Mark Fleischmann

Netflix, Blockbuster, and other online program providers are cutting deals left and right to get their services into various devices. But many of these scenarios hinge on an important assumption--that consumers have fixed-price internet service to bring all those audiovisual bits into the home. This assumption may not be viable indefinitely, as internet service providers are now threatening to shift from all-you-can-eat plans to metered, usage-based pricing.

Price: $5,500 At A Glance: Class H amplification delivers lots of peak power • Dolby Volume tames dynamic extremes • Offers the transparency and power of separates

Powerful But Clever

The AudioControl Concert AVR-1 embodies the paradox of high-end A/V receivers. Befitting an audiophile product, its Class H amplification can take an input signal and fill a room with commendable transparency and power. At the same time, it departs from strict fidelity to the input signal by offering pragmatic features like Dolby Volume and room correction. Let’s take a closer look at its dual nature.

Netflix movie streaming is getting into Best Buy's Insignia-brand Blu-ray players.

Advantages of living in or near New York City: great museums, the world's best bagels, and a 24-hour Best Buy.