Audio Video News

October may be gone but it’s not forgotten, having yielded a small but distinguished batch of Top Pick-designated products. Among them a high performing stereo receiver with distinctive retro styling, Sony’s impressive reentry into the vibrant world of OLED TV, a reference-caliber home theater speaker system that is surprisingly affordable, and a budget AV receiver that’s bustling with features. All are presented here in summary form for your reading pleasure.

Outlaw RR2160 Stereo Receiver: $799

The RR2160 is an update of the venerable RR2150 Outlaw introduced more than a decade ago under the banner “the last great stereo receiver.” Okay, so it wasn’t the last receiver but its replacement is one of the best you can buy if tried-and-true stereo is your priority. Reviewer Mark Fleischmann called the 2160 a “stupendously great-sounding stereo receiver…that supports a lot of little contingencies, including HD Radio and options for both moving-magnet and moving-coil phono cartridges.” While it doesn’t directly support wireless connectivity — you can add Bluetooth via an accessory — it does include a set of old-school tone controls.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
110 watts x 2
PC-USB and phono inputs
Bass, treble, balance controls
Minus
No HDMI or other video switching
Ethernet but no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

Full Review Here

 

Sony XBR-65A1E OLED Ultra HDTV: $5,500

People tend to forget that Sony introduced the world’s first organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV — the 11-inch XEL-1 — a decade ago and then quietly exited the market. At CES 2017, the venerable brand staged a comeback when it unveiled the XBR-A1E line of 4K OLED TVs. If you’ve been waiting for Sony to get back into the OLED game, the wait is over. The 65-inch XBR-65A1E — the middle model in the new line — distinguishes itself as a solid performer with brilliant color and excellent high dynamic range (HDR) chops. Veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton concluded: “The A1E looked remarkable, in nearly every way meeting my expectations for a premium OLED display.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent contrast
Superb color and resolution
Looks good from every angle
Unique panel-based sound system
Minus
No color management system
Some white clipping

Full Review Here

Revel Concerta2 M16 Speaker System: $4,050 (as reviewed)

Revel, Harman’s premier speaker brand, puts its world-class engineering prowess to work in the spectacular M16-based Concerta2 speaker system, a 5.1-channel setup with five speakers and a powerful subwoofer — itself worthy of Top Pick status — that can be had for a price that’s extremely reasonable by high-end audio standards. The Concerta2 “consistently delivers impeccable high-end sound, as Revel has done as a brand throughout its history,” concluded reviewer Mark Fleischmann. “The Concerta2 made an unforgettable and overwhelmingly positive impression as a speaker system that does it all, and does it well nigh perfectly.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
High transparency
Equalized subwoofer
Wall-hanging surrounds
Minus
Manual sub EQ requires expertise

Full Review Here