Bob Ankosko

An Israeli A/V enthusiast faced a quandary not uncommon among home theater builders: Is the space I've set aside big enough for a no-compromise audio solution? The question loomed large as he pondered the entertainment options for a new luxury penthouse he was planning to buy in the heart of Tel Aviv. Making the situation even more challenging, the space had to be acoustically isolated.

Israel’s Noveto showed a smart speaker at CES 2022 that uses proprietary facial tracking and smart beaming technology to create a personal listening experience.

We love finding products that are unusual or, even better, unique or trailblazing. Samsung’s Freestyle fits the bill in the way it reimagines and expands on the notion of video projection. The curious device looks like a freestanding light can you might pick up at Home Depot — which it is — but it’s also a “point-and-play” video projector and smart speaker, all rolled in one.

Victrola, the name Victor Talking Machine Co. assigned to the iconic floor-standing phonograph it introduced in 1906, has somehow survived the ages and today is known as a purveyor of inexpensive record players and other audio products. Today at CES 2022 the company previewed two portable Bluetooth speakers under the Music Edition banner that represent a break from the vintage motif the company typically embraces.