LATEST ADDITIONS

Signals
Well, Here's Another Thing You Can Worry About
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jun 22, 2020
I know, I know. Your plate is full. I won't recite the litany of things already on your mind. We've already recited that list plenty of times. Speaking for myself, I religiously devote a solid hour every night, usually between the hours of 3 am and 4 am, to reciting the list. Well, here's another thing for the list: SSL certificates. In particular, they seem to be expiring.

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Jumanji: The Next Level
Roger Kanno  |  Jun 19, 2020
Picture
Sound
Extras
Jumanji: The Next Level is an adventure-comedy with a winning cast featuring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. The plot is a bit formulaic and doesn't quite take this episode in the Jumanji franchise to the next level as stated, but the action is plentiful and there's enough humorous and family-friendly dialogue to keeps things moving apace. As far as Hollywood blockbusters go, Jumanji: The Next Level is a pretty good offering, with plenty of exciting stunts and special effects and high production values.
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Audio Video News
Naim Adds Qobuz to Mu-so Gen 2 Wireless Speakers
Al Griffin  |  Jun 19, 2020
British hi-fi firm Naim has added native support for Qobuz high-res music streaming to its 2nd generation Mu-so family wireless music systems, the Mu-so 2 and Mu-so Qb, both Sound & Vision 2019 Top Picks. The service is available now via an over-the-air firmware upgrade that users can download for free.
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Audio Video News
S&V Poll: 4 in 10 Plan to Buy an 8K TV
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 19, 2020
In 8K: The Next Big Thing in Home Entertainment, Chris Chinnock, executive director of the 8K Association (8KA), makes the case for 8K even though programming is scarce and will likely remain so for some time. We asked readers to weigh in and have the results.
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Audio Video News
16 Best Speakers to Buy Right Now
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 18, 2020
Speakers are the single most important link in the audio chain — one that defines the sonic character of your system, whether it’s a straight up stereo rig or a surround-sound movie setup. Great speakers put you in the front row of an intimate musical performance or draw you into a scene in an emotional (and sometimes harrowing) way. Here we spotlight 16 of Sound & Vision’s Top Picks, running the gamut from inexpensive wireless speakers to a selection of home theater systems featuring a suite of wireless speakers at one end and a stately six-piece setup at the other. The mix also highlights a couple stand-out subwoofers and soundbars as well as a handful of all-in-one wireless speakers, including one you can take outside.
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Subwoofer Reviews
SVS SB-2000 Pro Subwoofer Review
Michael Trei  |  Jun 17, 2020

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $899 (piano gloss black), $799 (black ash)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Big bass punch from a small form factor
Excellent value
Versatile smartphone control app
Minus
No auto-calibration/room EQ feature

THE VERDICT
The new SB-2000 Pro delivers big punch for a reasonable price, with tremendous fine-tuning capability offered by its smartphone control app.

With 12 different subwoofers in its line, I'm pretty certain that SVS makes more models than any other subwoofer manufacturer. In providing so many options, not only does the company cover a wide range of price points, but they can also offer subwoofers matched to different use cases, from high-end audiophile setups to big, slamming home theater rigs.

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A/V Veteran
Movies for a Summer Night
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 16, 2020
We all suffer through choosing a film to play for friends and family on a movie night. This might invariably include Joe and Ann from down the block, the neighborhood’s premier movie fans (apart from you!) who claim to have seen just about everything. Of course, most of what they’ve seen might have been on a 40-inch set (or even an old 27-inch, low definition CRT), constantly interrupted by commercials. Or perhaps new neighbor Bob from across the street, who hasn’t seen a movie in 20 years on anything but his computer — or not at all.
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New Products
PlayStation 5: Your New Ultra HD Blu-ray Player?
Al Griffin  |  Jun 15, 2020
While interest in movies on disc continues to be strong even with the massive growth of streaming, there’s been a deficit of new disc players to choose from. We’ve recommended models from Panasonic and Pioneer semi-recently, but with no new Ultra HD Blu-ray players unveiled at CES 2020, there's nothing from that category in our review queue at present. Hmm, what about this new PlayStation 5 thing everyone’s been talking about?
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Vote
Do You Plan to Buy an 8K TV?
SV Staff  |  Jun 15, 2020
“8K is not overkill.” That was one of the key takeaways from last week’s interview with Chris Chinnock, executive director of the 8K Association (8KA). The additional pixels in an 8K TV screen — four times that of a 4K screen — help reduce digital artifacts to produce an image that’s cleaner, more realistic, and more emotionally impactful. “It is hard to argue that creating more emotional impact is not beneficial,” Chinnock says. “8K screens are clearly needed as screen sizes grow in order to maintain pixel density.” (Click here for the interview.)

Perhaps most compelling at this early juncture is the video upscaling capabilities of these new state-of-the-art sets, which draw on artificial intelligence (AI) to, as Chinnock puts it, “make lower resolution images look extraordinary.” And, yes, next-generation 8K technology is already being embraced by the top TV brands. Samsung, Sony, and LG have had 8K sets in their lineups for more than a year now — Samsung and LG offer 8K screens sizes from 65 to 88 inches at prices ranging from $3,200 to $30,000 — and other brands are ready to introduce 8K TVs later this year. All of which brings us to the question, does it make sense to buy an 8K TV before content is widely available? More to the point, do you plan to buy an 8K TV? Don’t forget to leave a comment to explain your choice!

Do You Plan to Buy an 8K TV?
Yes! I’m eager to take advantage of the new features and capabilities state-of-the-art 8K TVs bring to the table.
10% (172 votes)
Yes, but I will wait until set prices come down and 8K programming is available.
28% (483 votes)
I have no plans to buy an 8K TV now or in the immediate future.
33% (559 votes)
I have no plans to buy an 8K TV but will reconsider when 8K programming becomes widely available.
28% (483 votes)
Total votes: 1697
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 1
Chris Chiarella  |  Jun 12, 2020
It's around this time of year that a few disparate "guy" movies new to the format or re-released usually pop up on Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray. That's because, as I've said since the early DVD days, discs make fantastic gifts, and not just for Father's Day. But Sony chose a different path for 2020, opening the door of its vast and prestigious Columbia Pictures vault to debut six titles on 4K Blu-ray as the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 1.
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