LATEST ADDITIONS

Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 05, 2023  |  First Published: Oct 06, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

Only a few moments into Across the Spider-Verse’s two-hour-and-20-minute runtime, we can begin to understand why this sequel to 2018’s Oscar-winning Into the Spider-Verse took almost five years to arrive. Dramatically bold and visually (and sonically) fearless, the movie is exhausting in the best possible sense, inviting the audience along on a mind-boggling adventure and daring us to keep up.

Continue Reading »
Editor's Eye
The Evolution of Performance
Mark Henninger  |  Oct 05, 2023
As highly competent design becomes more commonplace in modern AV gear, it’s the perfect time to discuss the balance between performance, design, and features.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video NewsNew Products
Arcam Radia Series Unveiled: Tradition Meets Modernity in London
Mark Henninger  |  Oct 04, 2023  |  First Published: Oct 03, 2023
Today in London, Arcam unveiled its latest audio line, the Radia Series, during a live event at the Vinyl Factory. The series features three integrated amplifiers: the Arcam A5, A15, and A25, alongside the Arcam CD5 CD player and Arcam ST5 high-resolution streamer. This initial offering represents a harmonious blend of Arcam’s established British audio heritage with modern design aesthetics and technology.
Continue Reading »
A/V Veteran
Animation: The Sequel
Thomas J. Norton  |  Oct 03, 2023
I've written about animated films before, but there are always new ones to discover, as well as older titles to revisit. To beat a live horse yet again (Maximus in Tangled, for example, not Maximus in Gladiator) I continue to be disappointed that adult friends, when visiting for a movie night, reject out of hand any suggested animated titles. Some, I suspect, haven't seen an animated movie since they were 12, an age at which they abandoned anything they considered to be childish diversions beneath their newfound sophistication. But just as live action films can offer things that animated titles cannot, the reverse is certainly true. Here are six more of my favorite animated movies.
Continue Reading »
The Connected Life
Outdoor Entertaining, Part 2: Creating a Video Oasis in Your Backyard
John Sciacca  |  Oct 02, 2023
Summer may be over but there’s still plenty of time for outdoor entertaining before the winter sets in. In Creating an Audio Oasis in Your Backyard, I discussed outdoor audio solutions. Now it’s time to add a little V to the A.
Continue Reading »
Spatial Audio File
Youth on Mixing The Orb and David Gilmour’s Metallic Spheres in Colour in Atmos
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 29, 2023

When The Orb and David Gilmour came together over a decade ago to produce the two-part, 49-minute ambient soundscape dubbed Metallic Spheres, there almost seemed to be a bit of unfinished business attached to what we were hearing—and now we know why. To take its music to the next level, original Metallic Spheres producer Youth has just recast it in Dolby Atmos as a more concise 40-minute edition duly renamed Metallic Spheres in Colour. Recently, Youth and music editor Mike Mettler got on Zoom to discuss how Metallic Spheres morphed into its current full-bodied Atmos Colour and shape, what notable Orb song seems ready-made for an immersive remix, and what else he’d like to mix in Atmos next. . .

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Best Gear of Late Summer/Early Fall 2023
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 28, 2023
When it comes to products tested, the past couple of months have paid dividends in the form of nine Top Picks, ranging from a killer AV receiver that does everything but pop the popcorn to an 85-inch TV that approaches the grandeur of a projection setup at a price that will blow your mind. Subwoofers also figure prominently into the mix along with an audiophile-caliber desktop system and a rolling party-in-a-box sound machine built for special occasions, inside or out.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
TVOS 17 Update Brings FaceTime & More to Apple TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 27, 2023
The Apple tvOS 17 operating system update arrived on September 18th. New integrations that use the iPhone or iPad as a camera are a game-changer as FaceTime is now on Apple TV. Apple has also added several features users have been requesting for a while.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
SVS, NAD & McIntosh Host Live Listening Experiences Around the Country
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 27, 2023
Three admired brands in home audio are hosting live listening experiences around the country this fall. McIntosh has set up a listening space in New York City while SVS and NAD and taking the show on the road and making stops in a handful of cities.
Continue Reading »
Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsBookshelf Speaker ReviewsDesktop Speaker Reviews
Monolith MTM-100 Powered Desktop Speaker 2.1 System Review
Howard Kneller  |  Sep 27, 2023

MTM-100 Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value

8-inch THX-Certified Sub
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $500/pair (speaker), $350 (subwoofer)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Delivers high value
Subwoofer output allows expandability
EQ permits tailored sound
Sub is THX certified
Minus
Lacks HDMI ARC for wired TV sound
Large cabinets may overwhelm small spaces

THE VERDICT
A value priced, but stylish satellite/sub combo that forgoes the snobbish brand name to deliver high performance.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X