Audio Video News

When Sony launched the first videocassette recorder in 1975, it was just a matter of time before movies would become available on tape for viewing at home — a foreign concept at the time — but Andre Blay got the ball rolling and started a business that would forever change the way Americans enjoy entertainment at home. Blay passed away August 24 in Bonita Springs, FL at age 81.

Another icon of the rock generation has departed this world: Keith Emerson, founder and keyboardist extraordinaire of the influential progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, a.k.a. ELP, died Thursday night at his home in Santa Monica. He was 71.

Stewart Filmscreen has announced the death of President and CEO Grant Stewart, age 60. Mr. Stewart passed away on the morning of October 27, 2015, after bravely battling cancer. His wife Mary, who retains ownership of the company, their two children, his father Pat and the entire Stewart family, survive Grant.

Tom Nousaine, former contributing technical editor and columnist for Sound & Vision, died June 8, 2014 in Pinckney, MI. He was 69.

A life-long audio enthusiast, Tom’s work appeared in numerous publications, including Stereo Review (predecessor to S&V, Audio, Sound & Image, Video, Car Stereo Review, Mobile Entertainment, Road Gear, Audio/Video International, The Audio Critic, The $ensible Sound, and Telephony.

Tom was a long time member of the Southeastern Michigan Woofer and Tweeter Marching Society (SWTMS) and served as regional vice president of the Audio Engineering Society and chairman of the AES Chicago Section. He founded the Prairie State Audio Construction Society and the Society for Depreciation Professionals while employed as director of capital recovery for Ameritech, one of the seven regional “Baby Bell” companies that arose out of AT&T’s 1984 divestiture.

Glen Campbell, the Arkansas born country pop singer/guitarist know for such memorable hits as “Wichita Lineman” (1968), “Galveston” (1969), “Rhinestone Cowboy” (1975), “Southern Nights” (1977), and many more died yesterday following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 81.

In the world of immersive audio, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tend to hog all the headlines. Everyone’s always talking about them, and if you’re not tuned in, you might think they’re the only games in town. But then there’s Auro-3D. If the audio industry were a soda aisle, Auro-3D would be kind of like RC Cola—never the top seller, rarely a household name, but still hanging around, offering its own flavor for the folks who appreciate something a bit different.

Riva Audio today announced that its new Alexa voice-enabled Riva Concert Smart Speaker is now available on amazon.com for $199.