LATEST ADDITIONS

Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Texas Rising
Anthony Chiarella  |  Dec 11, 2015
Picture
Sound
Extras
A lofty undertaking of the History Channel, Texas Rising chronicles the one-time republic’s struggle for independence from Mexico. Lavishly produced, this miniseries features an all-star cast anchored by Emmy-winner Bill Paxton. Fleeting cameos by marquis actors exemplify the meticulous detail and massive budget that attended this production. Unfortunately, this great American saga and the men who empowered it are poorly served here. The acting is stiff and fails to evoke empathy or interest, due largely to scripting choices and mundane dialogue.
Continue Reading »
3D Blu-ray Movie ReviewsBlu-ray Movie Reviews
Jurassic World
Corey Gunnestad  |  Dec 11, 2015
Picture
3D-ness
Sound
Extras
If Disneyland once got sued because (it was alleged) Winnie the Pooh had accidentally slapped a young guest while posing for photos, it boggles the mind to contemplate all the lawsuits Jurassic World would have incurred after the devastation depicted in this film.

In the 22 years and three films since Jurassic Park re-introduced living dinosaurs to the world, there has been rampant chaos, carnage, and death at every turn. Still, it seems the harsh lessons of playing God and tampering with Mother Nature have gone completely unheeded yet again. Lo and behold, another attempt at a state-of-the-art theme-park zoo of cloned dinosaurs has made its debut for the paying public: Jurassic World is now open for business, and the park is packed with 22,000 eager tourists. But this time, all the bugs are worked out, and the past mistakes have been corrected. What could possibly go wrong?

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
AT&T Exploits DirecTV Link
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 11, 2015
Barely a week after the FCC approved its merger with DirecTV, AT&T lost no time in offering new bundles exploiting the new entity’s many talents. “We’re going to deliver more TV and entertainment choices to more screens—when and where our customers want it,” said an executive.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video NewsNew Products
Emotiva Audio Previews Ambitious 2016 Lineup
SV Staff  |  Dec 11, 2015
Emotiva Audio has previewed what the company is calling its most ambitious new product lineup ever in advance of their showing at CES 2016.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Philips and Sensory Team to Improve Voice Control
SV Staff  |  Dec 11, 2015
Recognizing that voice control will play an increasingly larger role in audio/video and smart home technology as we move into the future, Sensory, a Silicon Valley technology company specializing in voice technologies, has announced a collaboration with Philips to create a “best-in-class” suite of speech recognition technologies.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video NewsNew Products
Klipsch Introduces First Bluetooth Earphones
SV Staff  |  Dec 11, 2015
Klipsch has added an in-ear Bluetooth headphone to its R6 in-ear series, introduced in 2014 and recently expanded.
Continue Reading »
Soundbar Reviews
Zvox SoundBase 570 Review
Mark Fleischmann  |  Dec 10, 2015

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $300 (updated 1/20/16)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Good sound quality for movies and music
Solid fiberboard enclosure
Bass and treble controls
Learns IR codes from your TV remote
Minus
AccuVoice Dialogue enhancer can sound tinny

THE VERDICT
Simplicity and well-balanced sound make this affordable TV base sound system a natural for those seeking a no-fuss solution to the awful speakers built into flat-panel displays.

The speakers built into TVs continue to be dreadful. But many people find component systems an intimidating solution. According to the folks at Zvox, “there are too many boxes, too many cords, too many remote controls, and too many owner’s manuals in the world today.” If you feel the same, you may be a candidate for a soundbar. If you want your TV to sit atop your audio system, make that a soundbase. Zvox pioneered this product category (they actually trademarked the SoundBase name) and offers models from $250 to $500. The SoundBase 570 ($300, reduced from $350) falls somewhere around the middle.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
8 in 10 American Homes Now Have Broadband
SV Staff  |  Dec 10, 2015
Eight in 10 American homes (81 percent) now have broadband Internet service, a three-fold increase over the number of homes (26 percent) that had a high-speed connection a decade ago, according to a new study from Leichtman Research Group, Inc. (LRG).
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Bose Adds Spotify Integration to SoundTouch
SV Staff  |  Dec 10, 2015
Bose has announced the early release of Spotify integration for all of its SoundTouch wireless music systems.

Continue Reading »
Throwback ThursdayAudio Video News
Flashback 1999: Nailing Napster
SV Staff  |  Dec 10, 2015
In December 1999 the music industry sued (and ultimately shut down) downloading service Napster. Three years later Apple opened the iTunes Music Store, pointing the way to the future of music distribution and turning the recording industry on its ear.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X