Audio Video News

Sound & Vision’s Top Pick designation is reserved for the very best home entertainment has to offer — that is, gear we can recommend without reservation. Among our June Picks is a 4K laser projector that delivers a bright picture with powerful contrast, a high-performance Dolby Vision-compatible 4K Blu-ray player, two uncompromising sets of headphones, and a $350 soundbase (not soundbar) that is so good it’ll blow your mind. Read on but don’t just stop here. Check out our Top Picks page for many more recommendations.

Cambridge Audio CXUHD Ultra HD Blu-ray Player: $700

If faultless video performance delivered from a low-profile player appeals to you, then you owe it to yourself to check out Cambridge Audio’s CXUHD. The British company is, of course, known for its universal disc players, which are based on the revered Oppo Digital platform but offered without digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog audio outputs. To reduce noise and interference, the Dolby Vision-compatible CXUHD is designed for use with an outboard DAC or one built into an AV receiver or other component. Reviewer Al Griffin praised the player’s video chops and recommended it as a streamlined (albeit pricier) alternative to Oppo’s excellent 4K Blu-ray players, which as it turns out are gradually being phased out.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dolby Vision compatible
High-quality Blu-ray video upconversion
Plays SACDs, DVD-Audio discs, and Blu-ray 3D discs
Minus
No analog audio outputs
Remote control not backlit
Pricey compared with competition

Full Review Here

 

Q Acoustics M2 Soundbase: $350

The M2 from England’s Q Acoustics is a solidly-built soundbase that uses cleverly constructed flat-diaphragm drivers to deliver wide dispersion and excellent overall sound. Unlike the typical soundbar, the M2 is built to function as a base for TVs weighing up to 55 pounds and calls on a good-size dual-voice-coil woofer to shore up the bass. Reviewer Mark Fleischmann summed up his impressions this way: “If you want to rest your TV on something that sounds great, the Q Acoustics M2 soundbase is an excellent choice, with performance that is remarkably fine-tuned for its price.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Even coverage from unusual drivers
Down-firing bass driver
Minus
No Dolby or DTS decoding
Limited EQ options

Full Review Here

 

Focal Clear Headphones: $1,499

France’s Focal reached high — very high — when it introduced the $4,000 Utopia headphones in 2016. The company has borrowed key technology from that masterpiece and applied it to the Clear headphones, which — while still expensive — cost a whole heck of a lot less at fifteen hundred bucks. “The Focal Clear is an exquisite-looking and brilliantly executed pair of headphones,” concluded reviewer Mark Fleischmann. “Its extremely well-balanced performance will provide long-term satisfaction for an overwhelming majority of listeners.” Oh, and did we mention that they’re super comfortable?

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Aluminum/magnesium diaphragms
Impeccable construction
Balanced presentation
Minus
Less than spacious imaging

Full Review Here