Audio Video News

The results of this week’s survey are in. We asked for your take on the most compelling story of 2014 CES and the decided lack of activity in OLED TV raked in the most votes, capturing nearly one third of all. The preponderance of 4K/Ultra HD TVs was deemed to be the second most important story, followed closely by the LG’s 77-inch hybrid OLED/Ultra HD TV. Here’s the complete breakdown…

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) announced today a yearlong campaign to honor the studio’s storied 90-year legacy. Founded in 1924 when theater magnate Marcus Loew bought and merged Metro Pictures Corp. with Goldwyn Pictures and Louis B. Mayer Productions, MGM and its legendary roaring lion signify the golden era of Hollywood. Since its inception, the company has produced more than 175 Academy Award-winning films, including 14 Best Pictures.

Vizio has introduced an all-in-one three-channel soundbar designed for use with TVs that have screen sizes 55 inches and larger TV.

Consumer technology remains one of the hottest holiday gift categories, and it’s no wonder when you consider the endless flow of cool tech for home and on the go. With so many possibilities, it becomes a question of which ones stand out as special gifts that evoke genuine excitement and brimming smiles.

Stepping up its TV game in 2014 by putting a “big emphasis on picture quality,” Vizio announced yesterday that it will add full-array LED backlighting with local dimming to its 2014 E Series line of LCD TVs. The line will include a 55-inch model that will sell in the “mid $700” range, according to a spokesman.

In a recent Ask S&V column, I answered a reader question about North American-made audio: Does anybody make audio gear over here anymore? One name I listed in my response was Canadian speaker-maker Paradigm, a company that manufacturers a wide range of speaker models, subwoofers, and audio electronics in a 225,000 square-foot facility located in Mississaugua, Ontario. Sound & Vision has rarely met a Paradigm speaker or electronics component from Paradigm’s sister-brand Anthem that it didn’t like, so the company is obviously doing something right. To get an overview of just what is happening under the roof of that 225,000-square foot facility, Paradigm’s marketing dept. invited me up for a day to check things out. Ready for a tour? Let’s go!

At the annual CES Unveiled event in New York City last night a few dozen companies offered a glimpse of products they plan to show at CES in early January. Here are a few that caught our eye…