Where Do All the Speakers Go?

I recently responded to a question from a reader on proper speaker placement, a complicated subject that can never be given enough attention. It involves not only how you or I might prefer to position the speakers, but also possible veto by the décor committee. The latter generally demands that the speakers be invisible. But no one has as yet quite solved that conundrum, apart perhaps with in-wall speakers. Few reviewers and commentators, who generally, do their work at home, want to swiss-cheese their walls with a constantly changing parade of in-wall candidates, all requiring different configurations.

Absent that, the committee often demands that the speakers be as out of sight as possible. If they’re small, they’ll sometimes be shoved into the nearest cubbyhole or atop the deepest, highest shelf. If large, they must be pushed tight against the wall behind them.

I can’t offer advice on how to work around décor concerns, but for those with the persuasive skills to make an end run at the Better Homes and Gardens objections, perhaps I can help...

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Denon Launches 8K-Compatible S-Series A/V Receiver

Denon has announced a new 8K-compatible addition to its affordable S-Series family of A/V receivers, the 7.2-channel AVR-S960H ($649). The new model, which will arrive in July, follows the company’s recent update of its premium X-Series AVR line earlier this month.

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JBL’s New HDI Series Loudspeakers Now Available

The JBL HDI Series speaker line that we first reported on at CEDIA Expo 2019 is now available. The new speakers feature the company's patented 2410H-2 compression driver compression driver technology and High Definition Imaging waveguide and are available in a trio of striking finishes including painted high-gloss black, satin walnut wood veneer, and satin gray oak wood veneer.

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Evaluate Your System with the Rolls Royce of Playlists

Playlists. In the world of audio, especially when it comes to critical listening and system evaluation, there is nothing more important than playlists. Those sonic references play a critical role in designing and evaluating an audio system’s performance. And when that system is in a $500,000 vehicle, it’s even more important to get it right.

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ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band From Texas

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ZZ Top ain't been nicknamed That Little Ol' Band From Texas for nothing, you know. But just in case you don't, please bear witness to this highly informative 2019 Banger Films documentary, which delves Rio Grande-deep into the true origins of this tight-knit blues 'n' boogie trio. (Incidentally, said trio also happens to comprise the longest-running unchanged lineup in rock history—51 years and counting, as of presstime.)

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Bowers & Wilkins Unveils 700 Series Signature Loudspeakers

British manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins has introduced Signature versions of loudspeakers from its 700 Series: the floor-standing 702 Signature and standmount 705 Signature. With upgraded crossovers and a luxurious cabinet finish, both models “represent the apex of current Bowers & Wilkins design, engineering and manufacturing processes.”

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Best Gear of June 2020

June ushered in the relaxing vibes of summer, hope for a future free of COVID-19, and several more Sound & Vision Top Picks for your consideration. From a unique “soundbar” for turntable-based music systems to wireless earbuds worthy of your attention to an outstanding five-piece home-theater speaker system and a subwoofer built for inveterate tweakers, there’s a little something for everyone. Here’s to reconnecting with friends and family (in person!) and revisiting vacation plans as we get on with our lives.

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Yet Another Ten Must-See Rockumentaries

Welcome back my friends, to the sheltering that never ends! Well, I suppose that assessment technically depends on just how good your home state has been in adhering to our respective pandemic guidelines, but I digress. Regardless of whether you're following a strict lockdown or beginning to safely venture out and about (albeit while wearing a mask, please!), we can all still agree there's nothing quite like spending some quality screen time with top-shelf streaming content, no matter what's going on outside as summer gets into full swing.

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AirPods Audio Sharing and 4K Airplay Come to Apple TV in tvOS14

During the 2020 Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) keynote, Apple announced its newest operating systems, iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS14. With it comes new AirPod and HomeKit features and long-overdue additions to Apple TV's picture-in-picture, and 4K content.

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Andover Spinbase Turntable Speaker System Review

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $299

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Very good performance
Exceptional ease of use
Accommodates typical turntables
Minus
No remote control

THE VERDICT
The Spinbase is a fulfilling high-performance alternative to an entry-level component-based stereo system.

At first glance, almost everything about the Andover Spinbase turntable speaker system seems wrong. Why? Audiophiles go to great lengths to make sure their turntable, a delicate vibration sensor, is isolated from external sources of mechanical vibration. But with the Spinbase, you plunk your turntable on top of the worst offender in a system—the speaker. That's a bit like asking a ballerina to do a pirouette while being tackled by the Green Bay Packers' offensive line.

