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Media Server Reviews
TiVo Bolt Unified Entertainment System Review
Michael Antonoff  |  May 26, 2016

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $300 (500 GB), $400 (1 TB)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
One-touch leapfrogging of any size commercial block
Four tuners
Can play shows 30 percent faster
Mobile device transfer
Integrated search functions
4K UHD compatible
Minus
On-demand cable may not be available
No component video output
No clock on front panel

THE VERDICT
TiVo Bolt is an indispensable tool for TV-obsessed viewers who hate commercials and value the ease of managing all their cable, online, and local-network-stored entertainment from one smartly designed receiver/recorder.

With 412 scripted TV series originating on broadcast, cable, and online channels last year, viewers face the twin challenges of finding shows that appeal to them and having enough waking hours to watch them. TiVo’s new flagship digital video recorder, Bolt, purports to help solve both problems. An admitted TV addict, I bolted for a Bolt to see if it could rekindle the excitement I felt when TiVo debuted in 1999.

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SmartStream
How Will We Search for TV Shows in the Future?
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 26, 2016
Representatives from traditional pay TV and from Over the Top (“OTT” or online streaming) companies gathered at the 20th Annual CONNECTIONS conference in South San Francisco to discuss TV and video content delivery. In a series of keynotes and panels, the conversation was centered on the future of home entertainment and how we will find and manage what we want to watch.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Philips to Launch 4K/HDR TVs with Google Cast
SV Staff  |  May 26, 2016
P&F USA, the exclusive North American licensee for Philips TVs and video products, today announced plans to launch a line of Philips 4K/Ultra HD (UHD) TVs featuring high dynamic range (HDR) capability and Google Cast.
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Throwback Thursday
Flashback to a Galaxy Far, Far Away
SV Staff  |  May 26, 2016
The week of May 23rd is a landmark week in the annals of Star Wars history. Return of the Jedi hit theaters on May 25, 1983, six years to the day after the original Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) forever altered the course of space-themed Sci-Fi in 1977, not to mention special effects and movie sound.

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Ask S&V
How Can I Record Digital TV Broadcasts?
Al Griffin  |  May 26, 2016
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I need some help connecting my old equipment to my new equipment. I own the following: Denon AVR-S900W AV receiver, Panasonic TC-P60ST60 plasma TV, a Roku box, and an over-the-air antenna for receiving local HDTV channels.  Here’s my question: How can I connect my Panasonic DMR-EH75VS combination DVD recorder/VCR to the system and record programming as I did back when I had a satellite TV subscription? —Tim Raab

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Audio Video News
Steve Vai Classic Gets Deluxe Vinyl Reissue
SV Staff  |  May 25, 2016
Audiophile reissue label Friday Music is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Steve Vai's landmark solo album Passion and Warfare with a remastered 180 gram vinyl reissue.
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3D Projector ReviewsProjector Reviews
BenQ HT3050 3D DLP Projector Review
Michael P. Hamilton  |  May 25, 2016
2D Performance
3D Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,399

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Highly accurate and stable colorimetry out of the box
Impressively sharp and detailed images at a reasonable price
Useful calibration adjustments including lockable ISF modes
Minus
Punitive light leakage from lens opening
Limited lens adjustments constrain placement options
3D glasses not supplied

THE VERDICT
BenQ's HT 3050 delivers surprisingly good performance for its price, but noticeable light leakage drags down an otherwise strong recommendation.

For a while now, projector manufacturers who employ three LCD panels for the required red, green, and blue primary colors (we’re talking about you, Epson) have pointed to that technology’s ability to deliver equal lumens output for both white brightness and color brightness. Citing research by various international standards organizations, the 3LCD consortium maintains that single-chip DLP projectors (referred to as 1DLP) may suffer...

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Grace Notes
Test Drive: BMW 650i Gran Coupe with Bang & Olufsen Sound System
Leslie Shapiro  |  May 25, 2016
Deciding whether to spring for an expensive sound-system upgrade when shopping for a new car can be a frustrating experience when you have no idea what you’ll actually be getting for your hard-earned money. Looking at pictures of a speaker grille is hardly convincing when the price tag for an upgraded system can be upwards of $6000. How often do you get the opportunity to spend literally hours in a potential car listening to and evaluating the sound system before you order your build? Recently, I did just that in the 2016 BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe with the upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system. Here's what I heard.

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The Connected Life
Firmware: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
John Sciacca  |  May 25, 2016
One of the biggest benefits computing integration has brought to modern AV gear is the advent of flash memory that can be repeatedly and easily updated with new firmware. Firmware updates provide not only ongoing improvements and performance benefits, but can even add new features. Let us count the ways…
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New Products
June 2016 New Gear
SV Staff  |  May 24, 2016
A “vintage” streaming audio player, speakers with a built-in phono input, Sony’s take on UHD TV, and more.
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