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A/V Veteran
Lost in YouTube
Thomas J. Norton  |  Feb 28, 2023  |  1 comments
For years I ignored YouTube because I thought it was filled with cat videos and not much else. When I finally discovered its endless range of absorbing content last year, however, I posted a blog on it. But YouTube's depth of information on almost any topic is so vast that an occasional revisit is worthwhile. Video quality, then and now, ranges from very good to nearly unwatchable, but thankfully most of it is at least good enough for acceptable viewing.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
LG Announces Pricing and Availability for 2023 OLED Lineup
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 28, 2023  |  0 comments
LG today announced pricing and availability for the 2023 OLED 4K TVs it previewed last month at CES 2023.
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Vote
S&V Poll: Do You Stream Movies or Watch on Disc?
SV Staff  |  Feb 27, 2023  |  11 comments
Do you stream? Of course, you do! Everybody streams movies and music these days, even our elderly grandparents. Though the quality of streaming has improved considerably in recent years, it still doesn’t always match the audio and video quality you can get on disc. All of which brings us to the question, do you prefer streaming movies or watching them on 4K Blu-ray Disc? Or maybe it’s a mix of the two. Check the answer that comes closest to describing your situation — and leave a comment to explain your choice.
S&V Poll: Do You Stream Movies or Watch on Disc?
I love watching movies on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc and do so all or most of the time.
24% (238 votes)
I love streaming movies and do so all or most of the time.
20% (195 votes)
I prefer watching movies on 4K Blu-ray and do so more than half of the time.
14% (140 votes)
I prefer streaming movies and do so more than half of the time.
4% (43 votes)
My movie-watching time is about evenly split between streaming and watching movies on 4K Blu-ray.
19% (187 votes)
I prefer watching movies on 4K Blu-ray and stream less than half of the time.
10% (95 votes)
I prefer streaming movies and watch movies on 4K Blu-ray less than half of the time.
10% (102 votes)
Total votes: 1000
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Signals
Medium Over Message: Are You Afflicted?
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Feb 27, 2023  |  0 comments
As Marshall McLuhan famously noted, “The medium is the message.” I don’t know if Mr. McLuhan was an audio/video enthusiast, but that pronouncement, I think, perfectly describes a peculiar affliction that is all too common among us enthusiasts. Perhaps, just maybe, he was talking about you.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
CanJam NYC 2023: Headphone Heaven
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 26, 2023  |  1 comments
Yesterday, I took a day trip to New York City and checked out CanJam 2023, a personal audio showcase touted as the foremost audio event for headphones. CanJam is actually a series of events that take place in various cities across the world, and the one in New York City is the easiest for me to attend. The two-day event, held on February 25th and 26th, took place at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

During the visit I took the opportunity to capture and create several short videos, they are featured here.

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Spatial Audio File
Joe Satriani on the Spacious New Atmos Mix of His Career-Defining 1987 Album, Surfing With the Alien
Mike Mettler  |  Feb 24, 2023  |  1 comments

Guitar maestro Joe Satriani has been making strange beautiful music for well over four decades and counting. Given his penchant for exploring the very concept of space itself and all of its dimensions, it should come as no surprise that Satch has wholly embraced the concept of having his music mixed in Dolby Atmos. Recently, Satriani and I got on Zoom together to discuss just how cosmically cool his benchmark October 1987 instrumental album Surfing With the Alien sounds in Atmos, which specific track benefits the most from its Atmos mix, and what earlier surround mix from his storied catalog he considers to be “the most beautiful thing ever.” Read on to discover all the Satch-in-Atmos answers that await. . .

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
4 on 4K from Kino Lorber Studio Classics
Chris Chiarella  |  Feb 24, 2023  |  0 comments
In Bruges, 107 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
The Score, 124 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Tropic Thunder, 107/121 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
The Usual Suspects, 106 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras

Boutique label Kino Lorber Studio Classics has been coming on strong the past couple of years, and their recent Ultra HD 4K output has been second to none. With the freedom to work with a variety of studios, they’re amassing an enviable catalog of time-honored films in uncompromising video quality. We spun four of their newest, all utilizing Dolby Vision HDR and proffered on roomy triple-layer 100GB discs. All of them use pre-existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtracks, maintain key legacy bonus features, and also include the movie on freshly minted 1080p Blu-rays.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Headphone Heaven: CanJam NYC 2023 Preview
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 23, 2023  |  4 comments
The latest and greatest in headphone technology will be on display at CanJam NYC 2023, which opens on Saturday (February 25) at the Marriott Marquis in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Samsung 2023 TVs: First Impressions and Pricing
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 23, 2023  |  First Published: Feb 21, 2023  |  0 comments
Samsung has recently published comprehensive pricing details for its premium Neo QLED TVs and the 77-inch QD OLED, all of which are available to order now.

Some owners have already received their new TVs and are sharing their initial impressions on YouTube. Additionally, Sound & Vision had the opportunity to test three new models firsthand: the QN900C, the top-of-the-line 8K model, the QN95C, the 4K flagship model, and the S95C, the innovative QD OLED model with impressive picture quality.

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Tower Speaker Reviews
Fluance Ai81 Active Tower Stereo Speaker System Review
Leslie Shapiro  |  Feb 22, 2023  |  1 comments

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Convenient
Budget-friendly
Multiple input options
Excellent soundstage

Minus
Needs a subwoofer for movies
Veiled midrange
Bright treble

THE VERDICT
The Fluance Ai81 floorstanding self-powered stereo pair is ideal for anyone looking for an affordable solution that provides better imaging and soundstage compared to almost any soundbar in this price range while retaining all the same conveniences.

As a recording engineer, I’ve often pondered how soundbars could have become so popular, even though they typically sacrifice the sound quality and true stereo imaging attained by full-range speakers. I know the answer is because they’re so convenient, usually self-powered, and easy to connect to a TV. But is there a solution with a more realistic soundstage that also provides the same features and connectivity? Enter the Fluance Ai81 floorstanding, powered speakers with a multitude of input options.

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