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Pixels & BitsS&V VideosSpecial Features
Pixels & Bits: Episode No. 1
Rob Sabin,  |  Jul 18, 2017
In this first episode of Sound & Vision's podcast Pixels & Bits, Editor-in-Chief Rob Sabin and Contributing Technical Editor Steve Guttenberg discuss their roots in high-end audio; the affordable Magnepan MMGi magnetic planar speakers (4:00); the problem with "feature glut" (9:00), and whether Sonos sacrificed too much sound quality to gain simplicity with its Playbar soundbar (14:20).

Comments are welcome on these subjects, along with your suggestions for future episodes!

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Signals
Why I Didn’t Buy the Benz
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jul 18, 2017
I like German cars, and I cannot lie. Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz. What wonderful machines they are. Give me more than adequate horsepower, a six- or seven-speed manual transmission, a soulful exhaust note, and I am in heaven. On my most recent car shopping expedition, I fell in love with a car, then I pressed a button and immediately fell out of love.
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Audio Video News
Harman Acquires Arcam
SV Staff  |  Jul 17, 2017
Harman International, the legendary audio brand recently acquired by Samsung, today announced its acquisition of U.K-based A&R Cambridge Ltd., a.k.a. Arcam, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jam Industries.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Sharp Aquos TVs Previewed at CES Now Available
SV Staff  |  Jul 17, 2017
Hisense USA has announced that the Sharp Aquos TVs previewed seven months ago at CES 2017 are now available in screen sizes from 32 to 65 inches at prices ranging from $230 for a 32-inch HD model to $1,300 for a 65-inch 4K/HDR-capable set.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Denon Unveils ‘Fully Loaded’ $1,000 AVR
SV Staff  |  Jul 17, 2017
Denon today introduced a “fully-loaded” 7.2-channel AV receiver that supports passthrough of all three high dynamic range (HDR) formats—HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma).
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Editor's EyeAudio Video News
LG OLED Sweeps 2017 TV Shootout
Rob Sabin  |  Jul 14, 2017
Photo by Matt Murray, Courtesy Value Electronics

In what appears to be an ongoing trend, LG took top honors Thursday at this year's TV Shootout at CE Week in New York. This marks the 4th consecutive year that LG's current top OLED model, this time the 65-inch E7, was declared the annual "King of TV" — a title even more deserving than in year's past thanks to the set sweeping all three of the judging categories.

But despite what by now seems like a familiar or expected result, this year's event was more competitive and interesting than in recent years, with at least one set that very nearly equaled the LG, and others that failed to come as close as we'd have expected.

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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Solus Audio Entré II Loudspeaker Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jul 14, 2017

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $1,795/pr

AT A GLANCE
Plus
I-PAShd cabinet design
Planar magnetic folded tweeter
Minus
Bass extended but not slammin’
No matching center speaker
Low rated sensitivity

THE VERDICT
The Solus Audio Entré II is a well-rounded performer whose special attribute is an elaborate bass-enhancing enclosure.

Life has a way of setting us up for disappointment. So we develop a hard shell of skepticism and rote responses: There is no free lunch. You can’t get blood from a stone. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There’s no such thing as an honest politician. Don’t order the fish on a Monday. And to that list, add: You can’t get big bass out of a small speaker. Little speakers that try to sound big just end up with a bloated bass hump and a turbulent, chuffing port.

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Trolls
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 14, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
There are many definitions of a troll, but as they appear here, in a form first conceived by a Danish woodcarver in 1959 (and subsequently as popular toys), they’re tiny, cute creatures with spiky, multicolored hair who do little besides sing, dance, hug, and party. The miserable Bergens, their enemies, believe that by eating a Troll they can be happy—at least for a day.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
La La Land
Chris Chiarella  |  Jul 14, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
Right or wrong, writer/director Damien Chazelle knew what he wanted. From the cinematographic techniques to the costumes and sets to the staging of the elaborate song-and-dance numbers, he employed every tool at his disposal to bring this uniquely Hollywood tale to life.
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SmartStream
TV Voice Control: Google Assistant Vs. Amazon Alexa
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 14, 2017  |  First Published: Jul 13, 2017
You can use Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to control streaming to your TV right now. But do you want to?
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