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Spatial Audio File
The Divine Secrets Behind Mixing Stewart Copeland and Ricky Kej’s Grammy-Winning Best Immersive Audio Album Divine Tides in 360 Reality Audio
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 30, 2023  |  First Published: Jul 31, 2023

It’s no surprise that Stewart Copeland and Ricky Kej’s collaborative effort Divine Tides won a Grammy Award in February 2023 for Best Immersive Audio Album for the 360 Reality Audio version of it done by the ace surround-sound mixing team of producer Herbert Waltl and mixer Eric Schilling. Here, Waltl and Schilling discuss how they created that richly expansive 360RA mix, as well as the key differences between stereo mixes and immersive mixes, how to best tap into emotional responses in a spatial audio setting, and how they strive for their mixes to get you to experience hearing certain mix elements both well above and well below your ear height. . .

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Director's IntentSpecial Features
How James Cameron Created an Otherworldly Reality in Avatar: The Way of Water
Matt Hurwitz  |  Jul 28, 2023
“I see you.” That is the line spoken in both James Cameron’s original Avatar (2009) and its first sequel, the incredible Avatar: The Way of Water, released this past December, when the native Na’vi characters look into each other’s eyes and see the person within.

And with the Oscar®-winning visual effects (VFX) he and his team have developed and utilized, the phrase takes on new meaning. The CG animated characters are not cartoons – they are people. And we see them, from the inside out.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
News & Gear: Summer 2023
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 27, 2023
From crazy colorful speakers to help you get through a scorching summer to a Class A headphone amp aimed squarely at audiophiles, here’s the latest news from around the A/V world.
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SmartStream
"Barbenheimer" Ignites Movie Going and Restores Theatrical Window
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 26, 2023
A sea of pink worn by mothers, daughters, and grandmothers waiting for popcorn to eat while watching Barbie together. It's precisely what movie makers and theater owners hoped for—a sense of community watching a movie together pre-pandemic style. It's an experience that can't be duplicated streaming at home alone. Most studios have ended same-day streaming offerings, and theater-only windows are extending longer.
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Subwoofer ReviewsSurround Sound System ReviewsTower Speaker Reviews
Arendal 1961 9.4.4 Speaker System Review
Mark Henninger  |  Jul 26, 2023

1961 Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value

1961 1V Subwoofer
Performance
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $14,490 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Powerful, accurate sound
Relatively compact
Attractive
10-year warranty

Minus
Sub lacks an app
Only available in black or white

THE VERDICT
A perfect match for a flagship AVR, the 1961 9.4.4 system from Arendal performs great and looks fantastic.

The 1961 system from Arendal is one of the company’s three speaker series, the other two being the 1723 and 1723 S. 1961 is more compact and more affordable, but is otherwise consistent with Arendal’s design philosophy and aesthetics. This isn't what you'd call overpriced audio jewelry. It is modern and solidly built and aesthetically pleasing, but most importantly, it performs and offers great value.

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HDTV SetupA/V Veteran
Should You Calibrate Your TV?
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 25, 2023
Most TV buyers turn their new TV on and never touch the video controls even though those controls can be invaluable in getting the best possible picture quality. The question is, do you have the knowledge and confidence to make the right adjustments or does it make more sense to hire a professional calibrator to do it for you?
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Denon Previews New Low-Priced AV Receivers
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 25, 2023
Denon today announced the addition of two budget models to its S Series of entry-level AV receivers.
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Headphone Reviews
Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds Review
Mark Henninger  |  Jul 24, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Refined sound quality
Exceptional comfort
Top tier noise canceling
Small and discrete Long battery life
Minus
Cost more than AirPods Pro

THE VERDICT
Sony’s latest earbuds are state-of-the-art listening devices that deliver unparalleled comfort and noise-canceling capability in a truly wireless earbud style.

The new WF-1000XM5 ($299 MSRP) is the successor to the popular and highly regarded WF-1000XM4, true wireless earbuds that already had a reputation for some of the best noise canceling in the business. With the WF-1000XM5 Sony focused on improving performance while shrinking their size.

While there are seemingly an endless number of headphone Brands and models, Sony’s WF-1000 series stands as one of the most popular premium options. This is especially the case for Android users who are feature-limited when using AirPods Pro.

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
All Quiet on the Western Front
Brandon A. DuHamel  |  Jul 24, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

After several Hollywood adaptations for both the big and small screens, Edward Berger is now the first German director to adapt his countryman Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front. Here, Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) is a young German man who finds himself caught up in the patriotic fervor of World War I Germany and, along with his friends, enlists in the military to fight. Upon arriving at the Western Front against France, Paul and his friends are confronted with the reality of trench warfare, which is vastly different from the glory they imagined.

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Audio Video News
Nakamichi Hikes Price of Dragon Soundbar but Honors Original Price for First 1,000 Customers
SV Staff  |  Jul 24, 2023
In one of the more unusual press statements we’ve seen from an AV company, Nakamichi today announced that pre-orders for the highly anticipated Dragon 11.4.6 Home Surround System it previewed at CES 2023 will open next week but that the system will carry a higher price tag than originally announced.
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