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LG OLED65C8PUA OLED Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 26, 2018

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $3,499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Deep black levels
Extremely wide viewing angle
Supports Dolby Vision and HLG
Minus
Expensive compared to same-size LCD UHDTVs
Lower peak brightness than LCD UHDTVs

THE VERDICT
This new C8 series set exceeds the performance of LG’s previous OLED models, making it the best OLED TV from the company I’ve yet tested. Its price is also significantly lower than last year’s C7, which means more buyers can now bring home an LG OLED instead of dreaming about one.

The picture quality improvements in LG’s 2018 OLED Ultra HDTVs aren’t a dramatic upgrade over the company’s already superb 2017 sets, but they are accompanied by a new Alpha 9 processor, an autocalibration option, and a few new and updated features. LG has gathered all of these capabilities under the “LG ThinQ AI” rubric. While the AI (Artificial Intelligence) claim may be a bit overstated, that’s where the market is going and LG is not alone in it. I wonder if adding a blinding blizzard of do-everything geegaws makes the screen interface too complex for the average user who simply wants to turn on his or her TV and watch a movie.

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Audio Video News
Best Soundbars of 2017/2018
SV Staff  |  Jul 26, 2018
A good soundbar performs a valuable service: It elevates TV sound quality far beyond what the TV’s tiny speakers TV could ever hope to achieve and, in some cases, it will even deliver a legit surround-sound experience. Does that mean a soundbar can replace a full-blown home theater speaker system? Nope, but that’s rarely the goal. Instead, most soundbar shoppers are looking for a simple, space saving setup. We’ve compiled snapshots of the best soundbars — and soundbases — we’ve reviewed over the past 18 or so months. Prices range from $270 to $799 and all but one model received a four-star or higher rating in the important Performance category. If you’re in the market for a soundbar, start here.
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SmartStream
Why People Still Rent DVDs
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 25, 2018
How choice, community support, and nostalgia are keeping the last Blockbuster alive in Bend, Oregon. After spending an afternoon at my local blockbuster, I learned a lot about who still rents videos and why.
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The S&V Interview
Elliot Scheiner, Surround Sound Mixmaster
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 25, 2018
Legendary producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner at LA's iconic Capitol Studios.

“I make these records, so I know what the artists want to hear,” notes legendary producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner (a.k.a. ELS) while perched behind the main mixing board in Capitol Records Studio A in Los Angeles. I sat down exclusively in the control room with Scheiner and the members of acclaimed indie/folk-rockers Dawes to discuss their mutual and individual goals for surround sound recording and mixing, and how well it all comes across in the ELS Studio 3D premium audio system in the 2019 Acura RDX.

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Special Features
Outdoor AV Roundup: Cool Gear for a Hot Summer
Al Griffin  |  Jul 25, 2018
The weather is warm and outdoors is the place to be. It doesn’t matter if you’re poolside, at the beach, or on the road with the family, you don’t have to leave your music and movies behind. Here are 10 AV gear suggestions for getting an entertainment fix in the great outdoors.
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Audio Video News
Survey: Pay TV Exodus Accelerates in the U.S.
SV Staff  |  Jul 25, 2018
Cord-cutting — the practice of dropping traditional cable TV in favor of internet-delivered content — is expected to jump more than 30 percent this year, according to the latest forecast from eMarketer.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Atlantic Tech Ships Gatecrasher 1 Wireless Speaker
SV Staff  |  Jul 25, 2018
Atlantic Technology has announced that the Gatecrasher 1 smart speaker it previewed in June is now available on amazon.com for $499.
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Audio Video News
Senators Raise Smart TV Privacy Concerns
SV Staff  |  Jul 24, 2018
If you have privacy concerns about what information your smart TV is gathering and how it’s being used, you’re not alone.
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A/V Veteran
Giving Movie Musicals Their Due
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 24, 2018
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (that is, a sequel) opened in theaters this week. I didn’t realize that the first film, Mamma Mia! The Musical was a major hit when it was released in 2009, selling hundreds of billions of tickets to folks worldwide. I wasn’t of them, having a love/hate relationship with the Abba tunes featured in the film.

In fact I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with movie musicals. La La Land lost me after the first song and dance number from the otherwise appealing leads who could neither sing nor dance. And apart from that title and a few others (notably The Greatest Showman—a recent release now available on a spectacular UHD Blu-ray), the musical hasn’t received a lot of film love in recent years. But it was, for decades, a movie staple...

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Vizio Ships Flagship 65-Inch 4K Smart TV
SV Staff  |  Jul 24, 2018
Vizio today announced the availability of the flagship 65-Inch 4K smart TV it previewed at CES 2018 in January.
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