Mark Henninger

New Products
New TCL QM7K TVs Offer Improved HDR, Reduced Blooming
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 10, 2025
TCL has announced its latest television series, the QM7K Precise Dimming Series, featuring the company’s latest QD-Mini LED technology. Following the introduction of its QM6K at CES earlier this year, TCL’s QM7K is designed to improve upon its predecessor with an emphasis on high brightness and precision dimming.
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New Products
Rotel DX-3: Merging High-Fidelity Integrated Headphone Amplification, Pre-Amplification, and DAC in a Compact Design
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 07, 2025
Rotel’s latest foray into the world of personal audio, the DX-3, is a compact but ambitious piece of kit. Designed in Tokyo and measuring just 8.5" x 3" x 9.75", this integrated headphone amplifier, pre-amplifier, and DAC contradicts the notion that high-end audio has to come in a bulky package.
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Audio Video News
Sounding Off in Hope: A 121st Birthday Bash for Klipsch
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 06, 2025
It turns out that if you mix a little history with high-performance audio (and sprinkle on a dash of irreverence) you get the 2025 Klipsch Pilgrimage. Happening on March 7 and 8 in Hope, AR (the town that gave birth to Klipsch), this two-day extravaganza is a full-throttle celebration of Paul W. Klipsch’s 121st birthday.
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In-Car Entertainment System
Chevy Volt Cabin Concept Demo at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 27, 2025
Arc Audio is pushing the envelope on what a car can be with his transformative work on a 2012 Chevy Volt. Brian Mitchell explained the concept and how it is a sneak peek into the future of automotive design and audio integration.

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In-Car Entertainment System
Inside the Mazda REF6: A Custom Car Audio Masterpiece by Jeffrey Hald Shown at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 26, 2025
I recently got an exclusive look at the Mazda REF6—a custom audio project car built by none other than Jeffrey Hald. This isn’t your everyday Mazda; it’s a 1,200‑hour masterpiece featuring JL Audio speakers and electronics that was crafted over five years, accumulating accolades like three triple crowns, an expert win last year, and four install championships.

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In-Car Entertainment System
Tuning for the Perfect Ride: Cadillac XD5 Demo at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 26, 2025
I had a blast at the 2025 Florida International Audio Expo, especially checking out the high-fidelity automotive setups. One standout was a 2023 Cadillac XD5 that combines factory looks with cutting-edge sound tech.

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In-Car Entertainment System
Is Automotive Audio Ready to Enter the Audiophile Realm?
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 21, 2025
Here we are at the Florida International Audio Expo 2025. This year’s show has an automotive sound element to it. Step outside into the warm and sunny Florida weather and the future of high fidelity sound is taking shape in the parking lot.
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Bookshelf Speaker Reviews
Kanto REN Active Loudspeaker System Review: Minimalist Approach, Audiophile Results
Mark Henninger  |  Feb 03, 2025  |  Published: Jan 27, 2025

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE: $599

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent clarity and detail
Three-dimensional soundstage
Supports HDMI ARC and CEC control
Full-featured remote
Attractive and compact
Minus
Modest maximum volume when used without a sub
No phono input

The Verdict
If you’ve ever been burned by a soundbar that looked sleek but sounded like a tin can, the REN might just restore your faith in compact all-in-one systems.

I’ve spent a little over a month with a pair of Kanto REN active speakers in my living room setup, and I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it.

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Subwoofer Reviews
Perlisten R18s THX Dominus 18" Sealed Subwoofer Review: Home Theater Perfection
Mark Henninger  |  Jan 23, 2025

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value
PRICE: $4,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Exceptional Bass Performance
High-Quality Construction
Versatile and User-Friendly
Elevates Overall System Performance
Minus
No Built-in Room Correction
Price Point is high (but still a great value)

THE VERDICT
Look, I get that there's a ton of subwoofers out there. And some of them are probably pretty good. But the Perlisten R18s is in a league of its own. This thing is an absolute beast. But it's not just about raw power. The R18s is also incredibly musical. It blends seamlessly with your main speakers and transforms just about any speaker system into a full-range one.

I love deep bass and have spent exceptional amounts of time and money over three-plus decades pursuing its clean, accurate reproduction. I bought my first pair of subwoofers over thirty years ago. At AVS Forum, where the DIY section was a hotbed of bassaholics in the pre-Facebook group era, I discovered the joys of infrasonic bass reproduced at levels you can feel. It was a brave new world and no subwoofers available to consumers seemed able to perform the tricks that the DIY monsters delivered.

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In-Car Entertainment System
Automotive In-Cabin Experiences Take Center Stage at CES 2025 (and in Our Lives)
Mark Henninger  |  Jan 10, 2025
2025 may very well be remembered as a watershed year for in-cabin entertainment. The writing’s been on the wall for years, but it was impossible to ignore during the avalanche of news and announcements from CES 2025. Although I did not attend this year’s show, every report I’ve read and conversation I’ve had points toward one overarching theme: the car has become the new entertainment frontier.
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