LATEST ADDITIONS

Streaming Device Reviews
Kaleidescape Simplifies Disc-to-Digital Conversion
David Vaughn  |  Apr 25, 2023  |  3 comments
For eight months, I've had a Kaleidescape Strato-C and 48TB Terra server in my system and the user experience has been outstanding. At the time my initial review posted many readers argued that the system offered poor value compared to ripping discs onto local storage solutions and playing them through an Nvidia Shield or similar front-end device.
Continue Reading »
Signals
Can Neurotechnology Defeat Tinnitus & Hearing Loss?
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Apr 24, 2023  |  4 comments
Like many of us, you are getting on in years. Whether through disease or simple wear and tear, the delicate mechanisms of your inner ears aren’t quite what they used to be. You might be hearing spurious tones, or just not hearing some things at all. If only you could get back your younger ears. Well, could I interest you in a neuroprosthesis?
Continue Reading »
HDTV Buying Tips
How To Buy a 4K TV
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 23, 2023  |  2 comments
2023 marks the 10th anniversary of both consumer OLED TVs and Ultra HD TVs. In those ten short years we have seen the demise of plasma and 3D and curved screens. We witnessed the rise of HDR and high frame rates and the dawn of the gaming TV era. 4K has become dominant and 8K exists for those who want it. The focus of what makes a great TV has shifted from home theater to a broader spectrum of streaming, gaming, displaying art and other applications, but the fundamentals of what makes a great TV are largely the same: Color accuracy, gamut, contrast, and motion rendering need to be top-notch.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Black Adam
Ralph C. Potts  |  Apr 21, 2023  |  0 comments
Picture
Sound
Extras

From the pages of DC Comics, Black Adam begins in the ancient land of Kahndaq, where a young slave is bestowed with the almighty powers of the gods. After using these powers for vengeance and freeing Kahndaq from its oppressive king, he was seen as a menace and imprisoned. In the present day, Kahndaq is under the control of the “Intergang,” a mercenary organization, that is opposed by a small group of resistance fighters

Continue Reading »
Audio Video NewsNew Products
madVR Labs Promises ‘Massive Upgrade’ with Next-Gen Video Processors
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 20, 2023  |  0 comments
madVR Labs, the Maryland-based maker of high-performance video processors for high-end home theaters, says the next generation of its Envy Extreme and Pro processors offers a “massive upgrade.”
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Qobuz Streaming Service Now Available in Canada
SV Staff  |  Apr 20, 2023  |  0 comments
Qobuz, the Paris-based music streaming and download service that’s been available in the U.S. since 2019, has finally made its way up north. As part of its ongoing international expansion, the service is now available in 26 countries with yesterday’s addition of Canada.
Continue Reading »
Director's IntentThe S&V Interview
Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road
Matt Hurwitz  |  Apr 20, 2023  |  0 comments
How do you close a 50+ year career in America, one which has brought music and magic to millions of fans, to celebrate with them? Well, if you’re Elton John, by returning to the city where it started—Los Angeles—and to one of the locations which symbolizes his incredible success, Dodger Stadium, where he famously played in 1975.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Red’s Last Mail Drop
Michael Antonoff  |  Apr 19, 2023  |  6 comments
The Netflix red envelope that defined the era between video cassettes and streaming will soon be a relic of the past. Subscribers to the disc-by-mail service were informed by email on Tuesday (April 18) that the company will ship its last disc on September 29, 2023.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Amazon Uses AI to Boost Dialogue On Some Prime Video Originals
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 19, 2023  |  1 comments
If you've found yourself cranking up the volume while streaming movies and TV series or turning on the closed captions to understand everything that's being said, you're not alone. Amazon is addressing the issue by using artificial intelligence to boost the dialogue on some of its Amazon Originals.
Continue Reading »
Accessory Reviews
Sofabaton X1 Programmable Universal Remote Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 19, 2023  |  0 comments
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $190

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), and WiFi control
Easy to find devices with model number
Control up to 50 devices
Works with Sonos
Attractive remote
Minus
Confusing setup
Must create workarounds for input switching
Newest game consoles not in database
Inconsistent and occasionally doesn’t work

Verdict
There was hope that the Sofabaton X1 Hub and Remote could replace the now-discontinued Logitech Harmony Hub. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold a candle to Harmony's ease of use, compatibility, and design.

When Logitech stopped making the Harmony remote controls in 2021, there were few options to take their place. The Sofabaton sounded promising with its vast database of codes for TVs and other devices.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X