Thomas J. Norton

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A/V Veteran
Know Your Blu-ray Stats
Thomas J. Norton  |  Sep 03, 2019
An in-depth look at Blu-ray parameters that can be sorted and studied in a variety of ways.
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4K TV ReviewsLCD TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Vizio M658-G1 M-Series Quantum LCD Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 28, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support
Great post-calibration performance
Low price
Minus
Limited HDR brightness
Poor off-center picture uniformity
No useful motion-smoothing options

THE VERDICT
Vizio's $1,000 M-Series Quantum set offers impressive performance in a 65-inch screen size for those unwilling to spend hundreds or even thousands more to bring home a bigscreen Ultra HDTV experience.

Vizio has long been a value leader in the HDTV world. And despite recent challenges from Chinese companies at the low end, and even from established Korean and Japanese manufacturers with pricier but still affordable sets, Vizio appears determined to maintain, or even enhance, its position.

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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
TV Tech Explained: Mind Your (HDR) PQ
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 20, 2019
In TV Tech Explained: Mind Your Gamma I covered gamma and its importance for playback of standard dynamic range (SDR) video. But high dynamic range (HDR) is a new and very different animal.
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4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Sony Bravia XBR-65A9G OLED Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 14, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $3,800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Unsurpassed contrast
Superb color and resolution
Viewable from any angle
Minus
Complicated picture adjustments
Pricey

THE VERDICT
Sony's new XBR-65A9G OLED TV is undoubtedly pricey, but we'd be hard-pressed to name a flat-panel Ultra HD TV that provides better overall performance.

Sony's XBR-A9G, the latest OLED entry in the company's Master Series TV lineup, follows fast on the heels of its previous A9F. While the differences from that model are minor, the A9G's list of upgrades include a different (and arguably improved) stand, a better remote control, and a few performance tweaks. The A9G lineup also includes a 77-inch model, but the 65-inch XBR-65A9G is the featured attraction here.

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HDTV TechA/V Veteran
TV Tech Explained: Mind Your Gamma
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 30, 2019
Unless you're accustomed to turning on your new set and never touching any of the controls beyond volume (and if you're reading this that's probably not you) Gamma is a control and a subject worth knowing more about.
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A/V Veteran
Choice Films for Choice Guests: Guaranteed to Wow 'Em
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 16, 2019
We've all encountered the problem: Guests who haven't yet seen or heard your home theater setup are coming over for a movie night. But which movie to choose? If you know the guests' tastes the choice should be easy. But that isn't always the case.
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Blu-ray Movie ReviewsUltra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 12, 2019
Picture
Sound
Extras
The village of Berk is now the overcrowded home not only of our favorite Viking clan, now led by a grown-up Hiccup, but also a huge and motley assortment of friendly dragons. After they encounter a revived gang of dragon-hunters led by the ruthless Grimmel, Hiccup decides that their only solution is to evacuate Berk, where they're an obvious target, and search for a new home where they'll be safe.
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A/V Veteran
Exceptional War-Themed Movies for Summer Viewing
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jul 02, 2019
A selection of discs and streaming content to watch during those lazy days of summer.
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4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
LG OLED65E9PUA OLED Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 26, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $4,299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Powerful contrast with inky blacks
Wide viewing angle
HDR format support includes Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG
Minus
Pricey
So-so built-in audio
No HDR10+ support

THE VERDICT
LG's stunning E9 continues OLED's long streak in providing the highest-performance Ultra HDTV display option available.

Set makers may argue otherwise, but improvements to the two dominant TV technologies—OLED and LCD—come gradually. Each year, the new sets that get rolled out incorporate wrinkles that will result (it's hoped!) in a better picture and more advanced features. Following that pattern, LG for 2019 continues to build on its already impressive OLED TV credentials with the OLED65E9PUA.

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4K TV ReviewsLCD TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Samsung QN65Q80R LCD Ultra HDTV Review
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 19, 2019

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Brightness to spare
Good off-center viewing
Superb HDR
Minus
Blooming
No Dolby Vision
Small, non-backlit remote

THE VERDICT
Samsung's new QN65Q80R may not be the company's flagship TV, but it offers an ample helping of that model's features, design, and performance.

It wasn't long ago that a buying a premium UHDTV demanded your first-born in exchange, or at least a sizeable portion of his or her college tuition. At $2,800 (and widely available for less), Samsung's new QN65Q80R "QLED" TV isn't exactly the lowest-priced entry in the growing category of affordable UHDTVs, but it's certainly a welcome one. Samsung also sells 55-, 75-, and 82-inch versions of the Q80R, the latter priced under $5,000.

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