Audio Video News

Master Quality Authenticated, or MQA, the end-to-end audio encoding technology invented by digital-audio pioneer Bob Stuart of Meridian fame, continues to gain momentum with several announcements made at CES 2017.

Onkyo previewed an Alexa voice-enabled wireless smart speaker at CES last week, marking its foray into the super-hot product category Amazon created with its line of Echo smart speakers.

Philips-branded 4K/Ultra HD TVs introduced last week at CES will support Dolby Vision high dynamic range processing, according to P&F USA, exclusive licensee for Philips televisions and home video products in North America.

San Francisco-based Razer’s Project Ariana virtual reality projector took "Best Gaming" honors at CES 2017, marking the seventh consecutive time the company has been recognized with an annual “Best of CES” award.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that it will support Auro-3D in some disc and “digital” titles. Auro-3D is an unusual method of immersive surround encoding that one-ups Dolby Atmos and DTS:X by offering not one, but two, height layers above the floor speakers in a 13.1- or 11.1-channel native mix. Until now it has been scantily supported in software, with just a few dozen Blu-ray releases, but this might be a game changer for the plucky little Belgian company. Auro-3D has also firmed up its hardware support with new (and more mainstream) receivers and pre/pros from Denon, Marantz, and Lyngdorf that support the necessary surround processing. (Note that the Denon and Marantz products require an optional $199 update.) Height-enhanced surround sound may be about to become a three-way horse race.

With less than two days to go before CES kicks off in Las Vegas, here’s a look at the latest pre-show news to hit our inboxes.

Drum roll, please... We picked more than 50 products in 11 categories for our 2016 Top Picks of the Year list. See which ones made the cut.