Mark Henninger

HDTV Buying Tips
How To Buy a 4K TV
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 23, 2023  |  2 comments
2023 marks the 10th anniversary of both consumer OLED TVs and Ultra HD TVs. In those ten short years we have seen the demise of plasma and 3D and curved screens. We witnessed the rise of HDR and high frame rates and the dawn of the gaming TV era. 4K has become dominant and 8K exists for those who want it. The focus of what makes a great TV has shifted from home theater to a broader spectrum of streaming, gaming, displaying art and other applications, but the fundamentals of what makes a great TV are largely the same: Color accuracy, gamut, contrast, and motion rendering need to be top-notch.
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Editor's Eye
The Future Is Bright for 4K UHD TVs
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 18, 2023  |  11 comments
If there is one dominant trend in 2023, it is the remarkable increase in brightness of TVs. Whether it’s OLED or mini-LED FALD LCDs, the luminance improvements are substantial. The OLED category, in particular, has seen significant gains, with LG claiming a 70% gain and peak brightness levels now easily surpassing 1,000 nits, which is sufficient to display most HDR content without requiring tone mapping.
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Tower Speaker Reviews
Definitive Technology DM70 Bipolar Tower Speakers Review
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 14, 2023  |  2 comments

Performance
Build Quality
Value
PRICE $3,998/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent soundstage and imaging
Powerful and adjustable bass output
Disappears when the lights are out
Integrated Atmos module support

Minus
Each speaker requires a power outlet
Cloth grill is not removable
Can't be placed up against a wall

THE VERDICT
The Verdict: A tall, powerful speaker that dazzles with its superb soundstage and imaging, delights with its visceral bass output, and stuns with its starkly minimalist aesthetic.

The new Dymension DM70 Tower speaker is an evolution of a design that's signature Definitive Technology: An adjustable bipolar array combined with a 10-inch powered subwoofer that's integrated into the cabinet. It is not your typical 2-way or 3-way cone-and-dome tower speaker, it has a distinct sound that's larger than life.

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Audio Video News
Tidal Adopting Hi-Res FLAC for HiFi Plus Subscribers
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 11, 2023  |  14 comments
Today, Tidal revealed on Reddit that HiFi Plus subscribers will soon have a new streaming option: high-resolution FLAC. This announcement follows closely behind MQA's entry into "administration," the British equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This development suggests financial difficulties for MQA and raises questions about its future.
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4K TV ReviewsTV Reviews
TCL 6 Series mini-LED QLED 4K Roku TV Review
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 06, 2023  |  6 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $950 (updated 11/30/23)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Very bright
Deep blacks
Excellent contrast
QLED wide color gamut
Easy to use
Stylish
Minus
Limited viewing angles

THE VERDICT
The combination of high contrast, brightness, and excellent color accuracy right out of the box make TCL's 65R655 a great choice for a main living room TV and many other applications.

It is amazing how rapidly TVs have grown in capability while their prices have dropped, defying inflation. I am very familiar with TCL's 6 Series and remember its first U.S. market iteration. It was an affordable 55-inch 4K TV that turned out to be great for both movies and gaming, thanks to its ease of use and nice, contrasty screen.

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Streaming Device Reviews
Juke Multiroom Streaming Amplifier Review
Mark Henninger  |  Apr 03, 2023  |  0 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,349 (Juke-6) / $1,499 (Juke-8)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Plug-and-play upgrade
Simple and reliable
Low cost per zone
Expandable
Minus
Only 20 watts RMS per channel
No EQ

THE VERDICT
The Juke is a simple, affordable way to retrofit an existing multiroom wired architectural speaker system, or power a new one. It provides high-quality sound and is easy to use.

Multiroom streaming audio is a fun and affordable way to upgrade your home. Juke Audio's six-zone or eight-zone (12- or 16-channel) smart amplifier is a quick, easy, and reasonably priced way to get started. Leveraging AirPlay/AirPlay2 and Spotify Connect, it communicates directly with a wide array of supported apps.

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Audio Video News
Hisense Partners with NBA, Brings Exclusive Content to North America
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 31, 2023  |  0 comments
Hisense is a leading global consumer electronics brand known for its TVs. It has now partnered with the NBA to engage more fans across North America. As the NBA's Official TV and Home Appliance Partner, Hisense will exclusively present "X-Factor Moments," a weekly video series highlighting key plays from the 2023 postseason.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
LG SC9 and SE6 Dolby Atmos Soundbars Now Available
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 22, 2023  |  0 comments
LG Electronics USA announced the pricing and availability of its 2023 LG Sound Bar C (SC9) and LG SE6 models. These new soundbars are designed to complement its 2023 TV range, both in appearance and performance. LG claims the Sound Bar C is the first to integrate technology and features from IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X while employing triple up-firing height channels.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
LG Begins Preorders for 49" UltraGear Gaming Monitor
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 21, 2023  |  0 comments
LG Electronics USA has just announced the pricing and availability of its latest gaming monitor, the 49-inch Curved UltraGear, aka the 49GR85DC-B. The new monitor, now available for pre-order on LG.com, is priced at $1299. LG is sweetening the pre-order deal by offering a free UltraGear Gaming Pad worth $200 and the company expects to ship in early April.
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4K TV Reviews
Samsung 77" S95C OLED 4K TV
Mark Henninger  |  Mar 20, 2023  |  13 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $4,500

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impeccable HDR
Outstanding contrast
Wide viewing angle
Highly accurate
Minus
No Dolby Vision
Pricey for a 77-inch TV

THE VERDICT
The 77-inch S95C delivers a potent combination of quantum dot OLED vibrance, reference-level color accuracy, and hyperfast gaming.

The 2023 Samsung S95C offers unparalleled picture quality, owing to quantum dot OLED technology. Its pure RGB emissive pixels enable the delivery of remarkable brightness, contrast, and color, providing a viewing experience that truly honors the source material.

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