Bob Ankosko

Audio Video News
Making Tech History: 8K Video Replay Debuts Tonight at Levi’s Stadium
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 05, 2020
A first-of-its-kind 8K video replay system debuts at Levi Stadium tonight where the San Francisco 49ers meet the Green Bay Packers. We go behind the scenes to learn about a new five-camera system that promises "incomparable digital zoom without pixilation" and full-field coverage with clear views of all goal lines and sidelines.
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Audio Video News
Best Gear of Fall 2020
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 29, 2020
As we get ready to close out October and look forward to a (hopefully) scary good time of trick-or-treating with a little malevolent merry-making thrown in for good measure, we pause to consider eight product that have made Sound & Vision Top Pick status in as many weeks. Our mid-fall additions reveal an interesting split between everyday audio such as the impressive entry-level speaker from Magnepan and upscale gear like Kaleidescape’s state-of-the-art movie server and Sony’s latest 4K laser projector. And then there’s the surprise $4,000 preamp/surround processor from Monoprice (of all brands), which delivers a level of performance and flexibility usually reserved for cost-no-object pre/pros. Read on to see which of these remarkable products capture your imagination.
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The S&V InterviewAudio Video News
NextGen TV: A Progress Report
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 22, 2020
15 Minutes with ATSC President Madeleine Noland

Most Americans don’t know it yet but NextGen TV is already on the air in many markets across the country with dozens more gearing up to launch the service in the coming year. NextGen TV, also known by the technical name ATSC 3.0, greatly expands on the capabilities of the ATSC 1.0 standard that put HDTV on the air 20 years ago. In addition to enabling broadcasters to deliver free, over-the-air access to 4K Ultra HD programming with high-dynamic range (HDR), enhanced color, and immersive surround sound, NextGen TV also allows them to stream local content such as news, weather, and sports updates as well as offer features that enable viewers to personalize and customize that content. A lot has happened since we spoke with Mark Richer, president of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), back in 2017, so we sat down with his successor Madeleine Noland to get an update on how things are progressing with the new TV broadcasting system and what we can expect in the near future.

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Audio Video News
Best Speakers of 2020 (So Far)
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 15, 2020
It’s pretty simple: If you don’t have good speakers, you don’t have a good sound system. Sorry to be so blunt, but speakers — more than any other component in the audio chain — play a crucial role in shaping the tonal character of the music they’re reproducing. If you decide it’s time to upgrade, here are 17 of the best speaker systems Sound & Vision has reviewed so far in 2020.
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Home Movie Theaters
Victorian Meets Modern Tech
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 13, 2020
Entering the oak-paneled foyer of this Victorian manor in Toronto's prestigious Rosedale neighborhood is like stepping back into the early 20th century. Built in 1901, the expansive estate has been meticulously restored to evoke the grandeur of the period— with a fantastic secret. Hiding behind the magnificent historical façade is a fully automated state-of-the-art smart home created by Moonshot Automation (moonshotautomation.com, formerly Custom Sound and Vision) in nearby Mississauga.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
New Product News: Early Fall Edition
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 08, 2020
With Halloween just weeks away A/V makers have dropped some scary good gear in recent weeks, including a high-performance surround processor from a stalwart audio company and a unique audio product that practically defies description. We have no doubt that at least one of the products featured here will capture your imagination.
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Home Movie Theaters
Subterranean Magic
Bob Ankosko  |  Oct 01, 2020
Basements are usually dank, dreary spaces reserved for storage but when the owners of a majestic home in the Milwaukee suburb of River Hills hired Deep River Partners to bring a cleaner transitional aesthetic to the traditional décor, they decided to extend the design magic below grade and transform a boring space into a comfy media room.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
A/V Makers Welcome Autumn with New Gear
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 24, 2020
Pandemic and all that ails 2020 be damned. The cool, crisp air of autumn has arrived and A/V makers are upping the frequency of new product releases in anticipation of what we all hope will be a joyous (and financially rewarding) holiday season. Here's a look at some of the new tech goodies headed your way.
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CEDIA 2020New Products
CEDIA Expo 2020: New Gear Highlights
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 17, 2020
Welcome to the age of virtual trade exhibitions. CEDIA Expo 2020 officially got underway on Tuesday as it has every year since for the past 30 years but unlike past events the only thing you needed to attend was an internet connection and your device of choice. More than 100 “exhibitors” introduced new products, including a healthy selection of audio/video and home entertainment products. Here’s a sampling.
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Vintage Gear
The Model Eighteen: The First Marantz Receiver
Bob Ankosko  |  Sep 10, 2020
Image: audioscope.net

In this edition of Sound & Vision’s Audio Time Machine, we highlight the Marantz Model Eighteen, the iconic brand’s original stereo receiver.

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