LATEST ADDITIONS

Soundbar Reviews
Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Provides the Best Dialog Enhancement and Warm Tonality
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 19, 2025

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,199; $499; $399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Clear dialog without sacrificing sound effects
Natural sound
Dirac Live to configure for room
Large LED display that disappears when not in use
Minus
Surround effects are only apparent in extreme action scenes
Dirac is difficult to set up
Sound bar is very big

THE VERDICT
Klipsch’s long history of speaker design shows in the Flexus Core 300. Dialog stays intelligible without flattening music and effects, and the overall balance leans warm and easy to listen to.

Introduction

Klipsch has been around since 1946, and it’s not new to soundbars. The company introduced its first Reference-branded soundbar, the R-10B, in 2014, and later released higher-end Cinema systems, including the Cinema 1200 flagship.

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Projector Reviews
Anker Nebula X1 Projector Review: A Portable Cinema
Mark Henninger  |  Dec 13, 2025

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $3,200 as reviewed

AT A GLANCE
Plus
3.500 lumen rating
Optical zoom
Spatial adaptation
Dual HDMI ports plus eARC
Exceeds Rec.2020 color gamut

Minus
Requires a separate power source

THE VERDICT
The Anker Nebula X1 successfully marries 4K triple-laser performance with robust automation to create a premium, all-in-one solution for open-air cinema. While the image quality is heavily dependent on using a high-grade screen, the projector delivers a bright, immersive experience that generates genuine suspension of disbelief for movies and sports alike. It ultimately earns its recommendation as a versatile "best of both worlds" system that transitions seamlessly from a summer patio to a serious indoor home theater.

On a clear evening, turning a patio into an open-air theater still lands. Open-air theaters are dear to me because I grew up in Greece, where outdoor moviegoing has been part of the culture for decades. Bottom line, I grew up watching movies outdoors at night, and that’s what I did with Anker’s Nebula X1 projector, paired with its optional X1 accessory pack and a 15-foot inflatable outdoor screen.
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Smart Speaker ReviewsStreaming Device Reviews
Marantz Grand Horizon Wireless Speaker Review
Mark Henninger  |  Dec 12, 2025

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE: $4,400 (MSRP $5,500)

AT A GLANCE

Plus
Enveloping sound from one speaker
Fidelity of a proper hi-fi rig
Sophisticated aesthetics
Futuristic touch interface
Intuitive sound modes
Minus
No built-in phono preamp
Only one set of stereo RCA inputs
No dedicated remote
Expensive

The Marantz Grand Horizon looks like a sculpture and sounds like a serious stereo system. It produces room-filling scale, deep bass, and refined detail from a single enclosure that blends naturally into real homes. It is expensive, but for listeners who want audiophile sound without racks of gear, the Grand Horizon is one of the best all-in-one systems available.

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Music Reviews
Best Music Box Sets Roundup, Part 3: Rolling on With Five More Than Mighty Fine Music Collections for Your Holiday Shopping List
Mike Mettler  |  Dec 08, 2025

In Part 3 of our end-of-year multi-part “Best Music Box Sets” series, S&V music editor Mike Mettler serves up five more than mighty fine music box set recommendations for any/all of your potential gift recipients and/or personal wishlist coffers accordingly. . .

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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Anime for the Holiday
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 04, 2025
Whether you’re gifting, sharing, or just planning to pull the drapes and catch up on some of the smartest and most eye-popping animation that the world has to offer, these deluxe Blu-ray editions—and very special LPs—will transform simple entertainment into a collector’s dream.
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Shows
Capital Audiofest 2025 Show Report: Big and Immersive
Dennis Young  |  Dec 03, 2025
Capital Audiofest 2025 was the biggest yet, with 122 rooms and 60 booths, spilling over into two rooms at a hotel across the street.
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Special Features
Your Winter Recharge: Essential Gifts and Gear for the New Year
Chris Chiarella  |  Dec 03, 2025
The joy of home entertainment transcends 4K and Blu-ray discs, encompassing a world of merch, music and even more ways to make merry. Here, we pivot away from the TV screen to treat all five senses, in celebration of our favorite stories, franchises, characters, bands, and beyond.
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Music Reviews
Best Music Box Sets Roundup, Part 2: Five More Smashingly Great Collections for Your Holiday List
Mike Mettler  |  Nov 29, 2025

Here in Part 2 of our end-of-year multi-part “Best Music Box Sets” series, S&V music editor Mike Mettler gets right back to it with five heaping helpings of great music box set offerings for you to consider for holiday gift giving and/or personal collection coffer-filling. . .

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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Unwrapping the Best in 4K & Blu-ray, 2025
Chris Chiarella  |  Nov 27, 2025
In a world dominated by dubious digital streams, the physical media community stands fast as the champions of A/V quality and perpetuity. Thankfully, major studios and boutique labels haven't just held the line, they've mounted a spectacular offensive. These final months of 2025 have delivered a bountiful barrage of discs, from lavish boxed sets to impeccably restored classics for discerning viewers and collectors, sure to satiate the hungriest disc player. So quit fretting over your gift list and prepare to be inspired by some of the finest in entertainment.
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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Holiday Gifting: BOOKED!
Chris Chiarella  |  Nov 27, 2025
The old man in The Princess Bride famously said, “When I was your age, television was called books.” And while I might not have any cherubic grandkids of my own to pontificate at, I would instead posit that not only can TV (and MOVIES) peacefully coexist with the printed word, books can even elevate our understanding and enjoyment of filmed entertainment. In fact, titles like those below are the real reason that coffee tables were invented.
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