300

Picture
Sound
Extras

Inspired by the 1962 Cinemascope epic The 300 Spartans that he saw as a lad, writer/artist Frank Miller would go on to create the five-issue graphic novel 300, a wildly stylized, heavily fictionalized account of the Battle of Thermopylae. In his telling, full of indelible images and gruesome violence, the historical events of brave King Leonidas and his 15-score soldiers' resistance against an innumerable horde are elevated to nigh-mythological status. Led by the self-proclaimed god-king Xerxes, Persia was mercilessly conquering much of the world, but the willful Spartans, still renowned as the greatest warriors ever, dared to stand their ground.

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Best Gear of November 2020

As pandemic panic sweeps across the nation, we look for inspiration from the approaching Winter Solstice and ever-resilient holiday spirit. In recent weeks we found some in a handful of exemplary A/V products, including one that puts your father’s video projection system on a bold new path. All are certified Sound & Vision Top Picks and all are ready to ignite your imagination. Here’s to making the best of a trying situation with hopes for smaller yet meaningful gatherings with family and friends on this national holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Epson LS500 4K Laser Projection TV Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $4,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Bright, living room-friendly image
Packaged with easy to assemble screen
Plentiful picture adjustment options
Minus
Limited contrast and color space coverage
High fan noise in Normal Light Output mode
Basic remote control

THE VERDICT
With its powerful brightness and impressive overall picture, Epson's LS500 offers a compelling alternative to pricey oversize flat-panel TVs.

Remember the rear-projection TV (RPTV)? RPTVs were big, boxy contraptions housing a projector that beamed an image at the rear of a screen mounted on the set's front surface. While necessarily inelegant compared with the sleek flat-panel TVs that eventually replaced them, the RPTV in its heyday solved the problem of getting a big image—screen sizes topped out around 80-inches—without having to resort to a room-dominating two-piece system with a ceiling-mounted projector and separate screen.

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Finding and Streaming Holiday Movies

In a year when the world is crazy, a binge on holiday movies may be the best way to keep spirits bright. New streaming services have made it harder to find classic titles as licensing rights expire, and content is shuffled from one app to another. If you’re growing tired of the same movies, you’ll find Netflix has created sequels to last year’s Holiday hits originals. If live performances have been your family tradition, you can share some holiday culture with virtual streaming events.

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SVS Discounts 2000 Series Subs for Black Friday

Here's your chance to get a seismic deal on a serious sub. Subwoofer and speaker-maker SVS is having a Black Friday sale on its 2000 Series subs, discounting its SB-2000 sealed cabinet model to $500 from $700, and its PB-2000 model to $600 from $800. According to SVS, supplies of both models are limited and the deal will continue until all inventory is sold out.

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The Lasso of Truth

You are in a real pickle. You've borrowed money for your project, and persuaded other people to invest their money as well. Everyone expects a return. The product is finished and ready to launch. Then there is a delay. Then another delay. And another. Everyone is getting antsy. What should you do?

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Paul McCartney: Flaming Pie - Archive Collection Deluxe Edition

Performance
Sound

I've always looked at Paul McCartney's post-Beatles career—now getting into its sixth decade—as being on a sine wave. When's he's at the top of his game, he's at the apex (Band on the Run, Flowers in the Dirt), and when he's off the mark, he's at the nadir (Give My Regards to Broad Street, Press to Play).

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The State of HDMI 2.1

15 Minutes with HDMI Forum President David Glen

Three years ago the HDMI Forum released the highly anticipated Version 2.1 of the HDMI specification, which paved the way for a major boost in A/V performance with support for higher video resolutions, high-dynamic range (HDR), and increased bandwidth plus important features like variable refresh rates (VRR) for gaming and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for simplifying system setup. We recently caught up with Forum president David Glen to get an update on where HDMI stands today and where it’s going in the future.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/state-hdmi-21

Buy Once, Cry Once: How to Plan Your AV Budget

Buy once, cry once. You might be familiar with that old adage, which is used to describe the purchase of a high-cost item that entails upfront financial “pain,” but with no need to buy again in the future due to the superior craftsmanship and build quality. It’s often associated with tools and watches but works quite well for A/V gear.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/buy-once-cry-once-how-plan-your-av-budget

Def Tech, Polk Audio Speakers Get IMAX Enhanced Certification

Definitive Technology and Polk Audio parent company Sound United has announced that several speaker models from both brands are the first to become IMAX Enhanced certified. The newly certified speakers include the Definitive Technology Demand D17, D15, and D5c, and Polk Audio Legend L800, L600, and L400.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/def-tech-polk-speakers-get-imax-enhanced-certification

Making a Choice: AVRs vs. Separate Components

Anyone who has had more than a day’s exposure to home theater knows that the heart of any system is the A/V receiver or similar device(s). This doesn’t necessarily mean basic sound quality per se (more on that below). But it’s at the center of the system where everything comes together—the sources at its inputs and the speakers and room at its outputs. The A/V electronics can make or break any system with regard to its ultimate capabilities— its convenience in use, the number of channels it offers, its ergonomics, its features, and much more. It’s also the component that’s most likely to be overtaken by new developments, putting it behind the times even if it’s still functional. It might last a decade or more and still produce satisfying sound, but if things keep moving as fast they have in the recent past there could well be new features that eventually render it functionally obsolete. At least one manufacturer, NAD, builds its AVRs with removable modules for later upgrades, but even so there might be future developments beyond its reach. There’s no such thing as absolute future-proofing (if there were, the company offering it might well go out of business!).

