the perfect addition to go with the gift of a Roku or Amazon stick. Some services offer gift cards, others have restrictions. Find out how to gift popular streaming services.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Polk’s First Dolby Atmos Soundbar Will Sell for $399
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 21, 2021
Polk Audio has been in the soundbar game for quite some time but has just now gotten around to offering a Dolby Atmos system — and it’s priced to sell.
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Signals
Taylor, Call Me
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Dec 20, 2021
Girlfriend, I feel for you, I really do. Why can't people just accept the fact that you are a music genius? You know why they hate you? It's because they can't be you. If you win the case, they'll say you are banal, uncreative, and unoriginal. And if you lose the case, you will have plagiarized and have to pay tons of $$$ damages. It's just not fair.

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Music and Soundtrack FeaturesThe S&V Interview
Producer Richard Chycki on Mixing The Tragically Hip's Road Apples in Atmos
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 17, 2021
"I heard a bunch of things in it I had never heard before."

That's Rob Baker, guitarist of Canada's still-favorite sons The Tragically Hip, recounting the feelings he experienced upon hearing the recent, fully completed Dolby Atmos mix of his band's seminal February 1991 release, Road Apples for the very first time.

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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Fluance Ai41 Bluetooth Speaker System Review
Bob Ankosko  |  Dec 16, 2021

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $250/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent, full-bodied sound
Cosmetically appealing design
Sturdy build
Remote control with tone controls (!)

Minus
No multiroom Wi-Fi streaming

THE VERDICT
Fluance’s Ai41 is one of the best looking and sounding Bluetooth speakers in its price class.

You can tell immediately whether a speaker is good the moment it starts playing, so I knew right away the Ai41 was good but didn’t fully appreciate how good until I had lived with it for a couple of weeks.

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Soundbar Reviews
Sonos Beam Gen 2 Soundbar Review
Mark Henninger  |  Dec 15, 2021

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $449

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact, with exceptional build and sound quality
Built-in Google Assistant and Alexa voice control
Expandable with Sonos speakers and SUB
Minus
Modest bass output
Single HDMI input
No display for volume level or sound mode

THE VERDICT
The next-gen version of the Sonos Beam soundbar is remarkably full-featured considering its size. It’s also attractive, great-sounding, and a snap to set up.

Both the original Sonos Beam and the company's new Beam Gen 2 soundbar use beamforming, a technology that combines an array of drivers with advanced signal processing, to create an enveloping audio experience without need for multiple speakers. With the Beam Gen 2 ($449), Sonos builds upon the virtual surround sound abilities of the original by adding Dolby Atmos processing to up the sense of immersion it can create. The cost for this upgrade: a mere $50 premium over the original's $399 price.

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