SV Staff

Sony UHP-H1 Hi-Res-Certified Blu-ray Player
Video is usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think Blu-ray, but Sony has gone out of its way to build a player that puts audio and video performance on equal footing—and maybe even gives audio an edge. The Hi-Res Audio–certified UHP-H1 is built to withstand vibration and equipped to play just about any file or disc you throw at it—including SACDs and DSD or 192-kilohertz/24-bit music files. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and supports Bluetooth streaming via Sony’s LDAC codec for “higher-than-typical” bit rates. And it’s no slouch in the video department, either, offering 4K upscaling at up to 60 hertz (though no compatibility with the new UHD Blu-ray Discs). Get Connected: When you’re not connected wirelessly, you can choose between optical and analog inputs or play Hi-Res files via the front-panel USB port. Price: $350

There’s no shortage of weather resistant/waterproof outdoor speakers to choose from but Monitor Audio offers a twist on the theme with its CWT all-weather in-wall/ceiling speaker series.

Crowdfunding is one of the 21st Century’s great innovations (it actually started late in the 20th Century…we know), providing a way for anyone to take a shot at funding their Next Big Thing product.

DirecTV plans to target the estimated 20 million U.S. households that don’t subscribe to pay TV with its forthcoming DirecTV Now “over-the-top” (OTT) Internet TV service, according to the cable industry news site FierceCable.com.