Nobody

Picture
Sound
Extras

Universal Studios needn't have advertised on Nobody's disc cover that it sprang from the mind of Derek Kolstad, writer of John Wick, since it's at its core the same movie. And that's not such a bad thing, since the erstwhile-enforcer-makes-a-violent-comeback formula is a winning one. This time the story lives or dies on the substantial charm of star Bob Odenkirk, who for the most part keeps his renowned comedic chops under wraps, instead allowing the humor to grow from the incongruity of suburban schlemiel Hutch's explosive and deadly skills.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nobody

Best Gear of July 2021

We hope you’re enjoying the dog days of summer along with a return to some semblance of pre-pandemic normal even as the COVID-19 Delta variant threatens a return to mask-wearing protocols. Meanwhile, here at Sound & Vision we continue to pursue the latest audio and video offerings with an eye toward isolating gear that rises above the pack. In July, our efforts were duly rewarded with an impressive soundbar that can be had for less than $200 and a compact subwoofer that plays remarkably low and loud. Our testing also uncovered a reference-quality DAC that doubles as a streaming media player and a new flagship speaker from one of Canada’s top audio brands. Let’s take a closer look.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/best-gear-july-2021

Confused: How Do I Connect a DAC to my AVR?

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

Q I own a Marantz SR6013 A/V receiver and use it for both video switching and audio amplification. For video, I mostly watch Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. For music, I mostly stream from the Tidal service using the Marantz receiver’s built-in HEOS app. I would like to buy an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports MQA but am confused about the connections and the control app. After checking out my Marantz AVR’s back panel, I see two coaxial and optical digital inputs, but no digital outputs to connect the DAC, so maybe using an external DAC with the AVR is not possible. Am I missing something? —Rod McClaskey, via email

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/confused-how-do-i-connect-dac-my-avr

Roku Streambar Pro Soundbar Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $180

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Room-filling sound
Enhances dialogue
Built-in Roku streaming interface
Minus
None worth noting

THE VERDICT
The Roku Streambar Pro offers a considerable sound upgrade over a TV's internal speakers and comes with the company's comprehensive streaming platform built-in.

Soundbars are popular for a good reason. The speakers in a typical flat panel TVs sound puny compared with the visual sway of increasingly larger, higher-resolution displays. Also, since not every viewing room can accommodate the separate components of a home theater, a narrow-footprint soundbar solves the problem of raising the impact of the audio and it does so with one cable.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/roku-streambar-pro-soundbar-review

Customizable 2020 Tokyo Olympics Streaming on Roku and Comcast

Roku and Comcast/NBCUniversal have created the best Olympics streaming experience so far. Curated and aggregated videos of highlights, live events, background stories, and every sports competition can be accessed on one screen available only on Roku TVs and players and Comcast Xfinity X1.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/customizable-2020-tokyo-olympics-streaming-roku-and-comcast

Klipsch Celebrates 75 Years with Upscale Soundbars

As part of its ongoing 75th anniversary celebration, Klipsch is upscaling its presence in soundbars with four new systems designed to evoke its Reference series of home theater speakers.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/klipsch-celebrates-75-years-new-upscale-soundbars

Not Coming Soon to a Channel Near You

I really, really would like to be an astronaut on the International Space Station. Wonderful views. Free parking. Cool science experiments to play with. Not feeling guilty about those extra pounds. Ability to work at home. And, best of all, I would be free of the hassle of Covid here on planet earth.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/not-coming-soon-channel-near-you

Remaster Class: Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John was in the zone. The piano prodigy and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were in the midst of an almost decade-long creative mindmeld, and October 1973's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was the apex of their collaboration. The initially unintended double album's 17 songs covered the gamut from nostalgic reverie for days gone by (the title track, the indelible "Candle in the Wind") to pumped-up '70s-style electric-boot rockers ("Bennie and the Jets," "All the Girls Love Alice"), and everything in between.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/remaster-class-elton-john-goodbye-yellow-brick-road

A Guide to Projection Screens

Today's projection screen scene is far more complex and competitive than it was even a short 10 years ago, with numerous companies now offering a wide range of screen types at various shapes, sizes, and prices. Narrowing the options requires research, together with careful consideration of your specific needs and viewing environment. How tightly can room lighting be controlled? How big does the image need to be? What is the preferred aspect ratio? Should the screen's frame be fixed or retractable? Finally, how do today's high dynamic range (HDR) requirements—unknown a decade ago—figure into the choice?

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/guide-projection-screens

Indiana Jones in 4K

We've fretted a lot (or at least some of us have) over the growth of streaming because it threatens the survival of packaged media—having your favorite films readily available on Blu-ray or UltraHD Blu-ray, at the highest possible consumer quality, sitting on your bookshelf where no tools from a streaming service with cancellation orders can barge in and carry them away (at least not yet!).

