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Blu-ray Player Reviews
Philips BDP7501/F7 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 23, 2016
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $350

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent UHD performance
Solid build quality
Good value
Minus
Limited streaming apps
Less-than-perfect 4K upconversion

THE VERDICT
It’s not without minor flaws, but the second UHD Blu-ray player on the U.S. market delivers a stellar picture from UHD discs at an attractive price.

The launch of Ultra HD Blu-ray players has now progressed from a slow drip to a trickle. Samsung was first with the UBD-K8500 (reviewed in our June issue and also available at soundandvision.com). At CEDIA, Sony showed its upscale UBP-X1000ES but won’t have it out till next spring and hasn’t announced pricing. Oppo’s new player is expected sometime this fall. And Panasonic’s own high-end DMP-UB900, at $700, became available in late September as we were going to press (watch for a future review).

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Portable Player Reviews
Sony Walkman NW-ZX100HN Hi-Res Music Player Bundle
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 23, 2016

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $700

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Built-in noise cancellation for supplied earbuds
Selectable DSD rolloff filter
Up to 70 hours per charge
Minus
No MQA
Challenging headphones will need more power

THE VERDICT
The Sony Walkman NW-ZX100HN delivers beautifully balanced and transparent sound in a not-too-bulky form factor with excellent ergonomics and the unique plus of built-in noise cancellation, but only for its proprietary earbuds.

With the iPod classic gone, smartphones in almost universal use, and streams elbowing out downloads, is the dedicated music player obsolete? Or could it possibly be a retro survivor that mocks its replacement, the way the resurging turntable mocks the CD player? With emerging specialists like Astell & Kern, FiiO, and Questyle being joined in the market by old-school manufacturers like Onkyo and Sony, there seems to be growing interest in building high-quality players that do a better job of delivering highresolution audio than a phone does.

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New ProductsSpecial Features
2016 Tech Guide: A Dozen Gifts to Give & Get
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 23, 2016
When you stop and think how tech-infused our lives have become, it’s no wonder electronic gadgets are the most popular holiday gifts. Technology is cool. Technology enriches our lives. Technology… (add your declaration here). As the holiday shopping season gets under way, we’ve sifted through dozens of potential gifts and settled on 12 at prices ranging from $20 to $800. Approach these pages with an eye toward matching one or more of these gems with friends and loved ones on your list. Or maybe you’ll be inspired to put one or two on your wish list. I don’t know about you, but my family is always asking me what I want for Christmas. I now have a better idea…
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Audio Video News
Polk Audio, Def Tech Preview Black Friday Deals
SV Staff  |  Nov 23, 2016
Polk Audio and Definitive Technology have announced a series of Black Friday deals, a few of which extend into December.
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Ask S&V
Should I Use My Turntable’s Quartz Lock Feature?
Al Griffin  |  Nov 23, 2016
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Should I use the quartz lock feature on my Audio-Technica AT-LP120 turntable? I don't see or hear any difference when I press the quartz lock button. Same thing when I press the +10 /+20 pitch control button. FYI, I usually play records with the +10 pitch option selected. —Josh Rosenthal

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Star Trek: The Great Rewatching Marathon
Geoffrey Morrison  |  Nov 22, 2016
I had an idea. In hindsight, a really bad idea. I thought it would be cool to rewatch all 13 Star Trek movies, in order, and rank them...
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Audio Video News
A Dozen Black Friday TV Deals
SV Staff  |  Nov 22, 2016
When it comes to Black Friday deals, 2016 is no different than past years. Those who are prepared to venture out into the land of brick-and-mortar will find plenty of blowout TV deals.
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Signals
Review: Wren V3US and V3USP Wireless Speakers
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Nov 22, 2016
In a world overcrowded with wireless speakers, Wren is carving out a niche and a name for itself as a higher-end alternative to plastic me-too models. The older Wren V5PF12 model has long been a favorite speaker in my office, so when pre-production samples of two new models became available, I jumped at the chance to audition them.

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Audio Video News
SVS Kicks Off Subwoofer 'Scorcher' Sale
 |  Nov 22, 2016
SVS is celebrating Black Friday early with a limited production run of its Top Pick-winning SB12-NSD subwoofer and a blowout sale...
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Audio Video News
Cosmonaut Shares 4K Panoramic View of Earth
SV Staff  |  Nov 21, 2016
As part of an ongoing 360-degree video documentary from the International Space Station, Russian cosmonaut Andrey Borisenko has recorded the first-ever 4K panoramic view of Earth—and it’s breathtaking.
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