Mark Henninger

ShowsCEDIA 2023
Transforming Home Audio with ART: A Conversation with Dirac's Dr. Mathias Johansson
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 24, 2023  |  0 comments
I had the chance to speak with Dr. Mathias Johansson, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Dirac, at CEDIA Expo 2023 in Denver. Our wide-ranging conversation explored the future of home audio systems, specifically focusing on Dirac's technology that aims to revolutionize how we deal with troublesome room acoustics.
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ShowsCEDIA 2023
Elevating Analog to Digital: Victrola at CEDIA 2023
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 24, 2023  |  1 comments
While at the CEDIA 2023 Expo in Denver, I had the opportunity to visit Victrola's new headquarters and discuss the future of turntables and audio technology with Don Inmon, the head of product and brand at Victrola. The conversation offered a first look at Victrola's new Hi-Res variants of its two turntables, the Onyx and the Carbon, and explored the shift toward wireless, high-quality audio experiences.
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ShowsCEDIA 2023
THX Says New 8K HDMI Cables Offer Certified Reliability
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 23, 2023  |  0 comments
During the CEDIA 2023 Expo in Denver, I sat down with Steve Martz, VP of Global Technology at THX Ltd., to discuss the company's forthcoming line of HDMI cables. Scheduled for a Q4 release, Steve showcased production samples and shared insights into their design and performance features.
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ShowsCEDIA 2023
CEDIA Expo 2023 Editor’s Picks
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 19, 2023  |  0 comments
CEDIA Expo 2023 offered an opportunity to peruse a plethora of audio and AV products aimed at the CI (custom install) market. Much of what's on display is excruciatingly expensive and targeted at wealthy consumers. Case in point, one of the most popular demos involved a home theater system with a million dollars worth of gear in it. At that price point, a $12,000 video player and $16,000 video processor seem like almost trivial expenses.
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LCD TV ReviewsOther Tech
Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor Review
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 18, 2023  |  1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Cutting-edge graphics
Extreme immersion
Futuristic design
DisplayPort 2.1
Accurate colors
Handles HDR well
Minus
Expensive
Needs a powerful PC for gaming
No remote

THE VERDICT
While it requires a cutting edge, top-of-the-line PC to get the most out of it, If you love simulated driving or flying, the Neo G9 57-inch monitor was made for you.

When it comes to visual immersion, Samsung's curved, ultra-wide Odyssey gaming monitors are about as close as you can get to VR without donning goggles. And no such monitor that Samsung has released embodies this more than the Odyssey Neo G9, a 57-inch beast that is the resolution equivalent of two 4K 16:9 monitors side-by-side.

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ShowsCEDIA 2023
CEDIA Expo 2023 Trends: Bigger, Better Speakers and Screens
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 14, 2023  |  2 comments
Ready to discover the future of home entertainment? Dive into our in-depth analysis of CEDIA Expo 2023, where high-tech meets high performance. From in-wall speakers that redefine audio quality to colossal micro-LED video walls that are finally attainable, we've got the trends that are reshaping the industry. Plus, we explore how cutting-edge room correction tech is bringing the dream of ideal sound into every home.
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ShowsCEDIA 2023
CEDIA 2023 Video Interviews
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 08, 2023  |  0 comments
I'm in Denver for CEDIA 2023. So far, the show has been impressively busy, and I've heard anecdotally from numerous vendors that they are doing brisk business. Day one and day two featured jam-packed booths, and I explored the floor, but largely skipped doing the demos because they take time and the lines were long. On day one and day two, I focused on video interviews from various exhibitors that you will find here, with more to come.
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4K TV ReviewsOLED TV ReviewsTV Reviews
Samsung QN95C 65" 4K Neo-QLED TV Review
Mark Henninger  |  Sep 02, 2023  |  7 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $3,300

AT A GLANCE
Plus
One of the brightest TVs you can buy
Deep gaming functionality
Relatively wide viewing angles
Mounts flat on a wall
Excellent cable management
Minus
65" model is pricey
Still no Dolby Vision
Quantum-dot OLED has its own charms

THE VERDICT
This sublime ultra-premium multi-use 4K TV has a modern minimalist design and delivers impressive imagery thanks to the use of mini-LED, quantum dots and advanced picture processing. Its premium performance comes at a price but it delivers the goods when it comes to image fidelity.

For the past ten years we've watched 4K LCD and OLED TVs compete in the wake of plasma's demise. There was the death of 3D. And for a while, we even had curved screens to contend with. At first OLED had a distinct picture quality advantage over LCDs, thanks to its use of emissive pixels that can fully shut off individually and deliver true blacks. However LED-lit LCD keeps evolving and keeping pace while offering a different set of benefits.

Samsung's name for mini-LED FALD LCD panels featuring quantum dots is Neo QLED. And the QN95C is king of the 4K Neo QLEDs.

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New Products
XGIMI Horizon Ultra Dolby Vision 4K Hybrid Laser/LED Projector Unveiled
Mark Henninger  |  Aug 31, 2023  |  0 comments
The XGIMI Horizon Ultra ($1,699) is a bold new projector that aims to topple the Sony and JVC home theater hegemony with a device that costs a lot less than those offerings yet offers compelling image quality. It is also a milestone in long-throw projection technology because it is the first such projector to support Dolby Vision.
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Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
Sony XV800 X-Series Bluetooth Portable Party Speaker Review
Mark Henninger  |  Aug 16, 2023  |  1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $650

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Works upright and on its side
Omnidirectional sound
25 hour battery life
Light show & karaoke
Charge other devices using its battery
Minus
Poorly designed wheels and handle

THE VERDICT
Sony's party speaker impresses with its sound quality and features but its wheels and handle make it difficult to move around.

Is there room for a party speaker in your life? How about this question instead: do you like to have fun? If so, then the answer is yes! This sometimes scorned category stands out in my experience because in recent years, whenever I see people having a good time with music, more often than not it's been some sort of lifestyle, entertainment-friendly, wireless, portable speaker dishing out the tunes. A party speaker.

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