LATEST ADDITIONS

Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Chris Chiarella  |  Apr 28, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
Anchored by a disquietingly reserved performance from star Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead, Guardians of the Galaxy), this Portrait is an artful character study of a very bad man. Loosely based upon documented events, Henry explores the unspeakable crimes of an unrepentant murderer, a dark soul whose bleak existence is punctuated by frequent acts of violence. And when he brings his particularly loathsome roommate into the fold, no one in Chicago is safe. The matter-of-fact dramatic style makes the instances of gore hit that much harder, and yet plot developments are sometimes revealed in clever, original ways.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Secret Life of Pets
Thomas J. Norton  |  Apr 28, 2017
Picture
Sound
Extras
Max is living a great dog’s life. But one day his owner brings home Duke, a huge, stray shaggy-dog from the pound. Duke makes himself at home, much to Max’s chagrin. But one day, when the apartment house’s loopy dog walker is distracted, both Max and Duke get into a tussle, break free, and end up lost in New York.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
April 2017 Top Picks at a Glance
SV Staff  |  Apr 28, 2017
While April didn’t necessarily shower us with gear goodness, it turned in a lucky seven lineup of Top Pick recommendations. From two mind-blowing speaker systems and the world’s first planar-magnetic in-ear headphones to a spectacular Ultra HD Blu-ray player and a pair of projectors that meet different needs, there’s something here for everyone.
Continue Reading »
Soundbar ReviewsGrace Notes
Hands On: Fluance AB40 Wide Angle Soundbase
Leslie Shapiro  |  Apr 28, 2017
I have never been a fan of soundbars. How can a little row of speakers replace the full-range sound of a true home-theater speaker system? It just can’t. However, soundbars heavy-set cousin, the soundbase, provides an interesting middle ground. I was skeptical of the Fluance AB40 Wide Angle soundbase when it first showed up, but after spending some time getting to know it, my opinion has changed—dramatically.

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Filtering Services Evolve
Mark Fleischmann  |  Apr 27, 2017
Back in the days before Blu-ray, companies like ClearPlay and TV Guardian offered parents a way to filter their children’s DVD viewing to screen out material deemed offensive. Some may call it censorship; others, a necessary tool for parents.
Continue Reading »
Throwback Thursday
Flashback 2005: YouTube Is Born
SV Staff  |  Apr 27, 2017
Twelve years ago this month, Jawed Karim uploaded the first video to the new YouTube video-sharing website he and his partners Chad Hurley and Steve Chen had just created.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Comic Book Giant DC to Launch Streaming Service
SV Staff  |  Apr 27, 2017
DC Entertainment, home of the iconic superheroes Batman and Superman, is teaming with Warner Bros. to launch a streaming service with Warner Bros. next year.
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Can a Projector Deliver the Benefits of HDR?
Al Griffin  |  Apr 27, 2017
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I own an Epson 5040UB projector that is high dynamic range-compatible and has “4K Enhancement Technology.” But it’s my understanding that projectors are unable to deliver all the benefits of HDR. If that’s true, is it worth it for me to upgrade to an Ultra HD Blu-ray player to use with my 5040UB? —Harry Torres

Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Hands On: Dish’s AirTV Combines Sling, Local Channels
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 26, 2017
Designed for cord-cutters, Dish’s AirTV combines premium and local channels with online streaming and attempts to mimic the experience of watching cable or satellite. We take it for a test drive.
Continue Reading »
New ProductsPremiere Design
Finding Sonic Paradise: HiFiMan's Shangri-La Electrostatic Headphone System
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 26, 2017
HiFiMan founder Dr. Fang Bian has been crafting fine headphones for more than a decade, collecting numerous awards along the way. In the past two years alone, five of his designs have been designated Top Picks in these pages. Despite this incredible success, Bian wanted more. He had a lifelong dream to fulfill: To create the “world’s best-sounding headphone.” As he put it, “While HiFiMan has made many good headphones, and people certainly enjoy them, none has ever fully satisfied that dream.”
Continue Reading »

Pages

X