Audio Video News

NAD Electronics, the iconic audio brand founded in London 50 years ago with a commitment to performance, value, and simplicity in design, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the C 3050 LE Stereophonic Amplifier, a new limited-edition integrated amp that evokes hi-fi’s heyday.

There’s a good reason speakers are so popular in these pages. They make a difference! Pick the right ones and you are rewarded with an immediate improvement in sound quality. Whether you’re buying a new set of stereo speakers, upgrading an existing suite of home theater speakers, or introducing a new subwoofer into the mix, the result should be transformative. A speaker that recreates the recording space in a mind-blowingly lifelike way. A subwoofer that punches you in the gut and gives new meaning to going low. Forget subtle. Forget straining to hear a difference. This is where Sound & Vision comes in. We’ve compiled capsule reviews of our 2022 Top Picks in subwoofers, soundbars, and speakers. With any luck, one or more of our recommendations will play a meaningful role in elevating your listening experience.

Hands On with the Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player and Terra 48TB Movie Server

Reviewing A/V products began as a hobby that led to some paid gigs starting 16 years ago. Years of reviewing fantastic equipment opened my eyes to two concepts: Better equipment does come with a cost, but there’s this thing called “The Law of Diminishing Returns.” For example, in the AVR world, a $1,000 receiver offers a lot more features and functions than a $300 one — more power, more HDMI inputs, more channels, more robust onboard EQ, etc. But what about a $3,000 model versus one that costs $1,000? Likely it will also offer more, but not necessarily three times the value.

Though KEF did not physically attend the CEDIA 2022 in Dallas last week, the iconic British brand was there in spirit. Hours before the Expo opened its doors, the company announced the addition of two THX-certified models to its line of architectural speakers — an in-ceiling/wall subwoofer and its first a three-way coaxial design.

The show in Dallas is over but the memories remain. It was no ordinary expo, three years have passed since I last attended a CEDIA, and the relief in seeing folks face-to-face and getting hands-on with gear was palpable. So too was the sense of having fast-forwarded to the future, the changes in tech reflected skipping right from 2019 to 2022, instead of seeing the usual yearly increment. Here's a slice of what got my attention on the show floor, our Sound & Vision Editor's Picks for CEDIA 2022.

JBL has a deep history in the world of pro audio, one that reaches back to the early days of motion picture sound. Today the company is dominant in live concert and movie theater sound, and it also has a ton of speaker options for custom install applications including its high-end Synthesis lineup. The latter made its booth one of the most impressive at CEDIA 2022.