But the death of packaged media may have been prematurely reported. Not only do new titles continue to be released, but classic films are now turning up with increasing frequency in 4K, as studios recognize that selling us our existing discs all over again is still a viable concept. Eeven Criterion is rumored to be planning 4K releases. The fact that 4K Blu-rays are region free, making them playable all over the world and thereby vastly increasing the market for them without the need for mastering and stocking multiple versions, is icing on the cake. Ever notice that some 4K releases, including those to be reviewed here, offer more than a dozen languages?

Throw in the fact that some world regions are poorly served by streaming, plus the resistance by some buyers to sign up for a growing list of for-pay streaming services (adding up to more than the cable charges they were seeking to avoid!) and you have an new marketing plan for packaged media.

Many of the new 4K releases combine multiple titles sold together...

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/indiana-jones-4k

Evolution of the App Part 2

My previous column covered ways to control both a modern A/V system and a smart home using various manufacturer-supplied apps. With smartphone and tablet use now widespread, and smart devices capable of being controlled via free iOS and Android apps proliferating, app-based control has also surged. Whether you’re streaming music, controlling your A/V receiver, or managing your home’s energy or security systems, there’s now an app that can help you to do it smarter, better, and more easily. And since most people are now in the habit of carrying their phones 24/7, they basically have a full-blown system controller in their pocket at all times.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/evolution-app-part-2

Secrets & Lies

Picture
Sound
Extras

As a kid in England in the late 1970s, I loathed director Mike Leigh's BBC TV dramas about what seemed like the drab lives of dull, ordinary people because they lacked the glamour and drive of Hollywood classics. Years later, I became enthralled with the pathos of universal pain and struggle shown in Leigh's Secrets & Lies, a microcosm of real relationships and feelings that is as moving and massively encompassing as any film I've seen.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/secrets-lies

2021 Midyear Roundup: News & Gear

Ah, summertime… Life has more or less returned to normal and we’re finally getting back to our pre-COVID-19 lives but the effects of the Great Pandemic linger — and I’m not talking about the Delta variant causing worry in some quarters. No, I’m talking about global chip shortages and shipping delays that continue to constrain the availability of a whole host of new electronics products. The upshot: As we head in to the dogs days of summer we’re seeing fewer new product announcements than usual, though there is still plenty to keep tabs on. Let’s take a look…

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/2021-midyear-roundup-news-gear

Hands-On: Apple Music Lossless and High-Res Lossless

Apple Music Lossless streaming is now live with an ever-growing library of songs available in Lossless and some in High-Resolution Lossless audio formats. While Lossless is available at no extra charge to Apple Music subscribers, there are a few things you need to know before experiencing these premium-quality offerings.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hands-apple-music-lossless-and-high-res-lossless

PSB Synchrony T600 Loudspeaker Review

Performance
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $7,999/pair

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Open, detailed sound
Powerful bass
Excellent build quality
Minus
Somewhat pricey
Matching Synchrony center speaker not yet available

THE VERDICT
With Canadian speaker maker PSB's 50th anniversary on the horizon, the company's new flagship Synchrony T600 tower is cause for celebration.

PSB Speakers was founded by Paul Barton in 1972. While the brand has long been part of the Canada- based Lenbrook Group, which also includes NAD and Bluesound, Barton began as and remains PSB's chief designer, cook, bottle washer, and one of the most respected speaker authorities in the industry. His work, including the new Synchrony T600 under review here, has long made use of the Canadian National Research Council's (NRC) audio testing facilities, including its anechoic chamber.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/psb-synchrony-t600-loudspeaker-review

Definitive Technology Introduces Descend Series Subs

It’s been some time since Definitive Technology rolled out a new line of subwoofers, but the new Descend Series lineup the company announced today looks worth the wait. The Descend family consists of 15-, 12, 10-, and 8-inch sealed models, each featuring a “3XR” driver array that couples an active driver with a pair of passive radiators.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-introduces-descend-series-subs

Elac to Start Shipping Reference Speakers This Week

Germany’s Elac plans to start shipping the recently announced Uni-Fi Reference series of speakers this week. The line builds on the success of its highly rated Uni-Fi 2.0 series.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/elac-start-shipping-reference-speakers-week

Receiving the Zombie Apocalypse

Those poor dumb bastards didn't make it. But you did. At least so far. Every night, when the Zeke's come out to play, it gets pretty intense – all alone in your basement, crouching in the darkness. If only there was some way to connect to the outside world. There must be other survivors, but where are they? Fortunately, you remember a blog you once read.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/receiving-zombie-apocalypse