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What Does Local Dimming Mean on a TV?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Vizio TV, model number D48f-E0. The company’s specs say that it’s a “Full Array LED Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Vizio TV, model number D48f-E0. The company’s specs say that it’s a “Full Array LED display.” It also has a “Backlight Control” in its picture settings menu that automatically dims or brightens the backlight during viewing. Is this feature the same thing as local dimming? I’m confused here — if backlight control and local dimming are separate features, what’s the difference between them? —James Paxton, via email

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Well, Here's Another Thing You Can Worry About

I know, I know. Your plate is full. I won't recite the litany of things already on your mind. We've already recited that list plenty of times. Speaking for myself, I religiously devote a solid hour every night, usually between the hours of 3 am and 4 am, to reciting the list. Well, here's another thing for the list: SSL certificates. In particular, they seem to be expiring.

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Jumanji: The Next Level

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Jumanji: The Next Level is an adventure-comedy with a winning cast featuring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. The plot is a bit formulaic and doesn't quite take this episode in the Jumanji franchise to the next level as stated, but the action is plentiful and there's enough humorous and family-friendly dialogue to keeps things moving apace. As far as Hollywood blockbusters go, Jumanji: The Next Level is a pretty good offering, with plenty of exciting stunts and special effects and high production values.

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Naim Adds Qobuz to Mu-so Gen 2 Wireless Speakers

British hi-fi firm Naim has added native support for Qobuz high-res music streaming to its 2nd generation Mu-so family wireless music systems, the Mu-so 2 and Mu-so Qb, both Sound & Vision 2019 Top Picks. The service is available now via an over-the-air firmware upgrade that users can download for free.

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S&V Poll: 4 in 10 Plan to Buy an 8K TV

In 8K: The Next Big Thing in Home Entertainment, Chris Chinnock, executive director of the 8K Association (8KA), makes the case for 8K even though programming is scarce and will likely remain so for some time. We asked readers to weigh in and have the results.

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16 Great Speakers to Buy Right Now

Speakers are the single most important link in the audio chain — one that defines the sonic character of your system, whether it’s a straight up stereo rig or a surround-sound movie setup. Great speakers put you in the front row of an intimate musical performance or draw you into a scene in an emotional (and sometimes harrowing) way. Here we spotlight 16 of Sound & Vision’s Top Picks, running the gamut from inexpensive wireless speakers to a selection of home theater systems featuring a suite of wireless speakers at one end and a stately six-piece setup at the other. The mix also highlights a couple stand-out subwoofers and soundbars as well as a handful of all-in-one wireless speakers, including one you can take outside.

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SVS SB-2000 Pro Subwoofer Review

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $899 (piano gloss black), $799 (black ash)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Big bass punch from a small form factor
Excellent value
Versatile smartphone control app
Minus
No auto-calibration/room EQ feature

THE VERDICT
The new SB-2000 Pro delivers big punch for a reasonable price, with tremendous fine-tuning capability offered by its smartphone control app.

With 12 different subwoofers in its line, I'm pretty certain that SVS makes more models than any other subwoofer manufacturer. In providing so many options, not only does the company cover a wide range of price points, but they can also offer subwoofers matched to different use cases, from high-end audiophile setups to big, slamming home theater rigs.

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Movies for a Summer Night

We all suffer through choosing a film to play for friends and family on a movie night. This might invariably include Joe and Ann from down the block, the neighborhood’s premier movie fans (apart from you!) who claim to have seen just about everything. Of course, most of what they’ve seen might have been on a 40-inch set (or even an old 27-inch, low definition CRT), constantly interrupted by commercials. Or perhaps new neighbor Bob from across the street, who hasn’t seen a movie in 20 years on anything but his computer — or not at all.

There’s no one answer to please everyone. And in today’s environment any such gathering will invariably be small. But I can at least offer a list of (I hope) intriguing selections from my Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray collection, either for now or later. Many are available for streaming as well, or even from a well-stocked local library. They follow no particular pattern and fit into many categories. I could produce other lists (and in the future likely will!), possibly dedicated to specific genres. But hopefully this will be a start. I’ve eliminated many favorites from this list because they’re either too long (such as Lawrence of Arabia) or demand experience with earlier films in a franchise or multi-movie saga to understand the story. In other words, don’t play Avengers: Endgame for someone who has never seen a Marvel film (and there are many who haven’t!).

