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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Denon’s Latest Wireless Earbuds Optimize Sound for Your Hearing
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 20, 2023
Denon today launched noise-canceling wireless earbuds that automatically customize sound to the unique characteristics your hearing.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Samsung Taking Orders for New 98-Inch 4K QLED TV
Bob Ankosko  |  Jun 20, 2023
Samsung has added a massive 98-inch screen size to its Q80C QLED series of 4K TVs and today announced a $500 credit if you visit the company’s website to reserve the $8,000 TV. Follow through and place the order in July, and you get an extra $1,000 off plus a soundbar and free delivery and installation.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
TCL Touts New Q Class and S Class Soundbars
Mark Henninger  |  Jun 19, 2023
TCL is launching five new soundbars in its Q Class and S Class collections. With this launch, the company aims to supplement its popular televisions with enhanced audio capabilities.
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Signals
Trojan Horses and Tellys
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Jun 19, 2023
After decades of head scratching, chin rubbing, and extensively consulting the Magic 8-Ball, experts now agree that there is no such thing as a free lunch. However, somewhat unexpectedly, we now have free TVs. If you guessed that there are strings attached, you would be correct. Very correct.

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AV Receiver Reviews
Denon AVR-X3800H AV Receiver Review
Daniel Kumin  |  Jun 16, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,699

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Audyssey XT32 room correction, with extra-cost Dirac Live option
9 powered channels enable a full Atmos/DTS:X layout
4 discrete subwoofer outputs to integrate and EQ multiple subs
Handy global-preset feature
Minus
HEOS app required for streaming music services
Non-backlit remote

THE VERDICT
All the important features, enough channels for Atmos/X, and enough watts for a large majority of systems, all with top-shelf sonics, and all for a reasonable price.

For at least two decades now, designers have been managing to deliver more and more features, power, and audio/video finesse, for fewer and fewer dollars—or at least, no more—with every passing model year. Denon’s latest lineup ably illustrates the trend and the one in the spotlight here, the $1700 AVR-X3800H, is going to hit a lot of budget sweet-spots.

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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie Collection
Chris Chiarella  |  Jun 16, 2023
Generations, 118 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
First Contact, 111 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Insurrection, 103 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras
Nemisis, 116 mins.
Picture
Sound
Extras

Like The Original Series before it, Star Trek: The Next Generation was a product of its time. Whereas Kirk & Co. embraced broad drama and the two-fisted clichés of ‘60s television on their space-faring adventures, Next Gen was more refined, drawing upon our greater understanding of science fact and taking lots and lots of time to discuss the characters’ feelings, too.

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SmartStream
Max Adds Discovery Channels and 4K Plan
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 14, 2023
HBO Max is now just Max. Beyond the name change, Max combines Discovery Plus and HBO Max content. Not all content is available from the numerous Discovery-owned channels. Plus, you'll need the Max Ultimate plan to get more than a couple of dozen movie titles in 4K UHD. 
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Transformers: Rise of the Steelbooks
Chris Chiarella  |  Jun 13, 2023
Overall Rating

As editor Mark Henninger and I discuss on the regular, physical media has become not only about entertainment but collectability, and so we have seen the arrival of new editions that look snazzy on the shelf and that we can flaunt to our friends. Quite a few of the discs I've reviewed recently for S&V have arrived in step-up steelbook cases adorned with exclusive, genuinely inspired artwork. (Take that, streaming!)

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A/V Veteran
Back to the Future
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 13, 2023
Among the many time-sinks to be found on YouTube are predictions of the future, particularly those made years or even decades ago and anticipating what life today would be like. It's fascinating to revisit the 1950s vision of the "home of tomorrow."
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Audio Video News
StormAudio Activates Dirac Live Active Room Treatment
Mark Henninger  |  Jun 12, 2023
One of the best demos I heard at CES 2023 was Dirac Live demonstrating its Active Room Treatment (ART) technology. Now, StormAudio has flipped the switch and activated the feature in its ISP platform, meaning it works with all StormAudio processors and AVRs with firmware 4.5 on up and is included at no additional fee on any products purchased January 1 2023 onward.
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