Al Stewart: Year of the Cat: 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Performance
Sound

Al Stewart is the kind of seasoned artist known for being well worth the wait. The Scottish-born and London-bred Stewart initially focused on mining a folk-driven vein when he made his debut with October 1967's orchestrally buttressed Bed Sitter Images, and it took the burgeoning singer/songwriter five more albums and another eight years until he truly hit his stride with March 1975's Modern Times.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/al-stewart-year-cat-45th-anniversary-deluxe-edition

Midyear Review: Best Gear of 2021

With a little over six months under our belts — and COVID now thankfully behind us — now is the perfect time to review our Top Picks for the first half of the year. In all, we’ve highlighted more than two dozen products that have made the cut.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/midyear-review-best-gear-2021

Masterclass Acts at the Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp

The Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp changed its tune during the pandemic from offering in-person seminars with stars to streaming Masterclass sessions. In many ways, the shift broadened the scope of what the Camp has to offer.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/masterclass-acts-rock-n-roll-fantasy-camp

Simaudio Moon 280D Streaming DAC Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $3,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Outstanding performance and build quality
Wireless multiroom streaming-capable
Roon Ready and AirPlay 2-compatible
Minus
Lacks front panel display
No HDMI input

THE VERDICT
Simaudio's Moon 280D is a bit light on features when compared with its wireless network music streamer/DAC competition, but it offers exceptional build quality and audiophile-grade sound.

Simaudio, an audio manufacturer located in Quebec, Canada is well-known for both the build quality of its products and the whopping ten-year warranty it offers. Many of the company's wares are decidedly high-end—the 230-pound Moon 888 monoblock amplifier ($118,888 per pair), which is rated to output a massive 888 watts at 8 ohms and double that down to 1,776 watts at 4 ohms, for example.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/simaudio-moon-280d-streaming-dac-review

Cleanup On Aisle A/V

Remember the scene in Oblivion where Jack cues up a record in his secret hideaway? I could expand here on the ratty condition of the record sleeves, but I'm referring instead to the clump of dust on the stylus—the "needle" for the analog-deprived. In the movie world, and in the absence of a proper stylus brush, he might use a finger swipe to clean it off (yikes!), but since he (and the movie's art director) has only recently experienced the vinyl enlightenment if at all, and in the absence of a proper stylus brush, he simply ignores it. The record plays nevertheless.

But this tome isn't about vinyl. It's about the sticky business of keeping our audio-video systems relatively tidy. Working on this should be at least an annual event for every A/V fan, and for the inveterate tweaker and/or reviewer it should happen even more often.

Begin with the equipment stand or rack...

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/cleanup-aisle-av

Genuine But Better: How Bob Clearmountain Mixes The Band in Surround

Bob Clearmountain knows how to move mountains with his mixes. Ok, ok, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit here—but the fact is, Clearmountain has been a go-to mixer/engineer/producer for A-list musicians for decades, having shepherded the sound of landmark albums by artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Bryan Adams, and Roxy Music. (And that barely scratches the surface of his top-shelf mixing C.V., btw.)

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/genuine-better-how-bob-clearmountain-mixes-band-surround

A Hi-Res Call to Arms

15 Minutes with Jon Kiachian, VP, Hearing Health Technologies at Knowles Corp.

Jon Kiachian has spent the past 16 years working with the likes of National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments in technology-management positions. Today he is a vice president and general manager at Knowles, the global company responsible for developing the tiny microphones that allowed us to hear sound from the surface of Mars earlier this year. Kiachian oversees the business unit that develops technology to improve sound quality in a variety of electronics devices — a pursuit that’s more important than ever as high-resolution (hi-res) music reaches the masses through the likes of Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and other streaming services. In his role at Knowles, Kiachian has become a hi-res evangelist of sorts who believes audiophiles are “duty bound” to convince the millions of listeners who settle for bad sound that there’s a better option — a way to make the music they love really come alive.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hi-res-call-arms

SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer Review

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Highly compact form factor
Notable extension and output for size
Excellent control app
Minus
No auto-EQ/correction

THE VERDICT
The first micro model from sub specialist SVS features the company's well-regarded control app, and it delivers all the bass most people will need while not taking up much space.

Once upon a time, there were three bears, with three subwoofers. You probably can guess how this story ends.