The Prestige… Christopher Nolan has directed many titles worthy of inclusion here...

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PlayStation 5: Your New Ultra HD Blu-ray Player?

While interest in movies on disc continues to be strong even with the massive growth of streaming, there’s been a deficit of new disc players to choose from. We’ve recommended models from Panasonic and Pioneer semi-recently, but with no new Ultra HD Blu-ray players unveiled at CES 2020, there's nothing from that category in our review queue at present. Hmm, what about this new PlayStation 5 thing everyone’s been talking about?

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Do You Plan to Buy an 8K TV?

“8K is not overkill.” That was one of the key takeaways from last week’s interview with Chris Chinnock, executive director of the 8K Association (8KA). The additional pixels in an 8K TV screen — four times that of a 4K screen — help reduce digital artifacts to produce an image that’s cleaner, more realistic, and more emotionally impactful. “It is hard to argue that creating more emotional impact is not beneficial,” Chinnock says. “8K screens are clearly needed as screen sizes grow in order to maintain pixel density.” (Click here for the interview.)

Perhaps most compelling at this early juncture is the video upscaling capabilities of these new state-of-the-art sets, which draw on artificial intelligence (AI) to, as Chinnock puts it, “make lower resolution images look extraordinary.” And, yes, next-generation 8K technology is already being embraced by the top TV brands. Samsung, Sony, and LG have had 8K sets in their lineups for more than a year now — Samsung and LG offer 8K screens sizes from 65 to 88 inches at prices ranging from $3,200 to $30,000 — and other brands are ready to introduce 8K TVs later this year. All of which brings us to the question, does it make sense to buy an 8K TV before content is widely available? More to the point, do you plan to buy an 8K TV? Don’t forget to leave a comment to explain your choice!

Do You Plan to Buy an 8K TV?

Choices

Yes! I’m eager to take advantage of the new features and capabilities state-of-the-art 8K TVs bring to the table.

Yes, but I will wait until set prices come down and 8K programming is available.

I have no plans to buy an 8K TV now or in the immediate future.

I have no plans to buy an 8K TV but will reconsider when 8K programming becomes widely available.

Leave this field blank

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Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 1

It's around this time of year that a few disparate "guy" movies new to the format or re-released usually pop up on Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray. That's because, as I've said since the early DVD days, discs make fantastic gifts, and not just for Father's Day. But Sony chose a different path for 2020, opening the door of its vast and prestigious Columbia Pictures vault to debut six titles on 4K Blu-ray as the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 1.

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Father’s Day: A/V Deals to Die For

Let’s hear it for dad! When I was a kid, mine smoked in the car while driving my brothers and I to and from Little League baseball, cursed a blue streak, and would whap us upside the head if we dared cuss in his presence. But we knew he loved us unconditionally, and we loved him unconditionally back.

Haven’t sorted out your Father’s Day gift plans? We’ve got two great deals you should hear about.

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8K: The Next Big Thing in Home Entertainment

Life is good. You’re digging your big-screen Ultra HD TV, especially since you upgraded to a high dynamic range (HDR)-capable model that takes an already awesome picture and makes it even better. Add to that the expanding roster of 4K movies and TV shows you can stream or watch on disc and you’re all set. Which brings us to 8K, the next-generation TV format you’ve been hearing about — the one that delivers images four times more detailed than 4K. Sorry to rain on your parade, but as Chris Chinnock, executive director of the 8K Association (8KA), is quick to point out, 8K is about more than the 33 million pixels the format is capable of displaying: “For video-game producers and Hollywood directors, there will be so much more detail and realism that can be harnessed when telling visual stories. And as those stories are delivered to consumers, they will enjoy spectacular clarity, contrast, and color that will be possible only with 8K.” All reasons why Samsung, Sony, LG, and others have already embraced 8K and why Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) thinks upwards of 20 million 8K TVs will be sold worldwide over the next few years. We caught up with Chinnock to get a handle on where things stand with the fledgling format and get his take on what 8K brings to the table today.

