LATEST ADDITIONS

New Products
ELAC Releases Uni-Fi 2.0 Speaker Lineup
SV Staff  |  Sep 14, 2020
It’s been four years since Elac introduced the Uni-Fi Series, a budget speaker lineup that earned an enthusiastic Top Pick when it was reviewed in Sound & Vision. Not one to rest on his laurels, designer Andrew Jones is back with a next-generation Uni-Fi Series, one that incorporates a number of improvements with only a modest price increase over the original speakers.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Spartacus
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 11, 2020
Picture
Sound
Extras
The timeless overclass/underclass struggle was never more memorably explored than in Spartacus, a film adapted from Howard Fast's fact-based, heavily dramatized book. Directed by young up-and-comer Stanley Kubrick and starring old-school movie idol Kirk Douglas in the title role, it's the sort of epic spectacle often aspired to but seldom achieved.
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Vintage Gear
The Model Eighteen: The First Marantz Receiver
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 10, 2020
Image: audioscope.net

In this edition of Sound & Vision’s Audio Time Machine, we highlight the Marantz Model Eighteen, the iconic brand’s original stereo receiver.

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Media Server Reviews
Kaleidescape Strato S 4K Ultra HD Movie Player Review
Kris Deering  |  Sep 09, 2020

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $5,995 ($8,995 as reviewed)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Outstanding interface and ease-of-use
Movie store offers 4K titles not available on disc
No A/V quality compromise compared with discs
Minus
Pricey hardware
Some movies lack immersive audio
No Movies Anywhere support

THE VERDICT
Kaleidescape delivers an out- standing user experience, and its online movie store features Ultra HD movies with uncompromised A/V quality, including some titles that aren’t available on disc.

I've been keenly aware of Kaleidescape since the company's start when I first laid eyes on its beautiful onscreen interface at a high-end A/V store in Seattle. Since then, I've regularly encountered that same interface in the homes of my video calibration clients, in stores, and at trade shows.

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SmartStream
Stream These Netflix Originals for Free
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 09, 2020
Netflix is offering a small number of titles to stream for free without a subscription. Streaming is immediate and does not require that viewers create an account or login.
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New Products
Rotel Unveils New Surround Preamp and Amplified Surround Processor
SV Staff  |  Sep 09, 2020
Rotel has announced the arrival of two new additions to its home theater product lineup: the RSP-1576MKII Surround Sound Processor and RAP-1580MKII Amplified Surround Processor. Both offer processing for up to 7.1.4 channels of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio and feature Dirac room correction technology. Each unit also supports integration with control systems via RS232 and IP Ethernet and provides three assignable independent 12V trigger outputs and wired IR input/output.
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New Products
Denon Announces 110-Year Anniversary Special Edition Products
SV Staff  |  Sep 08, 2020
Denon has announced four new Special Edition products developed to honor the 110-year anniversary of the brand. The quartet consists of the AVR-A110 8K AV receiver, PMA-A110 integrated amplifier, DCD-A110 SACD player, and DL-A110 phono cartridge, with each unit featuring a distinctive silver-graphite color scheme and 110 Anniversary front panel logo. Furthermore, the new Special Edition products, which are manufactured at the company’s factory in Shirakawa, Japan, have been “meticulously tuned by Denon Sound Masters to set them apart from their standard counterparts” and come with a five-year warranty.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Flash Gordon
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 04, 2020
Picture
Sound
Extras
Star Wars imitators were both inevitable and plentiful in the late 1970s. The Buster Crabbe science fiction/adventure serials of old were a strong influence on that blockbuster, and whereas Buck Rogers was destined for a television reboot, mega-producer Dino De Laurentiis had already acquired the movie rights to Flash Gordon years prior. And so the space-faring hero returned to the big screen, reimagined in a lavish international production.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
New Gear for Late Summer
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 03, 2020
New products keep the world of home entertainment moving forward. Though the pace of introductions slowed to a trickle this spring as America was forced into pandemic lockdown, A/V makers are regaining their footing as supply chains slowly return to normal. The last full month of summer saw introductions from the likes of Rotel, Marantz, and many other familiar brands. Here’s the skinny on a dozen recently announced products — from headphones and AV furniture to more cool gear from McIntosh, NAD, and Bowers & Wilkins.
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Tower Speaker Reviews
Magnepan LRS Loudspeaker Review
Michael Trei  |  Sep 02, 2020

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $650/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extraordinary sonic transparency
Large, well-focused soundstage
Bargain-priced exotica
Minus
Requires adequate amplification
Finicky about placement
No deep bass

THE VERDICT
Magnepan's latest entry level speaker can be demanding, but it delivers compelling performance when set up properly and matched with the right gear.

Imagine that Ferrari introduced a new mid-engine sports car that sold for only $30,000. Sounds like a killer deal, but would you jump at the opportunity? The answer to that question will probably depend on your life situation. For a single person who just wants to head out and have fun, then maybe. But if you have three kids who need rides to school and soccer practice, probably not.

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