But before you consider any of these things you’ll need to decide between a A/V receiver (AVR) or a preamp-processor (pre-pro)...

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Focal Releases Aria K2 936 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

France’s Focal, maker of speakers ranging from affordable home theater models to high-end exotica, has introduced an updated version of its Aria 936 floorstander, the Aria K2 936.

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JBL HDI-3600 Loudspeaker Review

Performance
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $3,800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive looks and build quality
Plays loud effortlessly
Wide imaging capability
Minus
Requires careful amp-matching
Fussy about setup and placement

THE VERDICT
JBL's upscale-looking HDI-3600 tower speaker delivers effortless, fatigue-free sound.

When I first ran across JBL's HDI series loudspeakers at the 2019 CEDIA Expo, I was struck by the line's upscale looks and substantial build quality. The brand's new speakers seemed more akin to the Revel models also being shown in parent-company Harman's sprawling booth than the budget-priced JBL Stage series towers Sound & Vision had reviewed earlier that year.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/jbl-hdi-3600-loudspeaker-review

Def Tech, Polk Audio Speakers Get IMAX Enhanced Certification

Definitive Technology and Polk Audio parent company Sound United has announced that several speaker models from both brands are the first to become IMAX Enhanced certified. The newly certified speakers include the Definitive Technology Demand D17, D15, and D5c, and Polk Audio Legend L800, L600, and L400.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/def-tech-polk-speakers-get-imax-enhanced-certification

Making a Choice: AVRs vs. Separate Components

Anyone who has had more than a day’s exposure to home theater knows that the heart of any system is the A/V receiver or similar device(s). This doesn’t necessarily mean basic sound quality per se (more on that below). But it’s at the center of the system where everything comes together—the sources at its inputs and the speakers and room at its outputs. The A/V electronics can make or break any system with regard to its ultimate capabilities— its convenience in use, the number of channels it offers, its ergonomics, its features, and much more. It’s also the component that’s most likely to be overtaken by new developments, putting it behind the times even if it’s still functional. It might last a decade or more and still produce satisfying sound, but if things keep moving as fast they have in the recent past there could well be new features that eventually render it functionally obsolete. At least one manufacturer, NAD, builds its AVRs with removable modules for later upgrades, but even so there might be future developments beyond its reach. There’s no such thing as absolute future-proofing (if there were, the company offering it might well go out of business!).

But before you consider any of these things you’ll need to decide between a A/V receiver (AVR) or a preamp-processor (pre-pro)...

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/making-choice-avrs-and-separates

Focal Releases Aria K2 936 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

France’s Focal, maker of speakers ranging from affordable home theater models to high-end exotica, has introduced an updated version of its Aria 936 floorstander, the Aria K2 936.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/focal-releases-aria-k2-936-floorstanding-loudspeaker

Jakko M. Jakszyk Balances Secrets, Lies & King Crimson

Like most musicians, Jakko M. Jaksyzk was not planning on spending the bulk of 2020 at home. For one thing, the celebrated progressive-leaning British guitarist/vocalist was more than ready to continue with King Crimson's ongoing 50th anniversary tour that had begun in earnest in 2019. (Sidenote: most of Crimson's 2020 dates have since been reset for 2021.). Not only that, Jaksyzk had composed a short set of experimental, narrative performance pieces that were commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for him to perform solo during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, but that event was also scotched.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/jakko-m-jakszyk-balances-secrets-lies-king-crimson

Product News: Fall 2020 Edition

With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, the 2020 Holiday Season is well underway as pandemic-wary shoppers scramble to place online orders to ensure gifts are delivered before Christmas. Whether you plan to shop online, mask up and hit the stores, or opt for “contactless delivery” or curbside pickup, there are plenty of new A/V products to consider. From a newly ISF-certified projection screen to a hi-res music streamer that can be had for $129 to a unique speaker that finds a crazy new application for the tried-and-true acoustic diffuser, we take a look at some of the new gear A/V makers have introduced in recent weeks with high hopes of making your holiday list.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/product-news-fall-2020-edition

Nugs.Net Opens Floodgates to Live Hi-Res Recordings

Keep those bootleg LPs in storage — nugs.net opens the floodgates for access to scores of live hi-res recordings from many of our favorite artists.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nugsnet-opens-floodgates-live-hi-res-recordings

Hands On: Roku Ultra 2020

The 2020 Roku Ultra has upped its performance and added new features with the RokuOS 9.4 upgrade. Here's how to set up AirPlay and HomeKit along with some fun browsing tips in Fandango.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hands-roku-ultra-2020

Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2-channel A/V Receiver Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $2,499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Superb performance
Pre-amplifier Mode
Excellent onscreen setup guidance
Minus
Runs hot
Non-backlit remote

THE VERDICT
Denon’s 11-channel AVR does its formidable job with great style. It may have a few quirks, but none detract from its exceptional audio and video performance.

