LATEST ADDITIONS

SmartStream
Making Home Theater as Easy to Use as a Roku Player
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 16, 2020
Roku is about to simplify home theater in the same way that they simplified streaming to the TV. Last week at CES 2020, Roku announced the Roku TV Ready certification program. The certification is available for soundbars and AV receivers, allowing them to integrate seamlessly with Roku TVs.
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Ask S&V
Should I Use the Coax or HDMI Output On My BD Player for Hi-Res Audio?
Al Griffin  |  Jan 16, 2020
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a new Sony UBP-X1100ES Ultra HD Blu-ray player and Denon receiver. I know I can use a coaxial digital connection between the player and receiver for playback of regular CDs. Can I use the same connection to pass high-res audio formats like SACD and DVD-Audio to the receiver, or do I need an HDMI cable for that? —John Huxhold, Manchester, MO

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
KEF Adds New Model, Finish Options to Reference Line
 |  Jan 16, 2020
KEF today announced the addition of a versatile, high-performance THX-certified in-wall speaker and new finish options for its Reference Series line of speakers whose origins date back to 1973.
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Projector Reviews
BenQ Cineprime HT3550 4K DLP Projector
Al Griffin  |  Jan 15, 2020

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extended color
Good brightness
Great value
Minus
Contrast could be better
Difficult to access HDR adjustment

THE VERDICT
BenQ's budget 4K DLP projector delivers solid overall video performance at a very affordable price.

[Editor's note: BenQ raised the price of the HT3550 to $1,699 after this review was originally written. According to the company, the price increase is due to "tariffs."]

As you might expect, low-cost projectors are much more common than premium models. Survey the market, and you'll find loads of options in the under-$3,000 range, while projectors priced above $10,000 are rare birds, indeed. Even so, affordable models are by no means basic: a look at the under-$1,500 range will turn up plenty of projectors with features such as 4K and HDR10 support—BenQ's CinePrime $1,499 HT3550, for example.

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Audio Video News
A Remembrance of CES Past
Sandy Gross  |  Jan 15, 2020
I attended CES 2020 — probably my last as it seems that Specialty Audio, once the show’s raison d’etre, is really no longer a part of it, at least in any significant way. There are many views as to why this is. Some blame the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), but as a participant in this annual event (once bi-annual) since the early 70s, I feel strongly that the CTA and its CES did not abandon Specialty Audio. Quite the opposite: Specialty Audio abandoned the CES.
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Audio Video News
MQA, Bluesound to Present Live-Streamed Concerts
SV Staff  |  Jan 15, 2020
Music technology company MQA and Bluesound, sister brand to audio stalwarts NAD and PSB, have teamed up with British Underground and Jazz re:freshed to present the Master Sessions series of concerts that will be live-streamed to audio retailers around the world.
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The Connected Life
Tech to Make Guests Feel at Home
John Sciacca  |  Jan 15, 2020
My company has installed whole-house, distributed audio systems since literally the day we opened our doors back in 1995, and over the years we’ve witnessed generational improvements in technology. Mostly gone are wall-mounted rotary volume controls, now replaced with smartphone app control. And “fixed” six-source/six-zone audio systems of the past have largely been replaced with scalable streaming systems that let you add more zones as needed.
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CES 2020Audio Video NewsNew Products
1More Announces Wireless, Noise-Canceling Earphones
SV Staff  |  Jan 15, 2020
Amid the hustle and bustle of CES 2020, China-based headphone specialist 1More announced that it’s getting ready to ship a new $200 set of wireless, active noise canceling (ANC) earphones at the end of the month.
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Audio Video News
Embracing The Spirit of Neil Peart: An Aural Appreciation of the Late, Great Rush Drummer
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 14, 2020
Neil Peart, perhaps the only man to inspire just as many air drummers as actual practicing drummers, passed away on January 7, 2020, following a long and private battle with brain cancer. The world-renowned, world-class drummer and chief lyricist for Rush, the perpetually progressive Canadian power trio, was 67 years old.
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Vote
Are You Buying a New TV Before the Super Bowl?
SV Staff  |  Jan 14, 2020
Super Bowl LIV beckons and six out of 10 Americans are planning to watch the big game, according to researchers at Piplsay, not to mention those crazy commercials and the over-the-top half-time show — courtesy of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira this time around. Question is, what kind of TV will they (you?) be watching?

Are you satisfied with your current screen or busy making plans for the big upgrade? Cast your vote and, as always, leave a comment to explain your choice.

Are You Buying a New TV Before the Super Bowl?
Hell no, I love my current TV.
60% (346 votes)
No way, I can’t afford the TV I really want.
28% (164 votes)
Hell yeah, I’m upgrading to the latest and greatest 4K TV.
9% (53 votes)
Hell yeah, I'm upgrading to the latest and greatest 8K TV.
1% (5 votes)
You betcha, I’m upgrading to the latest and greatest video-projection setup.
2% (11 votes)
Total votes: 579
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