Designing a subwoofer is simple: big box, big driver, powerful amplifier. You wind up with something the size of a small refrigerator, but it does the job. Designing a good miniature subwoofer is a bigger engineering challenge, but the recipe is also fairly well known: small box, very powerful amplifier, small drivers with lots and lots of excursion, or throw.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/svs-3000-micro-subwoofer-review

LG Rolls Out QNED Mini-LED TVs, Announces Dolby Vision Update

LG announced pricing and availability for the LCD-based QNED TVs it previewed at CES 2021 and has started rolling out a firmware update that adds support for Dolby Vision high-dynamic range (HDR) at 4K/120 Hz to a number of its TVs.

from
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/lg-rolls-out-qned-mini-led-tvs-announces-dolby-vision-update

Genuine But Better: How Bob Clearmountain Mixes The Band in Surround

Bob Clearmountain knows how to move mountains with his mixes. Ok, ok, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit here—but the fact is, Clearmountain has been a go-to mixer/engineer/producer for A-list musicians for decades, having shepherded the sound of landmark albums by artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Bryan Adams, and Roxy Music. (And that barely scratches the surface of his top-shelf mixing C.V., btw.)

from
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/genuine-better-how-bob-clearmountain-mixes-band-surround

A Hi-Res Call to Arms

15 Minutes with Jon Kiachian, VP, Hearing Health Technologies at Knowles Corp.

Jon Kiachian has spent the past 16 years working with the likes of National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments in technology-management positions. Today he is a vice president and general manager at Knowles, the global company responsible for developing the tiny microphones that allowed us to hear sound from the surface of Mars earlier this year. Kiachian oversees the business unit that develops technology to improve sound quality in a variety of electronics devices — a pursuit that’s more important than ever as high-resolution (hi-res) music reaches the masses through the likes of Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and other streaming services. In his role at Knowles, Kiachian has become a hi-res evangelist of sorts who believes audiophiles are “duty bound” to convince the millions of listeners who settle for bad sound that there’s a better option — a way to make the music they love really come alive.

from
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/hi-res-call-arms

SVS 3000 Micro Subwoofer Review

Performance
Features
Build Quality
Value

PRICE $800

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Highly compact form factor
Notable extension and output for size
Excellent control app
Minus
No auto-EQ/correction

THE VERDICT
The first micro model from sub specialist SVS features the company's well-regarded control app, and it delivers all the bass most people will need while not taking up much space.

Once upon a time, there were three bears, with three subwoofers. You probably can guess how this story ends.

Designing a subwoofer is simple: big box, big driver, powerful amplifier. You wind up with something the size of a small refrigerator, but it does the job. Designing a good miniature subwoofer is a bigger engineering challenge, but the recipe is also fairly well known: small box, very powerful amplifier, small drivers with lots and lots of excursion, or throw.

from
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/svs-3000-micro-subwoofer-review

Dynaudio Updates Entry-Level Emit Speaker Series

Danish speaker specialist Dynaudio has updated its entry-level Emit series with five models ranging in price from $799 to $2,249/pair.

from
http://www.soundandvision.com/content/dynaudio-updates-entry-level-emit-speaker-series

LG Rolls Out QNED Mini-LED TVs, Announces Dolby Vision Update

LG announced pricing and availability for the LCD-based QNED TVs it previewed at CES 2021 and has started rolling out a firmware update that adds support for Dolby Vision high-dynamic range (HDR) at 4K/120 Hz to a number of its TVs.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/lg-rolls-out-qned-mini-led-tvs-announces-dolby-vision-update

Genuine But Better: How Bob Clearmountain Mixes The Band in Surround

Bob Clearmountain knows how to move mountains with his mixes. Ok, ok, maybe I'm exaggerating just a little bit here—but the fact is, Clearmountain has been a go-to mixer/engineer/producer for A-list musicians for decades, having shepherded the sound of landmark albums by artists like Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Bryan Adams, and Roxy Music. (And that barely scratches the surface of his top-shelf mixing C.V., btw.)

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/genuine-better-how-bob-clearmountain-mixes-band-surround

A Hi-Res Call to Arms

15 Minutes with Jon Kiachian, VP, Hearing Health Technologies at Knowles Corp.

Jon Kiachian has spent the past 16 years working with the likes of National Semiconductor and Texas Instruments in technology-management positions. Today he is a vice president and general manager at Knowles, the global company responsible for developing the tiny microphones that allowed us to hear sound from the surface of Mars earlier this year. Kiachian oversees the business unit that develops technology to improve sound quality in a variety of electronics devices — a pursuit that’s more important than ever as high-resolution (hi-res) music reaches the masses through the likes of Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, and other streaming services. In his role at Knowles, Kiachian has become a hi-res evangelist of sorts who believes audiophiles are “duty bound” to convince the millions of listeners who settle for bad sound that there’s a better option — a way to make the music they love really come alive.

from
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hi-res-call-arms