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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Assassin
Josef Krebs  |  Jun 10, 2016
Picture
Sound
Extras
In 8th century China, the Tang dynasty, in decline, had built garrisons at the frontiers of its empire, but a hundred years later, some of those militarized provinces chose independence from the emperor. Weibo is the strongest, so a lovely assassin is sent to kill the head of its clan, Lord Tian. Made by Taiwanese writer-director Hsiao-Hsien Hou, The Assassin’s gorgeous, static imagery and characters, glacially slow-moving camera, and mood-filled silences are matched by the mysteries of the story that are only very gradually revealed, all of which evoke the poetic films of the great Andrei Tarkovsky.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Optoma Unveils Innovative Laser DLP Projectors
SV Staff  |  Jun 10, 2016
Optoma has announced two innovative single-chip DLP laser phosphor projectors: A first-of-its-kind 4K/Ultra HD (UHD) ultra short throw model and a WUGXA model with a rated brightness of 5,500 lumens.
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Audio Video News
The Internet Is Redefining TV’s Prime Time
SV Staff  |  Jun 10, 2016
The traditional notion of the family gathering around the TV during “prime time” hours is quaint in the Age of the Internet. The same far-reaching Cisco study that predicts a tripling of Internet traffic over the next few years refers to an “Internet prime time” that occurs between 9 p.m. and midnight across all time zones.
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Audio Video News
Sound & Vision Tech Tidbits June
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 09, 2016
News from around the world of mobile/home entertainment: THX Live! debuts, YouTube offers subscription TV, researchers discover an easier way to do 8K video, and more.
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Headphone Reviews
Beyerdynamic T1 Headphone Review
Steve Guttenberg  |  Jun 09, 2016

Performance
Features
Comfort
Value
PRICE $1,099

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Concise, clear sound
Five-year warranty
Minus
High-impedance design limits portable use

THE VERDICT
Beyerdynamic reboots and refines their flagship T1—and significantly improves its sound quality.

The Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Generation) over-the-ear headphone may look nearly identical to the original T1 that debuted in 2009, but trust me on this: The two headphones sound very different. The first thing I noticed is that the new T1 has meatier, bigger, punchier bass, and the treble is sweeter, clearer, and more refined. It’s much more than a reboot.

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Throwback Thursday
Flashback 1993: T-Rex Gets His Closeup
SV Staff  |  Jun 09, 2016
Twenty-three years ago today marks the world premiere of Jurassic Park in our nation’s capital. The movie, which cost $63 million to make, shattered all box office records at the time and gave us a newfound appreciation for prehistoric creatures. Who can forget the terrifying footfalls of the approaching Tyrannosaurus rex, which would become home theater demo fodder for years to come.

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Ask S&V
Can I Use My Back Surround Speakers With 5.1 Soundtracks?
Al Griffin  |  Jun 09, 2016
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have an Onkyo TX NR1009 AV receiver that I operate in a 7.2 configuration. All is well when I watch a movie with a 7.1 soundtrack since my couch is inline with the back surround speakers. However, when I watch movies or TV with 5.1 sound the rear speakers go silent and I need to shift my position to be inline with the side surround speakers. Is it possible to have the receiver route the 5.1 signal so the back surround speakers remain active and I don’t have to change my seating position? —George Yeoh

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Audio Video News
Internet Traffic to Triple by 2020
SV Staff  |  Jun 09, 2016
In its latest global networking forecast, Cisco predicts Internet traffic will triple by 2020, which is really no surprise when you consider the Internet is still in its infancy.
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SmartStream
On the Road with Alexa and the Amazon Tap
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 09, 2016
Hands on with Tap, the new portable version of Amazon's wildly popular Echo speaker/personal assistant.
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The S&V Interview
New Sounds and Good Times With Michael Nesmith of The Monkees
Mike Mettler  |  Jun 08, 2016
Could there be a better name for the first all-new Monkees studio album in 20 years than Good Times? Produced and mixed by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Tinted Windows), Good Times! teems with vintage energy from all four Monkees — including the late Davy Jones. Good Times! is the perfect soundtrack to accompany the band’s 50th anniversary celebrations this year, which also include having the TV show appear for the first time on Blu-ray (The Monkees: The Complete Series) and a tour featuring Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork (and sometimes Michael Nesmith, schedule permitting). Recently, I sat down with Nesmith, 74, in New York to discuss his songwriting influences, his sonic goals for his Good Times! contributions, and The Monkees’ enduring legacy.
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