Mark Henninger

New Products
SVS Launches 3000 In-Wall Subwoofer
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 02, 2023  |  0 comments
The new SVS 3000 In-Wall subwoofer promises deep, chest-pounding bass. It is a state-of-the-art architectural subwoofer designed to seamlessly integrate into both existing rooms and new construction. It leverages active dual 9-inch high-excursion SVS-designed drivers and serves up an abundance of power and precision. The company says it "delivers massive output with pinpoint accuracy."
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New Products
Sony Unveils 2023 Bravia TV Lineup
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 02, 2023  |  0 comments
When it comes to TVs, things are looking bright for 2023. If there's a theme to this year's new models, it's the dramatic increase in peak light output for both LCD and OLED-based TVs. Sony's new Bravia lineup is a perfect example; these TVs significantly outshine their predecessors.

Sony's updated Bravia XR lineup boasts a range of five new models, each designed to offer a superlative viewing experience. It consists of the X95L Mini LED (65, 75, and 85 inches), X90L Full Array LED (55, 65, 75, 85 and 98 inches), A95L QD-OLED (55, 65, and 77 inches), and the A80L OLED (55, 65, 77, and 83 inches).

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Headphone Reviews
Focal Bathys Wireless Headphones Review
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 01, 2023  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $699

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Exceptional sound quality
Impeccable build
USB DAC
Unique style
Minus
Noise canceling lags Sony & Bose
Non-folding design

THE VERDICT
Both an engineering achievement and a work of industrial art, the Bathys are full-size, over-ear wireless ANC headphones designed to please picky listeners on the go. They offer owners a refined blend of style and substance.

Bathys, Focal’s first adaptive noise-canceling headphones, are instantly recognizable due to the company’s unique design sensibility. They come from a multi-year in-house development effort and incorporate the company’s signature M-shaped, 40mm aluminum-magnesium alloy drivers that are made by the company in France. Because the sound quality is so good, owning them is a fun experience that makes the higher price worthwhile.

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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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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Samsung 2023 TVs: First Impressions and Pricing
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 23, 2023  |  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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Projector Reviews
Sony XW5000ES 4K HDR Laser Projector Review
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 21, 2023  |  4 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $6,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Accurate colors
Laser light source
2,000 ANSI lumens
Native 4K
X1 Ultimate for Projector processor
Attractive price

Minus
Manual lens adjustment
Lens could be sharper
Does not cover DCI/P3 gamut
No 3D support
Lacks HDMI 2.1

THE VERDICT
Sony changed up the recipe for its most affordable native 4K home theater projector. The laser light source is a huge plus, as is the X1 Ultimate for Projector processor, but the new lens has limitations compared to the the model it replaces.

Long live home theater! That's the first thought that came to mind after I set up Sony's latest and most affordable native 4K projector. And the main new feature is all about long life, 20,000 hours worth thanks to a new laser light source. As a matter of fact, Sony no longer sells any bulb-based 4K home theater projectors, the entire lineup is now lit by lasers.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Marantz AV 10 and AMP 10 System Now Available
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 14, 2023  |  8 comments
Marantz has announced that it is taking orders for the AV 10 and AMP 10 starting today, February 14, 2023. The cost of each component is $7,000 ($14K for the pair) which puts it above AV receivers but still well below some other separates-based home theater AV solutions.

The AV 10 is a new, high-end AV preamp/processor that supports the latest AV formats and delivers an immersive, 3D sound and pristine picture quality. It comes with 15.4 channel processing and supports 8K resolution, making it an ideal choice for serious home theater enthusiasts.

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Smart Speaker ReviewsStreaming Device ReviewsSurround Sound System Reviews
Apple HomePod (Generation 2) Review
Mark Henninger  |  Jan 31, 2023  |  2 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $300

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clear and detailed sound
Easy to set up and use
Supports Dolby Atmos, eARC
Pair two with an Apple TV 4K for a complete system
Minus
Needs an iOS device for setup
No optional subwoofer
Limited maximum volume

THE VERDICT
Apple's attractive and intelligent HomePod speaker arrives just in time to ride the spatial audio wave. It's a technologically advanced, high-fidelity, hyper-smart speaker that transforms into a full-blown surround-sound system when you add a second one.

The moment I first heard a pair of the new Apple HomePod speakers play spatial audio, I could not get one thought out of my mind: This is going to be more than good enough for 90+ percent of listeners. Of course there will still be a place in this world for large, powerful, multi-speaker systems.

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Tower Speaker Reviews
JBL 4349 2-Way Loudspeaker Review
Mark Henninger  |  Jan 30, 2023  |  3 comments

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $8250/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Realistic soundstage
Wide sweet spot
Easily play loud, deep
Adjustable tweeters

Minus
Power hungry for a big speaker
Expensive
Require stands

THE VERDICT
These powerful and precise JBLs made everything I listened to through a pair sound fresh and vital. The 1970s studio monitor styling may not suit everyone'staste, but the mesmerizing sound they produce is sure to captivate any music lover's imagination.

When it comes to speakers, I've learned not to judge a design by its looks. But when you first meet a JBL 4349, it's impossible not to start thinking about the company's professional studio monitors. The prominent horn, with its curved and bulging shape, takes center stage...

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Editor's Eye
New Horizons
Mark Henninger  |  Jan 25, 2023  |  5 comments
Getting to know Sound & Vision Editor Mark Henninger.
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