LATEST ADDITIONS

PRICE $190

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), and WiFi control
Easy to find devices with model number
Control up to 50 devices
Works with Sonos
Attractive remote
Minus
Confusing setup
Must create workarounds for input switching
Newest game consoles not in database
Inconsistent and occasionally doesn’t work

Verdict
There was hope that the Sofabaton X1 Hub and Remote could replace the now-discontinued Logitech Harmony Hub. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold a candle to Harmony's ease of use, compatibility, and design.

When Logitech stopped making the Harmony remote controls in 2021, there were few options to take their place. The Sofabaton sounded promising with its vast database of codes for TVs and other devices.

If there is one dominant trend in 2023, it is the remarkable increase in brightness of TVs. Whether it’s OLED or mini-LED FALD LCDs, the luminance improvements are substantial. The OLED category, in particular, has seen significant gains, with LG claiming a 70% gain and peak brightness levels now easily surpassing 1,000 nits, which is sufficient to display most HDR content without requiring tone mapping.

Fans of radio who relish pulling in distant signals from eclectic stations on the fringe, will be pleased to know that Canada’s Magnum Dynalab, maker of world-class FM tuners, is in good hands with its new owner, fellow Canadian company Colquhoun Audio Laboratories Limited.

PRICE $3,998/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent soundstage and imaging
Powerful and adjustable bass output
Disappears when the lights are out
Integrated Atmos module support

Minus
Each speaker requires a power outlet
Cloth grill is not removable
Can't be placed up against a wall

THE VERDICT
The Verdict: A tall, powerful speaker that dazzles with its superb soundstage and imaging, delights with its visceral bass output, and stuns with its starkly minimalist aesthetic.

The new Dymension DM70 Tower speaker is an evolution of a design that's signature Definitive Technology: An adjustable bipolar array combined with a 10-inch powered subwoofer that's integrated into the cabinet. It is not your typical 2-way or 3-way cone-and-dome tower speaker, it has a distinct sound that's larger than life.