LATEST ADDITIONS

How much would you pay for a tour of Abbey Road Studios? That’s the hidden question behind the $70,000 price tag for Bowers & Wilkins’ 801 D4 Signature Abbey Road Limited Edition loudspeakers. Sonically identical to the standard 801 D4 Signature, the Abbey Road model is a cosmetic variant—limited in production, not performance. Only 150 pairs are being made, with 70 allocated to the U.S.

PRICE $2999

AT A GLANCE
Plus

• RGB triple-laser light engine capable of impressive light output
• Best uncalibrated performance tilts in the Dolby Vision direction
• Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced
• Supports Dynamic Tone Mapping
• Low-latency gaming lag eliminates poor player excuses
• Motorized auto-focus on par with a CIA satellite
• Well-made and virtually silent when operating

Minus

• Calibrated (or uncalibrated) color adjustments vary constantly
• Lacking lens shift, keystone-free placement requires SpaceX precision
• Laser speckle and faint rainbowing are detectable on multiple screen surfaces
• Frequently referred to as a "Long Throw" projector. Well, uh, about that
• Enough chrome trim to make a '57 Chevy Bel Air envious
• Ambitious feature set outpaces and outprices most Lifestyle PJs
• Remote lacks a single-button menu "exit"

THE VERDICT
For what (and how) Valerion markets the VisionMaster Pro 2 as being, its stability-challenged color reproduction, as detailed in the review, for me, neuters its attributes and aspirations. Its hang tag price is nearly double the amount required of consumers who might otherwise pause and ponder a casual lifestyle projector purchase from competitors.

KEF has unveiled the XIO Soundbar ($2500), a 5.1.2-channel all-in-one system designed to bring the company’s HiFi pedigree to a living room-friendly surround-sound system. With 12 Class D amps delivering a combined 820W of power and support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and AirPlay Spatial Audio, the XIO is engineered to turn flat-panel TV sound into full-scale immersive playback.