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Audio Video NewsNew Products
MartinLogan to Expand Popular Motion Speaker Series
SV Staff  |  Aug 22, 2019
MartinLogan has announced plans to expand its popular Motion Series with seven new models.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Denon Unveils $400 Integrated Amp, $300 CD Player
SV Staff  |  Aug 22, 2019
Denon today announced two audio components sure to appeal to music enthusiasts who are on a budget or looking to put together their first hi-fi system.
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SmartStream
Watch A-List Movies for Free on IMDb TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 22, 2019
In the search for alternatives to cable and satellite, there are a number of streaming solutions. Most require subscribing to live TV packages along with Netflix and other TV and movie apps, which can cost as much or more than a monthly cable bill.  But there are free alternatives. IMDb TV is one of the newest ad-supported, on-demand movie and TV apps
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Editor's Eye
In Search of the Perfect Audio Demo
Al Griffin  |  Aug 22, 2019
In May I had an opportunity to attend High End in Munich, Germany, an event considered by many to be the world’s leading hi-fi show. It was the second consecutive Munich show I had attended, and this one was even more bustling with activity than the last. While the show does provide trade-only days, it’s primarily a consumer-focused event — audiophiles from all over Europe flock in to look at and listen to the latest gear, much of it on active display in rooms that pump out nonstop music.
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Soundbar Reviews
Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Aug 21, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Convincing immersive sound
Powerful bass
Chromecast built-in for music streaming
Minus
Heavy and large
Expensive

THE VERDICT
Sennheiser's first foray into home theater was worth the wait. The Ambeo soundbar, with Ambeo 3D processing, is currently the best soundbar on the market.

The compactness and convenience that soundbars offer has always been appealing, but their actual sound has too often been a letdown. Many have failed to create an authentic sense of surround and most also require an external subwoofer to provide substantial bass. Sennheiser's new Ambeo soundbar looks to buck that trend by delivering an immersive 5.1.4 surround experience while confidently eschewing a separate subwoofer. On paper, it looks to be the first soundbar designed to truly replace a standard home-theater surround setup. But does it deliver the goods?

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Emotiva’s 16-Channel XMC-2 AV Pre-Pro Has Arrived
SV Staff  |  Aug 21, 2019
Emotiva Audio today announced that the 16-channel XMC-2 AV preamp/processor it previewed in January at CES 2019 is now shipping.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
JBL, NAD First to Get Dirac Live Bass Management
SV Staff  |  Aug 21, 2019
Dirac Research, the Swedish technology company best known among S&V readers for its Dirac Live speaker setup/room-correction system, today announced that the Dirac Live Bass Management module it announced last December will debut in gear from JBL, NAD, Arcam, and Storm Audio.
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Audio Video News
THX Remakes Iconic ‘Deep Note’ Trailer
SV Staff  |  Aug 21, 2019
THX is commemorating its 35th anniversary with a remake of the iconic “Deep Note” trailer that has wowed movie-watchers since it debuted with the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi way back in 1983.
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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
TV Tech Explained: Mind Your (HDR) PQ
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 20, 2019
In TV Tech Explained: Mind Your Gamma I covered gamma and its importance for playback of standard dynamic range (SDR) video. But high dynamic range (HDR) is a new and very different animal.
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Desktop Speaker Reviews
JBL One Series 104 Powered Reference Monitors
Al Griffin  |  Aug 20, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $129

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clean, dynamic sound
Compact form factor
Great value
Minus
Limited connection options

THE VERDICT
JBL's desktop monitors deliver crisp, distinctive sound in a compact and affordable package.

When shopping for desktop speakers, the line between consumer and pro gear can sometimes get blurred. That's because the differences between compact powered bookshelf speakers (consumer) and desktop monitors (pro) ultimately aren't that dramatic. Generally, it comes down to features: consumer gear is more likely to provide things like Bluetooth and phono inputs and a subwoofer output, while pro gear eschews such frills. Another key difference can be the sound: while consumer speakers are voiced to simply sound good, pro versions are designed for "accuracy." But does accurate necessarily equate to good? Let's listen to the JBL One Series 104 Powered Reference Monitor ($129) and find out.

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