LATEST ADDITIONS

Audio Video News
A hostile and retaliatory measure with great hubris
Michael Berk  |  Apr 26, 2011

The Beastie Boys have struck back against bootleggers (who've been distibuting an unauthorized copy of the final mix of the upcoming Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2), posting a full stream

Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Oppo BDP-95 Settings
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 25, 2011
I recently bought an Oppo BDP-95 Blu-ray player, and I already have a Pioneer PRO-110FD Kuro plasma TV. Which video setting should I use in the player, Auto or Source Direct? I've tried both, and the picture looks great either way. I've also tried 1080p, and that looked great as well, though I understand this is far from an ideal setting for 1080i sources. Is there anything I should be looking for to see which setting is better? I have a Denon AVR-4308CI receiver, but I set it to pass the video signal through without any processing.

I use the AVR's HDMI 1 input for movies, but I also hooked up the player's 5.1 analog outs to the receiver's Ext. In. This is for listening to music (CD, SACD, DVD-Audio). For Blu-ray music, should I use the analog out when the signal is PCM? Is the HDMI out better for the lossless forms of Dolby and DTS? As an aside, the player's manual hints that it is better to output SACDs from the analog outs as PCM rather than DSD. Is this because the player likely does a better job at decoding the DSD signals?

Stephen Beney

Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Got an A/V Question? Ask Scott!
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 25, 2011
Welcome to UAV's latest blog, in which I answer your questions about anything related to audio and video technology—equipment setup and optimization, wired and wireless connections, room environment, content creation, digital cinema, cable/satellite/terrestrial broadcasting, online streaming, Blu-ray, 3D, 4K, future technologies, and anything else in the ever-expanding A/V universe. Even better, other readers can add their two cents in the comments, which I invite and encourage—after all, you might think of something I didn't. Also, I know a lot about this stuff, but I don't know everything, so sometimes I'll post a question and throw it open to readers who might know more about it than I do. And if an answer I provide proves to be inadvertently incorrect or misleading, I want to know, and I'll update it immediately.

All you have to do is send your question to askscottwilkinson@gmail.com. Try to keep your questions as short as practical, but don't skimp on any details you think are important for me to provide a suitable answer. If you're asking about specific gear, please include the makes and model numbers.

My goal is to help you get the most out of whatever A/V system you have and better understand the complex world of current and coming technologies. So let the questions begin!

Editor's Eye
Defining The A/V Enthusiast
Rob Sabin  |  Apr 25, 2011
In recent months we've received a number of letters at Home Theater complaining about our coverage of the new 3D video technology and of the Web-streaming capabilities appearing in everything from TVs to Blu-ray players to set-top boxes. Most of our video reviews now have a dedicated section describing 3D performance and a short discussion of what content is available on each product's streaming platform. Some readers who are skeptical or not interested in these new part-time features think we shouldn't be wasting their time by writing about them, while others have defended us and acknowledged our obligation to report on any significant new features and assess their performance.

Continue Reading »
Music Reviews
Reissue Roundup: Barleycorn Lives! Page 2
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 25, 2011

How much do I love reissues? Let me count the ways. Well, let me NOT do that, else I'll never get around to the subject at hand…

Anyway, this is the first in a regular series of postings about cool reissues that are coming down the pike - or ones that have already come down the pike and may have passed you by.

Continue Reading »
Music Reviews
Reissue Roundup: Barleycorn Lives!
Mike Mettler  |  Apr 25, 2011

How much do I love reissues? Let me count the ways. Well, let me NOT do that, else I’ll never get around to the subject at hand…

Anyway, this is the first in a regular series of postings about cool reissues that are coming down the pike — or ones that have already come down the pike and may have passed you by.

Continue Reading »
Custom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
AV Furniture Roundup
Kim Wilson  |  Apr 25, 2011
Buying furniture for your AV components and HDTV can seem like a daunting task with all the choices available and like any type of furniture there are all types of styles, designs and sizes. Here are six of our picks for AV furniture that fit a variety of styles and budgets.
Continue Reading »
Premiere Design
B&O BeoVision 4-85 3D Plasma TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 25, 2011
Danish design king Bang & Olufsen creates beautiful-looking A/V gear whose performance is often outstanding as well. Its latest TV offering is the BeoVision 4-85, an 85-inch plasma flat panel with 3D capabilities using active-shutter glasses, which provides undisputed full HD resolution to each eye.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
PlayStation Network, still on the fritz
Michael Berk  |  Apr 25, 2011

Things are still looking bleak for the PlayStation Network; the gaming network (along with Sony's Qriocity streaming music-and-movie service) has been down

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
High-rez that bites
Michael Berk  |  Apr 25, 2011

Sure, we love Diana Krall too, but here are a couple of reminders (courtesy

Continue Reading »

Pages

X