LATEST ADDITIONS

4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
LG Signature OLED65W7P OLED Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  May 17, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $8,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Jaw-dropping black level and contrast
Wide viewing angle
Thin, thin, thin. And light
Minus
Expensive
Must be wall-mounted

THE VERDICT
We could argue with the mandatory inclusion of an outboard soundbar, the lack of a stand-mount option, and a lower (but still perfectly satisfactory) peak brightness for HDR than the best of the LCD competition provides. But it’s hard to imagine that any other 65-inch Ultra HDTV in 2017 will offer overall superior performance, or a more impressive aesthetic, than the best LCD competition.

Dateline: March 2017. Along with several other bit-drenched members of the audio/video press, we’ve been brought to San Francisco for a day with LG. The events will include a briefing on the company’s Ultra HDTV lineup for 2017, a visit to Dolby headquarters for the latest pitch on Dolby Vision high dynamic range (HDR), and several hours of hands-on experience with the 65-inch OLED65W7P, the smaller of the two new 2017 OLED models in LG’s flagship Signature series. (A 77-inch version should be available later this year; no price had been announced as we went to press, but if that’s your ticket, bring money.)

Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Amazon Pop-Up Stores Rethink AV Retailing
SV Staff  |  May 17, 2017
While traditional electronics stores continue to close their doors at an alarming pace, Amazon is well on its way to reaching its goal of opening 100 pop-up stores in malls around the country.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Chinese Brands Embrace Screenless TVs
SV Staff  |  May 17, 2017
Innovative technologies for displaying video without a glass panel are poised to offer consumers a new viewing experience and the opportunity to reinvent living room design, according to a new report from U.K.-based market research firm Futuresource Consulting.
Continue Reading »
Signals
3D TV Is Dead
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  May 17, 2017
It’s official. 3D TV, once heralded as The Future, is now officially only to be referred to in the past tense. Please adjust your vocabulary accordingly. This news is not surprising. In fact, you are probably only surprised in that you assumed 3D’s demise had occurred years ago. When’s the last time you watched a 3D Blu-ray? Well, there you go.
Continue Reading »
The S&V InterviewAudio Video News
Bruno Putzeys: Head of the Class (D, That is)
Bob Ankosko  |  May 16, 2017
You may not have heard of Bruno Putzeys but if you’re an audiophile and have purchased a high-performance power amplifier in the recent past, you might know his work. Putzey’s ground-breaking NCore Class D amplifier module, created under the aegis of Netherlands-based Hypex Electronics, is used in amplifiers from ATI, Marantz, Jeff Rowland, and Bel Canto, to name a few. That Morris Kessler, founder of ATI and long-time champion of Class AB amplification, chose NCore for his new AT527NC and AT524NC amplifiers, is telling. Both models received Sound & Vision’s Top Pick designation, earning five stars in the Performance category, suggesting designs that are a far cry from Class D devices of just a few years ago. We tracked down Putzeys, now CTO at Kii Audio, to learn more about the new Class D and the apparent revolution he has started.
Continue Reading »
A/V Veteran
Nits and Bits: HDR and Color
Thomas J. Norton  |  May 16, 2017
To make sense of some of the complexities of the new Ultra High Definition (UHD—4K or 2160p) high dynamic range (HDR) sets, you have to appreciate some of the simplifications that have long been a part of standard dynamic range (SDR) high definition television.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Vizio Releases HDR Update for E-Series Displays
SV Staff  |  May 16, 2017
Vizio today announced a firmware update that enables support for HDR10-encoded high dynamic range (HDR) content on E-Series Ultra HD displays with screen sizes 55 inches and up.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
MQA Strikes Deal with Indie Music Labels
SV Staff  |  May 16, 2017
MQA, creator of the end-to-end audio encoding technology Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), has entered into a multi-year agreement with digital rights agency Merlin that paves the way for the independent music labels it represents to encode their master recordings in the MQA format.
Continue Reading »
Audio Video News
Smart Speakers Now in 1 in 10 Internet Households
SV Staff  |  May 15, 2017
In just two years, smart speakers have found their way into one in 10 U.S. broadband households as sales continue to grow rapidly, according to a new study from Parks Associates.
Continue Reading »
Ask S&V
Can the Music Apps in My AVR Stream in Hi-Res?
Al Griffin  |  May 15, 2017
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

A I own an Integra DTR-40.6 AV receiver that is capable of playing Hi-Resolution Audio (HRA). Here’s what I want to know: If I were to upgrade my Pandora or Spotify account to stream HRA, would I be able to listen to it using the Pandora or Spotify app built into the receiver? My internet service plan is 50-Mbps FIOS, and I have the receiver connected to my router with an Ethernet cable. &Tony Held / via e-mail

Continue Reading »

Pages

X