LATEST ADDITIONS

Mark Henninger  |  Sep 23, 2025
TEAC has announced the PD-507T, a CD transport for its Reference 500 Series, designed to feed external DACs via coaxial or optical output. U.S. MSRP is $1,699.99, with EU and UK pricing at €1,299 and £1,299. Availability is slated for Q4 2025 on TEACUSA.com and through select dealers.
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 23, 2025
The Sound of Music
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Maria von Trapp's bestselling book revealed her uplifting journey from would-be-nun to determined governess of seven gifted but mischievous children, further chronicling her marriage to a retired naval officer and their daring escape from the Nazis in the early days of World War II. A 1956 German film of the family's story followed, and of course the wildly popular Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical, which in turn led to a lavish movie adaptation. Director/Producer Robert Wise worked closely with screenwriter Ernest Lehman and his actors to purge overt sentimentality and reshape the previously established narrative, resulting in a surprisingly serious exploration of faith, destiny, and ultimately the courage to do what's right.

Mark Henninger  |  Sep 23, 2025
HARMAN says it has closed its acquisition of Sound United, adding Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, and more to its Lifestyle Division. Sound United will operate as a standalone strategic business unit (SBU) inside HARMAN.

Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 22, 2025
This Is Spinal Tap
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Rob Reiner might not have invented the "mockumentary," but with his first theatrical feature film, This Is Spinal Tap, he clearly perfected the artform of a fictional comedy masquerading as a factual documentary.

Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 22, 2025

Performance
Build Quality
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $249

AT A GLANCE
Plus

  • New shape and foam-infused tips comfortable for all-day wear.
  • Improved sound quality - big soundstage, clarity, and better bass.
  • Live Translation in person or on calls.
  • Heart rate sensor.
  • Noise reduction deadens outside sounds and conversation awareness lowers the AirPods volume when it detects your voice.
  • Automatically connects to Apple devices.
  • Apple's Hearing Test can turn AirPods into an FDA-authorized hearing aid (for mild–moderate hearing loss)..
Minus
  • Most features are only available when paired with Apple devices.
  • No USB‑C cable or wireless charger in the box
  • No equalizer or audio styles choices.

THE VERDICT
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 bring significant upgrades in comfort, sound quality, and noise reduction, making them not just convenient for Apple users but great performers on their own. Still priced at $249, they stand as arguably the best wireless earbuds in this price range.

Since their debut in 2016, AirPods have evolved considerably. The original AirPods Pro launched in 2019, and Apple has consistently updated them every three years. The AirPods Pro 3, however, showcase some of the most significant changes yet, from their redesigned shape and internal architecture to new features like an invisible heart rate monitor.

Mark Henninger  |  Sep 21, 2025
The UK Hi‑Fi Show Live returns this weekend to England’s Ascot Racecourse, a high‑end‑focused event that trades the usual hotel hallways for a unique venue.
Mike Mettler  |  Sep 21, 2025

In recent months, five albums by alt-hip-hop pioneers De La Soul have been made available in Atmos, including their groundbreaking 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising. On a recent Zoom call, De La Soul’s Posdnous and S&V music editor Mike Mettler got down to discussing the good vibes of all that good ol’ De La magic being transformed into the full 360, the “gumbo” approach to their layering skills, and where they got that ding at the end of De La Soul Is Dead. . .

Mark Henninger  |  Sep 18, 2025
Devialet has introduced Phantom Ultimate, the latest generation of its compact, spherical wireless speakers. The line consists of the flagship Phantom Ultimate 108 dB ($3,800) and the smaller Phantom Ultimate 98 dB ($1,900). Both are offered in Light Pearl and Deep Forest finishes; an Opéra de Paris edition adds hand-applied 22-carat gold accents at $4,300 (108 dB) and $2,400 (98 dB). Devialet says the 98 dB model is available now, while the 108 dB is open for pre-orders via Devialet stores, premium dealers, and online.
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 17, 2025
HEOS, the multiroom audio platform used by Denon, Marantz, and Classé, is being rebranded as “Powered by HEOS.” According to the companies, the new identity aligns with updates to the HEOS app and clarifies that HEOS is an embedded platform technology rather than a stand-alone product line.
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 15, 2025
TRON
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TRON: Legacy
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To younger readers who can't quite grasp the appeal of taking a trip to "a world inside the computer," as the poster advertised, a little context might be useful. In 1982, any computer more powerful than an Atari 2600 was considered pretty exotic, and while the visuals might seem rudimentary today, audiences had never seen their like before. Dramatically, TRON is well-crafted, with endearing computer whiz Flynn (Jeff Bridges) making friends and foes in his quest to defeat a menacing rogue AI after being zapped into the foreboding domain of bits and bytes.

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