LATEST ADDITIONS

Spatial Audio File
Steve Hackett on the Genesis of His Surround Sound Mixes and Atmos Inclinations
Mike Mettler  |  Feb 23, 2024  |  3 comments

Whenever the calendar turns over to a new year, there’s a pretty good chance a new Steve Hackett solo album will also be in tow and ready to greet our collective ears. And lo, what do you know—early 2024 has indeed blessed us with the presence of the onetime Genesis guitarist/vocalist’s (yes) 30th solo album, The Circus and the Nightwhale (InsideOut Music). Naturally, the 1CD/1BD mediabook version of the genre-straddling Circus includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix of its 13 tracks done by Hackett’s longtime keyboardist, Roger King. During a recent Zoom interview, music editor Mike Mettler and Hackett discussed the importance of sound placement in the Nightwhale surround mix, what his favorite Genesis song in 5.1 is, and what Genesis track they’d both like to hear most in Atmos.. . .

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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Fargo
Brandon A. DuHamel  |  Feb 23, 2024  |  4 comments
Picture
Sound
Extras

Minnesota nice turns dark in Fargo, the 1996 Academy Award-winning Coen brothers’ film featuring brilliant performances by William H. Macy and Frances McDormand and now beautifully restored on 4K Blu-ray.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Just Add Speakers: Pro-Ject’s Juke Box E1 Boasts a Built-In Power Amp
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 22, 2024  |  2 comments
With their latest creation, the turntable meisters at Pro-Ject have demonstrated that innovation in the age-old record-player category is still possible.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
OSD Audio Delivers $300 Stereo Amplifier/DAC
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 22, 2024  |  0 comments
OSD Audio, the 20-year-old California-based company that prides itself on delivering quality audio gear at affordable prices, is at it again — this time with a versatile $300 stereo amplifier/DAC combo.
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Projector Reviews
BenQ HT4550i Projector Review
Andy Grimm  |  Feb 21, 2024  |  2 comments
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Vertical and horizontal lens shift
Very good pre and post calibration
4LED means no laser speckle
Rich with features

Minus
Disappointing contrast performance
Lackluster sharpness and focus uniformity
Fan noise is loud at full brightness
WCG filter cuts light and disables dynamic contrast

THE VERDICT
The BenQ HT4550i takes a valiant swing at making a home theater but is held back by its limited contrast. Outstanding pre and post calibration performance, 2D lens shift, and an included Android TV streamer make it one of the easiest projectors to set up and use. While not a true home theater projector the BenQ HT4550i makes a strong case for a media room environment.

The home theater projector market is undergoing a major transformation. Lamp-based projectors are being replaced by solid-state projectors. BenQ is a unique company in this market, as it primarily uses 4LED technology instead of the single or multi-laser setups that are becoming more common.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Sennheiser’s New 50-Hour Wireless Headphones Are Packed with Features
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 21, 2024  |  0 comments
Sennheiser is targeting convenience and value with its newest wireless headphones.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
11-Hz-Capable ‘Force-Cancelling’ Sub Tops KEF’s New Subwoofer Lineup
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 20, 2024  |  2 comments
British speaker icon KEF today announced a major expansion of its subwoofer lineup that brings a powerful new 11-Hz-capable dual-driver model into play and introduces a series of sealed subwoofers.
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Audio Video News
Dangbei Corrects Projector-Brightness Spec in Settlement with Epson
Bob Ankosko  |  Feb 19, 2024  |  3 comments
The latest chapter in Epson’s crusade to out projector companies that aren’t playing by the rules continues with China-based Danbei agreeing to correct a bogus brightness spec for one of its projectors rather than potentially face a court-imposed fine.
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The Gawker
The F-Word Reconsidered
Michael Antonoff  |  Feb 19, 2024  |  2 comments
When a spokesperson for NextGenTV, the broadcasting standard also known as ATSC 3.0, appeared at a recent tech expo, he used the F-word frequently. “Free is a very powerful term,” he exclaimed...
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Signals
Hedy Lamarr: Actress, Movie Star, Weapons Designer
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Feb 19, 2024  |  4 comments
Stop me if you've heard this one. An international arms dealer, a music composer, and a Hollywood starlet walk into a bar.....

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