Audio Video News

Following in the footsteps of April, May also brought us seven Top Picks—a drop-dead gorgeous 4K OLED TV, three different yet exemplary TV speaker systems, Sony’s first Ultra HD Blu-ray player, a modern wireless speaker hidden in a retro body, and the latest wireless gear from Yamaha. Which of these will make your short list?

Sonos Playbase: $699

For the folks who don’t mount their TV on a wall—which is most of us—the Sonos Playbase is an elegant way of creating an excellent-sounding home theater system that’s nearly invisible, super-easy to set up, and blessedly simple to use. Unlike a soundbar that sits in front of the TV, the acoustically inert Playbase supports the TV while delivering solid bass and an impressively big soundstage from 10 drivers strategically positioned in a sleek enclosure that’s only 2.3 inches tall. What’s more, it can be easily integrated into a Sonos multiroom music system.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Only 2.28 inches tall
Utilizes Sonos Trueplay acoustic tuning technology
Can be part of a Sonos multiroom audio system

Minus
No volume level indicator
Optical digital and network audio inputs only

Full Review Here

 

Polk MagniFi Mini Soundbar System: $300

Perfect for secondary TVs in smaller rooms, Polk’s MagniFi Mini may be only 14 inches wide but it will put any TV speaker to shame, playing louder and cleaner than you have the right to expect with solid bass delivered by its companion subwoofer. “Throughout my listening, I had to keep reminding myself that the MagniFi Mini costs just $300,” concluded reviewer Michael Trei. “A small price to pay for such an important part of the TV-watching experience. As a bonus, you also get a good sounding, network-capable wireless music system.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Big sound from a tiny speaker
Carefully voiced with neutral tonal balance
Minus
No HDMI video passthrough
Sub’s performance limited by its small size

Full Review Here

 

LG Signature OLED65W7P OLED Ultra HDTV: $8,000

The future has arrived in the form of LG’s flagship TV, an impossibly thin HDR-enabled 4K OLED model that will blow your mind with its sci-fi aesthetic and best-in-class performance. Designed strictly for wall mounting, the 0.15-inch screen offloads the speakers, processing circuitry, power supply, and AV connectors to a svelte soundbar that attaches via a flat umbilical cord. Veteran TV reviewer Tom Norton marveled at the “superb detail, punchy highlights, and deep but well-resolved shadow details” that drew him into the action in Independence Day: Resurgence on UHD/HDR Blu-ray.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Jaw-dropping black level and contrast
Wide viewing angle
Thin, thin, thin. And light
Minus
Expensive
Must be wall-mounted

Full Review Here

 

Bluesound Pulse Soundbar and Pulse Sub: $1,598 (as reviewed)

It’s hard to go wrong with a soundbar system designed by the sister company of audio stalwarts NAD and PSB. Bluesound takes a music first approach with the Pulse soundbar, which supports high-resolution audio up to 192 kHz/24 bits as well as files encoded in the new MQA format—all of which translates into dynamic sound, lifelike stereo imaging, and remarkable bass extension. Add to that multiroom streaming abilities and you have a well-rounded compact audio system that even a diehard audio veteran like Dan Kumin can recommend without reservation.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent musical sound quality
Notable bass extension, with or without sub
Many streaming capabilities, including hi-res audio
Multiroom system architecture
Visually outstanding
Minus
Some level and dynamics limitations
Occasional cumbersome or inconsistent operation

Full Review Here