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S&V Poll: Will VR Headsets Replace Home Theater as We Know It?
SV Staff  |  Jun 29, 2023
When Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the Vision Pro headset the company plans to bring to market early next year, he touted it as a “new kind of computer that augments reality by seamlessly blending the real world with the digital world…You can see, hear, and interact with digital content just like it’s in your physical space.” Apple hailed Vision Pro as a device that has the power to change the way we experience entertainment — one that “can transform any room into your own personal theater” with a massive virtual screen. All of which begs the question: Will virtual/augmented reality head gear replace home theater as we know it? What do you think? Cast your vote below and leave a comment to explain your choice.
S&V Poll: Will VR Headsets Replace Home Theater as We Know It?
Yes! AR/VR headsets make it possible to watch movies on a huge virtual screen no matter where you are.
11% (83 votes)
Maybe. I need to know what it’s like to watch a movie while donning a headset before passing judgement.
26% (203 votes)
No way! Wearing a clunky headset will never replace the social experience of watching a movie in a real home theater.
63% (497 votes)
Total votes: 783
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SmartStream
CNN to Stream Live News from Max App
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 28, 2023
After grappling with what to do with CNN following the shutdown of the CNN+ streaming services, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to add live CNN to Max later this year. CNN fans will be free to cut the cord and stream directly from the app.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
B&W Launches Signature Versions of its Iconic 800 Series Speakers
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 28, 2023
Bowers & Wilkins today announced the latest iteration of the famous 801 speaker that became an instant audiophile classic when it was introduced in 1979, making its way into London’s fabled Abbey Road Studios a few years later.
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HDTV Buying TipsA/V Veteran
Shopping for a New TV? Here Are a Few Tips
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 27, 2023
One of the key highlights of the CES trade show held every year in early January is a preview of the coming year's new TVs. These models don’t typically become available for sale until the spring, meaning most of the TVs you see “on sale” in the three or four months following CES are actually last year's models that need to be cleared out to make room for the new ones. And some of that old stock remains available into the early summer — as in now.
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Signals
From Musicboarding to Phoneboarding
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jun 27, 2023
A few months ago, I described how a certain airline has devised a fiendish way to torment its passengers. That is, a type of torment beyond the usual run-of-the-mill torture of flying on any airplane. In a letter to the editor, alert reader Douglas Mandel commiserated with me but pointed out that I was overlooking another kind of torture that is much, much worse.
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4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Samsung OLED G9 240 Hz 49" Ultra-Wide Monitor Review
Mark Henninger  |  Jun 26, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
State-of-the-art graphics
Great for gaming and productivity
Statement-making design
Packed with smart features
Factory calibrated
Minus
Pricey
Needs a powerful PC for gaming

THE VERDICT
With its combination of quantum-dot OLED display tech and a 32:9 aspect ratio, 49-inch screen Samsung's latest ultra-wide monitor is a gamer's delight while also serving as a reference-quality productivity tool.

The Samsung OLED G95SC is a genuine "world's first" with a 240 Hz 49-inch QD-OLED screen. The result is an ultra-thin profile and light weight that make it surprisingly easy to assemble and adjust despite its epic dimensions. Its $2,200 MSRP may be high but is a reflection of the cutting-edge technology found within.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Amphion’s Helium Speakers Boast Sound-Enhancing Waveguides & Can Be Customized to Your Decor
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 26, 2023
Amphion Loudspeakers has been around for 25 years yet you’ve probably never heard of them. The Finnish company, known best for making professional studio monitors, ventured into home audio several years ago and is now promoting its Helium speaker series on these shores. And it’s doing so with a twist.
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Director's Intent: Kaleidescape 4K
1923 – Season One
David Vaughn  |  Jun 23, 2023

Picture
Sound
1923 — exclusive on Kaleidescape through early August — is a prequel to the popular TV show Yellowstone that follows the Dutton family in the early 20th century as they struggle to survive the harsh realities of the American West. Set in 1923 during Prohibition — a time of cascading hardships including drought and the lead-up to the Great Depression — the Duttons must fight to keep their Montana ranch and preserve their way of life amid challenges by new enemies and rapid change brought on by the transition to electricity, modern appliances, and automobiles.
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In-Wall Speaker Reviews
RSL W25E In-Wall Speaker System Review – Invisible Treasure
David Vaughn  |  Jun 22, 2023

RSL W25E In-Wall Speakers
Performance
Build Quality
Value

RSL CG25 Center Speaker
Performance
Build Quality
Value

RSL Speedwoofer 12s
Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $2,020 (as tested)
(2) W25E left/right speaker, $199
(1) CG25 center speaker, $425
(2) W25E surround speaker, $199
(1) Speedwoofer 12s subwoofer, $799

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clean output
Edgeless magnetic grille
Angled baffle design improves imaging
Minus
Installation requires insulation behind the speaker

THE VERDICT
Outstanding sound quality at an affordable price that will please even the most demanding audiophile listener.

I recently upgraded from traditional box speakers to in-wall speakers after delving into the world of in-walls with my recent review of the SVS 3000 In-Wall Subwoofer, which I installed in my den. My wife never liked the aesthetics of the entertainment system because the first thing you saw walking through the door was a wall-mounted bookshelf speaker, which stuck out a good 8 inches from the wall. Despite the great sound, it wasn't so easy on the eyes.

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SmartStream
Netflix Pokes Fun at Itself with the Launch of Streamberry Website
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 21, 2023
Netflix is poking fun at itself with this week’s launch of Streamberry.tv, a real-life website based on the fictional Streamberry streaming service featured in its popular Black Mirror series.
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