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Bookshelf Speaker ReviewsStreaming Device Reviews
Sonos Era 300 Spatial Speaker Review: The Music
Rob Sabin  |  May 10, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $449

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent stereo and spatial audio
Works as a standalone, in stereo pair
Use as rear surrounds with Sonos soundbars
Good "smarts" with Alexa, Sonos Voice
Bluetooth compatible
Impressive industrial design

Minus
No compatibility with Atmos tracks on Tidal
Does not work with Sony 360 Reality on Amazon
Sensitive to speaker placement

THE VERDICT
The Sonos Era 300 successfully brings high quality spatial audio to life in a compact, standalone package.

The Sonos Era 300 is the latest in a new generation of Atmos-compliant "spatial audio" speakers that bring a more immersive listening experience without the hardware and installation grief inherent with discrete surround systems. At $449 (in black or white), it costs more than its competition though, in typical Sonos fashion, it is engineered to a fare-thee-well and represents a considerable achievement.

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SmartStream
Apple TV+ Adds Apple Music Live Concerts as it Continues to Grow.
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 10, 2023
A friend recently told me she had just subscribed to Apple TV+ and asked if I had any recommendations for what to watch. When I started naming shows, it occurred to me that Apple TV+ has a plethora of high-quality programming. And now it's adding live concerts.
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The Connected Life
What Is the Future of Custom Installation?
John Sciacca  |  May 09, 2023
I’ve worked in the custom business for over 20 years so I’m always looking ahead to see what’s on the horizon. I’m happy to report that there’s plenty to keep me optimistic and excited about the future of custom installation and smart home technology, though there will always be challenges along the way.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
AudioControl’s G4 Home Theater Amps Now Shipping
Bob Ankosko  |  May 08, 2023
AudioControl today announced that the G4 series amplifiers shown last fall at CEDIA 2022 are all now available.
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Signals
Ohm's Other Law
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  May 07, 2023
The dictionary defines a genius as someone who displays “exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.” Nowhere in that definition does it say that a genius has to be infallible. That's something you and I share with a genius. Sometimes we are wrong.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
100 Years of Warner Bros. Volume Four: Thrillers, Sci-Fi & Horror Blu-ray Collection
Chris Chiarella  |  May 06, 2023
When the big studios have big anniversaries, they tend to make a big splash. Warner Bros. is celebrating their centennial this year and their Home Entertainment unit is commemorating the occasion with—among other retail offerings—four themed film compilations on high-definition Blu-ray, 25 titles each for an appropriate total of 100. Staring down a list price of $150 per collection, I needed to be selective with my disposable income and after some research I ultimately settled on the 100 Years of Warner Bros. Volume Four: Thrillers, Sci-Fi & Horror 25-Film Blu-ray + Digital Collection...
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Kubo and the Two Strings
Chris Chiarella  |  May 05, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

Endless kudos to Kubo’s studio, Laika, for doing more than anyone to keep the waning art of stop-motion animation feature films alive. Shout! Factory has been celebrating their most popular titles in recent 4K upgrades (available in standard or steelbook); among them The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman and Coraline; and now Kubo and the Two Strings. An original story with classic underpinnings, Kubo takes us along on a boy’s quest to acquire some mystical armor in anticipation of a showdown with a powerfully malevolent foe.

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SmartStream
Amazon to Add 400 Free Fire TV Channels
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 04, 2023
The FAST (free ad-supported TV) trend in streaming shows no signs of letting up. On the heels of Google TV’s recent addition of 800 free channels, Amazon has announced plans to add 400 free Fire TV Channels.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Dangbei Launches Portable 1080p Projector with Built-in Netflix
Bob Ankosko  |  May 04, 2023
China-based Dangbei today introduced a portable 1080p projector with built-in Netflix streaming capability.
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Bluetooth Speaker ReviewsBookshelf Speaker Reviews
JBL 4329P Powered Studio Monitors Review
Daniel Kumin  |  May 03, 2023

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $4500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Outstanding sound quality, dynamic abilities
Deep bass extension
Subwoofer output
Minus
No music-data or volume display
On the large side for stand-mount use

THE VERDICT
Big, powerful, flexible, dynamic, and all-around-excellent streaming loudspeakers.

How do you know when an audio trend is more than just a bandwagon? When America’s oldest hi-fi brand climbs on board. (Yes, I know that JBL and Klipsch were both founded in 1946. But JBL’s earliest incarnation goes back to the 1930’s.)

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