John Sciacca

The one thing that nearly every home in the country has been wired with is good o’le RG6 coax cable. This is traditionally used for off-air antenna, cable TV or satellite video distribution, but now the smart guys at Metra Home Theater Group have introduced the M3B Metra Multimedia Broadcast system to utilize this existing cabling to create a low cost, incredibly scalable HDMI matrix distribution system.

While the best Dolby Atmos systems arguably feature speakers placed in or on the ceiling over the listening position, sometimes that isn’t possible. Whether it is due to wiring issues or ceiling construction, if you can’t place speakers over your listening position, that doesn’t mean that you are out of luck when it comes to enjoying Dolby Atmos. And for MartinLogan speaker owners, the new Motion AFX Atmos Enabled Speaker lets them simply place the module on top of their existing speakers to still enjoy the benefits of this next generation, immersive surround audio format.

DISH continues to expand the Hopper ecosystem with its new 4K Joey, expected to arrive by November. The new player features an ultra-slim form-factor that can slip behind a wall-mounted flat panel TV and will cost DISH subscribers only $50 to upgrade and carry the same monthly fee as current Joeys, so there is no reason for DISH subscribers not to grab one!

Kaleidescape, the company that literally invented the movie server category, is looking to remain on top with the launch of a new product line called Encore. This new line-up of movie players and servers will target aggressive price points designed to attract new customers as well as feature cutting-edge, industry leading performance in the new Strato Movie Player; the world’s first 4K Ultra HD, HDR player for the home to cement the company’s position at the top of the luxury home cinema market.