Denon's AVR-X6700H, made in Japan, is one of four new models in the company's X-Series A/V receiver family. The new models start at $849 for the AVR-X2700H and extend up to $2,499 for the AVR-X6700H under review here. (The company's current $4,000 AVR-X8500H carries on as the X-Series flagship.) The AVR-X6700H is notable for its next-gen HDMI 2.1 connectivity, which supports pass-through of 8K video and multiple gaming-oriented features.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/denon-avr-x6700h-112-channel-av-receiver-review

A Different Kind of Streaming

My prayers have been answered. Ever since I was a small boy, I have wanted this. Every day at school I filled my notebooks with scribbled diagrams of my dreams. My teachers thought I was crazy. But now, my dreams have come true. I pinch myself in disbelief as I say this – humanity has been gifted with a water-powered loudspeaker.

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Remaster Class: Supertramp: Crime of the Century

The third time was truly the charm for Supertramp. After two middling misfires, the British quintet's third LP, September 1974's Crime of the Century, vaulted them into the big leagues where progressive-leaning tendencies met not-so-subversive pop sensibilities head-on. Over the course of eight songs, Supertramp took full advantage of the dynamic range of tracks like "School" (punctuated by multiple piano bursts and yelping schoolchildren), "Bloody Well Right" (its razor-sharp guitar line wafting from back- ground to foreground and back like a talkbox in a tsunami), and the ascendant, power-packed rage of the title track (with a final lyrical twist worthy of the last episode of The Prisoner).

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/remaster-class-supertramp-crime-century

Making Tech History: 8K Video Replay Debuts Tonight at Levi’s Stadium

A first-of-its-kind 8K video replay system debuts at Levi Stadium tonight where the San Francisco 49ers meet the Green Bay Packers. We go behind the scenes to learn about a new five-camera system that promises "incomparable digital zoom without pixilation" and full-field coverage with clear views of all goal lines and sidelines.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/making-tech-history-8k-video-replay-debuts-tonight-levi-s-stadium

Can I Stream in High-Res Through My A/V Receiver?

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

Q I’ve always been interested in streaming high-resolution audio through my Denon AVR-4300H receiver, but don’t know if that’s possible. Although I mainly listen to music on Spotify and Pandora, I tried Tidal and Amazon Music HD but couldn’t figure out how to stream the tracks in high resolution. What options do I have, if any? —Mark Levesque, via email

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NAD Masters M33 Streaming Integrated Amplifier Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $4,999

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Reference-quality power and D-to-A conversion
Excellent on-board phono section
Onboard Dirac Live room correction
Minus
Coarse “app” volume control steps
No USB type-B port for computer connection
Occasionally wonky AirPlay 2 streaming

THE VERDICT
The M33 combines state-of-the- art sound, power, and broad functionality in an elegantly conceived package.

Boy, has NAD come a long way. Back in 1978, the Canadian/ American/Euro multinational's first product was an unassuming but great-sounding little 20-watt integrated amplifier in a plain gray sheetmetal box, with controls that had all the sophisticated feel of a Kenner Easy-Bake Oven.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nad-masters-m33-streaming-integrated-amplifier-review

Epson Launches Under-$1,000 Home Theater Projectors

Winter is coming, and it looks like many of us will be spending even more time at home than usual during the approaching cold-weather months. If that prospect causes you to shiver, here’s happy news: Epson has expanded its 3LCD Home Cinema projector with four new 1080p models, all selling for less than $1,000. With prices like that, setting up a high-def home theater has become an eminently affordable prospect.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/epson-launches-under-1000-home-theater-projectors

Back to the Future—Again

The slipcover to the new release of the Back to the Future trilogy, just released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for the first time, refers to the threesome as the “most popular movie series of all time.” I’m not sure about that; the trilogies of The Lord of the Rings and the original Star Wars (episodes 4, 5, and 6 in George Lucas’ bizarre numbering system) might have something to say about that. But The Lord of the Rings is a long slog for some viewers, running over 10 hours in its extended versions. And Return of the Jedi, episode 6 of Star Wars, with its army of cuddly teddy bears (can you say merchandizing?) was too cutesy by half.

But both of the latter trilogies were essentially serious endeavors, their heroes battling evil. Back to the Future, on the other hand, is a tongue-in cheek romp.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/back-future-again

Anthem Unveils New A/V Processors, Receivers, Amps

Canadian A/V electronics maker Anthem has announced a comprehensive refresh of its AVM processor, MRX receiver, and MCA amplifier lines. Estimated to ship in December, the new arrivals consist of a pair of preamp-processors, a trio of receivers, and power amps in 2-, 3-, and 5-channel configurations.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/anthem-unveils-new-av-processors-receivers-and-amplifiers