Audio Video News

Riva WAND Wireless Music System: Festival, $499; Arena, $249

Riva Audio proved it could build an awesome Bluetooth speaker with the mighty Turbo X, one of our Top Picks in 2015, and is back with a Wi-Fi-based wireless multiroom system comprising two mix and match speakers: The compact Festival and super compact Arena. Both impressed reviewer Rob Sabin with big sound from small cabinets, although he did have a few quibbles with the Chromecast interface used to control multiroom operation. “In the final analysis, the Festival and Arena delivered a crazy-high level of engagement with the music that made my blood flow and kept me punching up track after track.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent build and sound quality
Chromecast, AirPlay, Bluetooth built-in
Away mode and optional battery for portability
Minus
Chromecast multiroom interface

Full Review Here

 

Sony XBR-65X900E LCD Ultra HDTV: $2,000

Sony’s stylish 65-inch Ultra HDTV is a compelling choice for budget buyers upgrading to HDR, offering a wide assortment of streaming options, Chromecast compatibility — including the ability to control the TV from your smartphone — impressive light output, and excellent picture uniformity. If that’s not enough, color is accurate out of the box and the set’s full-array local-dimming backlight delivers images with strong contrast and detailed shadows. As veteran TV reviewer Al Griffin put it, “You could easily spend much more on a new TV, but I’m not sure you really need to.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extensive streaming options
Strong contrast with full-array local dimming
Accurate out-of-box color
Minus
Average LCD off-axis picture uniformity
HDR highlights a notch below the top TVs
Android TV interface can be confusing

Full Review Here

 

Yamaha YAS-207 Soundbar System: $300

Yamaha’s YAS-207 is one of the first soundbars to use DTS Virtual:X processing to simulate an immersive experience with height and surround effects — and it does a pretty convincing job. Better yet, it costs only $300 and comes with a stand-alone wireless subwoofer. “The Yamaha YAS-207 is an intriguing and mostly successful attempt to bring the latest in virtual surround technology to an inexpensive soundbar,” concluded reviewer Mark Fleischmann. “DTS Virtual:X works better with movies and other surround-encoded content, but for the rest, the other modes more than suffice. Simply as a speaker/amp combo, this bar-and-sub system is excellent for the price.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
DTS Virtual:X mimics height/surround
HDMI in and out with ARC
Pleasant voicing in most modes
Minus
Only one video input
3D Surround mode can be slightly harsh

Full Review Here