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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Emotiva Introduces Configurable Surround Speaker
SV Staff  |  Dec 01, 2017
Emotiva Audio has introduced a wall-mountable surround speaker that can be configured as a direct radiating bipole speaker or as a forward- or rear-oriented dipole speaker to accommodate a variety of surround-sound installations.
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Soundbar Reviews
Yamaha YAS-207 Soundbar System Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 30, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $300

AT A GLANCE
Plus
DTS Virtual:X mimics height/surround
HDMI in and out with ARC
Pleasant voicing in most modes
Minus
Only one video input
3D Surround mode can be slightly harsh

THE VERDICT
The Yamaha YAS-207, which uses DTS Virtual:X processing to simulate height and surround effects, sounds pretty good and is easy on your checkbook.

When Dolby Atmos and, shortly thereafter, DTS:X made their debuts, I expected I’d soon be reviewing a flood of speaker systems and receivers supporting object-oriented surround in a 360-degree soundfield. My hope was that height-capable surround would spark renewed interest in surround speaker packages and receivers — and in home theater overall.

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Throwback Thursday
Flashback 1972: Atari Tests Pong
SV Staff  |  Nov 30, 2017
Pong, one of the earliest arcade video games, had an inauspicious start 45 years ago this week when gaming pioneer/Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell and game designer Allan Alcorn wheeled a prototype of their first coin-operated game machine into Andy Capp’s Tavern in Sunnyvale, California to see how the bar’s patrons would react. It was an instant hit.
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Ask S&V
How Can I Make My iPhone Sound Better?
Al Griffin  |  Nov 30, 2017
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Apple regularly gets flack for not offering Hi-res versions of its iTunes music catalog. I also hear that the quality of the DACs in the latest iPhones (Android phones, too) is not the greatest. Is there any device I can add to my iPhone that will coax the last bit of sound quality out of it?—Scott Oakley, Pine, AZ

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3D Blu-ray Movie ReviewsAudio Video News
2017 Holiday Guide: 11 Outstanding Blu-ray Gift Sets
Chris Chiarella  |  Nov 29, 2017
So, apparently putting a bow on a fancy new TV and cramming it under the tree (or wherever your holiday customs dictate) is a thing now, which means you (or some lucky recipient) will need something extra-good to watch on it. We’ve got you covered. Each of the Blu-ray titles on our 2017 holiday list have been hand-picked to bring the merriest of AV enjoyment — half of this year’s crop even elevates the holiday cheer to 4K status. Sort of makes me think that poor VHS has become the modern equivalent of a lump of coal….
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Music Reviews
Marillion: Misplaced Childhood: Deluxe Edition
Mike Mettler  |  Nov 29, 2017
Performance
Sound
I hate to admit it, but I didn’t “get” Marillion when I saw them open for Rush at the Rosemont Horizon just outside of Chicago on March 21, 1986, playing their 1985 breakthrough album Misplaced Childhood in its entirety. While I was properly enamored with the uplifting performance of their touchingly seductive FM hit “Kayleigh,” I just wasn’t able to connect with the rest of the set for some reason. Apparently, I wasn’t alone in that feeling, since I also heard a good bit of the crowd boo/catcall Marillion throughout their performance, the first time I had heard such a thing occur at a live show.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
New SVS Subs Deliver Flagship Tech at Lower Prices
SV Staff  |  Nov 29, 2017
SVS today introduced a new series of subwoofers that brings technology from its flagship 16-Ultra Series to smaller cabinets with lower prices.
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Apptitude
Blame It on the Emoji
Michael Antonoff  |  Nov 29, 2017
If brown and dirty is your idea of a stocking stuffer, you won’t have far to go. Bed Bath & Beyond offers the Bluetooth Poop Emoji Speaker ($20, in brown), while Staples sells the Poop 4K Emoji Powerbank ($15, you already know the color) for charging your phone. And Macy’s has the EmojiNation Backpack for little girls and big girls ($35) decorated with a variety of emojis including a poop wearing a crown.
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Audio Video News
Samsung Launches App to Help the Color Blind
SV Staff  |  Nov 28, 2017
Samsung has launched an app for its QLED line of TVs that helps people with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), commonly known as “color blindness,” experience accurate color while watching TV.
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4K TV ReviewsTV ReviewsLCD TV Reviews
Sony XBR-65X900E LCD Ultra HDTV Review
Al Griffin  |  Nov 28, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extensive streaming options
Strong contrast with full-array local dimming
Accurate out-of-box color
Minus
Average LCD off-axis picture uniformity
HDR highlights a notch below the top TVs
Android TV interface can be confusing

THE VERDICT
The impressive performance delivered by Sony’s midrange UHDTV makes it a compelling choice for budget buyers upgrading to HDR.

Here’s the top Sony TV news for 2017: The company started selling its first big-screen OLED models. With an elegant “One Slate” design and an ability to emit sound from actuators positioned directly behind the glass screen, Sony’s A1E line (November 2017 and soundandvision.com) is destined to give LG’s OLEDs some competition. But when you consider that a 65-inch model costs about $4,000 after discounts, the Sony OLEDs are pricey. Fortunately, there are plenty of other Sony Ultra HDTVs to choose from, including the midrange X900E series, which lists for $2,000 for the 65-inch model and will run you about $1,800 on the street.

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