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Face-Off: Noise-Canceling True Wireless Earbuds

While isolation is a novel and challenging concept for many folks during these strange times, isolation from external sound is considered nirvana by music aficionados. Also, donning a pair of cans or buds and turning the music up to 11 can provide a temporary turn-on, tune-in, drop-out emotional escape for those stuck in a sheltered-in-place household where everyone is getting on each other's nerves.

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Where to Stream Black Movies and Documentaries For Free

Hollywood studios, and streaming services are responding to the recent events following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing riots. Many movies, TV shows, and documentaries are free to stream during June to make it easier to learn about black culture, lifestyle, and history. Here's a rundown of what black movies are available and where to stream them.

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Should I Use My Subwoofer’s LFE or Line Input Connections?

Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Yamaha RX-A880 A/V receiver and a Polk Audio HTS-10 subwoofer. Can I connect the AVR's dual subwoofer outputs to the sub’s left/right Line In inputs instead of using its LFE input? Also, is there any benefit to connecting both the AVR’s subwoofer outputs to the HTS-10's LFE input using a Y-cable? —Power Bass / via email

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Yes, Deepfake Audio is Now a Thing

Well, it's official. I am throwing in the towel. My worldview has been shaken, stirred, crumbled, kneaded, blown apart, and reduced to its elemental atoms. Actually, at this point I'm down to the subatomic level. I think I just saw a quark go by.

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Top Gun

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One of my favorite movies from the 1980s, Top Gun stars Tom Cruise as Lt. Peter Mitchell, call sign "Maverick," a young hot-shot pilot picked to attend the prestigious "Top Gun" flight school and hone his air-to-air combat skills. Also appearing are Val Kilmer as "Iceman," Anthony Edwards as Maverick's RIO (radar intercept officer) "Goose," and Tim Robbins as "Merlin." Rounding out the cast is Kelly McGillis as Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood, a civilian instructor who is an expert on Russian aviation.

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McIntosh MAC-1900: The Original High End Stereo Receiver

Mainstream audio came into its own in the 1960s-70s. At the heart of every “stereo” was an indispensable predecessor to the modern day AVR — the receiver. Simple by today’s standards, the receiver of 40 years ago combined two channels of solid-state power, a preamp section with switching for a turntable and tape deck, and an AM/FM tuner in an impressive looking component with a gleaming faceplate featuring a prominent tuner display and a row of knobs, switches, and buttons.

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Denon Updates X-Series A/V Receiver Line

A return to regular? While there are always aspects of “regular life” that could benefit from change, getting back to our routines is something some of us could use right now, and what could be more routine—and reassuring—than an A/V receiver manufacturer updating its lineup with the latest tech? To that end, Denon has announced four additions to its X-Series A/V receiver family. Touted by the company as “the industry’s first 8K-ready A/V receivers,” the new models join the company’s AVR-X8500H, which lives on as the flagship X-Series receiver.

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Definitive Technology Demand D15 Speaker System Review

Performance
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $5,056 (as tested)

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Highly accurate sound
Impressive stereo image breadth
Solid center-channel reproduction
Well-controlled and moderately extended low end
Minus
Towers are sensitive to placement

THE VERDICT
A handsome system that sounds very good with just about everything, and with enough bass extension to satisfy most needs.

Tall, slim speakers are certainly in fashion, and it's hard to imagine many slimmer than Definitive Technology's new Demand Series D15 towers. Despite housing three 5.25-inch drivers (two carbon fiber woofers and a polypropylene midrange), a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter, and not one but two 8-inch side-firing passive radiators, the D15 measures just 6.5 inches wide and thus indeed requires its bolt-on aluminum bottom plinth to achieve stability.

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Movie Theaters Part II

It’s only been two months since I last opined on this topic, but things are never static in these interesting times. The subject of the survival of movie theaters, important not only to the movie industry but to the home video market as well, continues to evolve. Both industries, for better or worse, are dependent on the on the health of the film industry.

Some folks believe that the market for streamed movies will compensate for any permanent closing of theaters.

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HBO Max App Available on Sony Android TVs

When we reported on the launch of HBO Max last Wednesday, one shortcoming of the new service that we noted was spotty streaming hardware support. Smart TVs, in particular, had been left behind, with only one set manufacturer, Samsung, included in the list of supported devices on the HBO Max FAQ at launch. The day following our post, Sony reached out to share an announcement that the HBO Max app is now available on all Sony Android TVs released after 2015, upping the number of supported TV lines to two. But what about the other brands?

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