LATEST ADDITIONS

The Big Picture
Klipsch Celebrates 75 Years with Upscale Soundbars
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 26, 2021  |  0 comments
As part of its ongoing 75th anniversary celebration, Klipsch is upscaling its presence in soundbars with four new systems designed to evoke its Reference series of home theater speakers.
Continue Reading »
Signals
Not Coming Soon to a Channel Near You
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jul 26, 2021  |  2 comments
I really, really would like to be an astronaut on the International Space Station. Wonderful views. Free parking. Cool science experiments to play with. Not feeling guilty about those extra pounds. Ability to work at home. And, best of all, I would be free of the hassle of Covid here on planet earth.

Continue Reading »
Music Disc Reviews
Remaster Class: Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 23, 2021  |  0 comments
Elton John was in the zone. The piano prodigy and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were in the midst of an almost decade-long creative mindmeld, and October 1973's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the apex of their collaboration. The initially unintended double album's 17 songs covered the gamut from nostalgic reverie for days gone by (the title track, the indelible "Candle in the Wind") to pumped-up '70s-style electric-boot rockers ("Bennie and the Jets," "All the Girls Love Alice"), and everything in between.
Continue Reading »
Projector Tech
A Guide to Projection Screens
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 21, 2021  |  0 comments
Today's projection screen scene is far more complex and competitive than it was even a short 10 years ago, with numerous companies now offering a wide range of screen types at various shapes, sizes, and prices. Narrowing the options requires research, together with careful consideration of your specific needs and viewing environment. How tightly can room lighting be controlled? How big does the image need to be? What is the preferred aspect ratio? Should the screen's frame be fixed or retractable? Finally, how do today's high dynamic range (HDR) requirements—unknown a decade ago—figure into the choice?
Continue Reading »
A/V Veteran
Classic Films in 4K/HDR Keep the Blu-Ray Boat Afloat
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 20, 2021  |  2 comments
We've fretted a lot (or at least some of us have) over the growth of streaming because it threatens the survival of packaged media—having your favorite films readily available on Blu-ray or UltraHD Blu-ray, at the highest possible consumer quality, sitting on your bookshelf where no tools from a streaming service with cancellation orders can barge in and carry them away (at least not yet!).
Continue Reading »
The Connected Life
Evolution of the App Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Jul 19, 2021  |  0 comments
My previous column covered ways to control both a modern A/V system and a smart home using various manufacturer-supplied apps. With smartphone and tablet use now widespread, and smart devices capable of being controlled via free iOS and Android apps proliferating, app-based control has also surged. Whether you’re streaming music, controlling your A/V receiver, or managing your home’s energy or security systems, there’s now an app that can help you to do it smarter, better, and more easily. And since most people are now in the habit of carrying their phones 24/7, they basically have a full-blown system controller in their pocket at all times.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Secrets & Lies
Josef Krebs  |  Jul 16, 2021  |  0 comments
Picture
Sound
Extras
As a kid in England in the late 1970s, I loathed director Mike Leigh's BBC TV dramas about what seemed like the drab lives of dull, ordinary people because they lacked the glamour and drive of Hollywood classics. Years later, I became enthralled with the pathos of universal pain and struggle shown in Leigh's Secrets & Lies, a microcosm of real relationships and feelings that is as moving and massively encompassing as any film I've seen.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video NewsNew Products
2021 Midyear Roundup: News & Gear
Bob Ankosko  |  Jul 15, 2021  |  0 comments
Ah, summertime… Life has more or less returned to normal and we’re finally getting back to our pre-COVID-19 lives but the effects of the Great Pandemic linger — and I’m not talking about the Delta variant causing worry in some quarters. No, I’m talking about global chip shortages and shipping delays that continue to constrain the availability of a whole host of new electronics products. The upshot: As we head in to the dogs days of summer we’re seeing fewer new product announcements than usual, though there is still plenty to keep tabs on. Let’s take a look…
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Hands-On: Apple Music Lossless and High-Res Lossless
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 14, 2021  |  7 comments
Apple Music Lossless streaming is now live with an ever-growing library of songs available in Lossless and some in High-Resolution Lossless audio formats. While Lossless is available at no extra charge to Apple Music subscribers, there are a few things you need to know before experiencing these premium-quality offerings.
Continue Reading »
Tower Speaker Reviews
PSB Synchrony T600 Loudspeaker Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 14, 2021  |  1 comments

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $7,999/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Open, detailed sound
Powerful bass
Excellent build quality
Minus
Somewhat pricey
Matching Synchrony center speaker not yet available

THE VERDICT
With Canadian speaker maker PSB's 50th anniversary on the horizon, the company's new flagship Synchrony T600 tower is cause for celebration.

PSB Speakers was founded by Paul Barton in 1972. While the brand has long been part of the Canada- based Lenbrook Group, which also includes NAD and Bluesound, Barton began as and remains PSB's chief designer, cook, bottle washer, and one of the most respected speaker authorities in the industry. His work, including the new Synchrony T600 under review here, has long made use of the Canadian National Research Council's (NRC) audio testing facilities, including its anechoic chamber.

Continue Reading »

Pages

X