Shazam!

Picture
Sound
Extras

Marvel has undeniably defined the modern comic book movie universe. As a consequence, much of Shazam!, the latest effort from rival DC, feels clichéd, and not just by superhero standards. Good young protagonists facing adversity, otherworldly forces granting extraordinary abilities, bullies who ultimately get theirs— it's all here. Shazam! even borders on outright theft with an end credit sequence straight out of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/shazam

HiFiMan Ananda-BT Headphones Arrive

Headphone-maker HiFiMan is now shipping its new Ananda-BT, a Bluetooth version of its popular Ananda planar magnetic headphones.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hifiman-ananda-bt-headphones-arrive

Is it Legal to Copy Blu-ray Discs to a Hard Drive?

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

Q What are the realistic and/or legal options (if any) for transferring a collection of DVD and Blu-ray discs to a server or hard drive? Can this be done while maintaining full quality? Is iTunes an option? I have a Mac computer connected to my TV if that helps. —Kenny Youngers, via email

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/it-legal-copy-blu-ray-discs-hard-drive

New Fire TV and Echo Devices as Alexa Gets Emotional

Amazon has announced new Fire TV devices and a slew of new Echo devices and features. There’s a new generation of the Fire TV cube and an Anker soundbar with Fire TV built-in and several new editions of Echo speakers. The Echo Studio speaker is a step up from the others as it has been designed to reproduce 3D HD music and movie sound. And, Alexa is getting emotional.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/new-fire-tv-and-echo-devices-alexa-gets-emotional

Cary Audio DMS-550 Network Audio Player Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $5,495

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive sound quality
Extensive feature set
Flexible control app
Minus
Limited remote control IR range
Pricey

THE VERDICT
With its extensive features and flexible sound output options, Cary Audio's DMS-550 network audio player represents digital audio playback done right.

Network audio players are an emerging component category aimed at audiophiles who have made a full leap into music streaming. Many such components can also act as a preamplifier by accommodating externally connected sources such as a CD player or turntable and passing on a line-level signal to an amplifier. Because they are network-connected, streaming high-res audio files from a computer or NAS is also on the features menu, and higher-end models are often Roon Ready and MQA Certified.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/cary-audio-dms-550-network-audio-player-review

TiVo’s New Edge DVR Supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos Sound

TV time-shifters, rejoice: TiVo has announced a new DVR, the TiVo Edge, along with a new streaming video service, the TiVo+ network, to go with it.

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/tivo-s-new-edge-dvr-supports-dolby-vision-hdr-and-dolby-atmos-sound

TV Technology and Prices: Then and Now

In a recent review, not yet published, I opened with a few remarks on the cost of today's premium Ultra HDTVs. Are they much more expensive than they were decades ago when adjusted for inflation? It's question worth revisiting in more detail.

In the early 1970s a good, 21-inch console color television might cost you $500. In today's money that would be around $3300

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https://www.soundandvision.com/content/tv-technology-and-prices-then-and-now