Marantz SR6011 9.2 Channel 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver Preview

Can't wait for the new line of multi channel, 4k ultra enabled, 3D sound receivers to come out this fall? Good news! Marantz has already announced the release of their new SR6011; a 9.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Surround Receiver with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DTS:X, and Dolby Atmos. With all these new features, Audyssey room correction, and the ability for 11.2 channel processing you may have to have Christmas in September. Check out this new powerhouse from our friends at Marantz.

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Hulu Drops Free Streaming but Yahoo Picks it Up

Hulu is ending free streaming of TV shows on its website but is partnering with Yahoo View to stream on a limited basis.

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Sony Expands Hi-Res Listening at Magnolia

Sony and Best Buy today announced that Sony Hi-Res Listening Stations are being expanded to more than 250 additional Magnolia Home Theater locations around the country.

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Hi-Fi In The Sky

Patio or yard space is always hard to come by in Manhattan, so if you're lucky enough to get some, you'd better make the most of it. For one well-to-do Fifth Avenue apartment dweller, that meant more than just tossing some outdoor furniture on his rooftop deck. As a music and movie lover, he was already enjoying some very fine audio/video gear in his living room, including a superb two-channel music system sourced by a Linn turntable and a Naim CD player and electronics driving top-of-the-line B&W speakers. The challenge, then, was to insure similarly impressive sound quality, but to do it on an outdoor patio space exposed year-round to the wrath of often brutal and sometimes belligerent New York City weather.

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Living with Robots (and Gawking Neighbors)

When you’re constantly surrounded by technology and automation, you tend to take things for granted, just accepting all the cool stuff happening around you as normal. It isn’t until someone who doesn’t live with this stuff on a daily basis comes over and points out all the stuff that happens in our house as different and special that we pay attention to it and realize how awesome it is.

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5 Reasons Having a Smart Home Makes Your Life Better

The term “HOME AUTOMATION” used to be reserved for two very specific types of homeowners: You were either filthy rich or loved to tinker. However, home automation has come a long way, baby. Today, there are solutions available almost everywhere, making it easy to turn just about any home into a “smart” home.

Do you really need it, though? Absolutely!

You probably wouldn’t dream of living without a TV, a smartphone, and/or a computer. Today’s electronics have made our lives easier—and a lot more fun. However, adding smart home technology can add both value and convenience to any home. Let’s take a look at five reasons you need a smart home:

1. Efficiency. With one button or smartphone app, you can control multiple devices or systems. That means you can easily set back the thermostats and turn off the lights simultaneously. You’ll also get out of the house faster and save electricity.

2. Convenience. Having a smart home allows you to manage several electronic devices and/or systems from across the house or across the world. Draw the shades, turn on lights, and check in on security; having that sort of convenience alone is enough to inspire many people to automate.

3. Comfort. Having a smart home allows you to maximize comfort, from temperature to lighting to entertainment. Everything is at your fingertips!

4. Peace of Mind. A smart home system can prevent potentially bad things from happening. Of course, you can use a smart home system to monitor cameras, doors, and windows, but also items such as water leak sensors. You can even check in from a smartphone to make sure the garage door is closed and the TV is off.

5. Customization. A smart home system allows you to have electronic things the way you want them—when you want them. For instance, you can have shades drawn and thermostats up at a set time of day, without ever touching a button. Your system can be adapted to fit your lifestyle, not the other way around. A custom electronics (CE) professional is able to tailor a system exactly to your needs.

When it comes to creating a smart home, the possibilities are endless. This can make selecting, designing, and installing electronics a lot more difficult than picking out a color scheme or the most comfortable couch. To simplify things and save yourself from making a series of mistakes, it’s important to know how and where to find the best high-tech solutions for your home and lifestyle.

Are you ready to add smart technology to your home? Discover everything you need to know in our new Planning Guide.

The post 5 Reasons Having a Smart Home Makes Your Life Better appeared first on Electronic House.

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Kaleidescape Strato 4K Ultra HD Movie Player Review

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $4,495 as reviewed

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Unrivaled user interface
Terrific image quality including HDR10
Fast access times with no buffering
Excellent HDMI handling
Minus
Limited to content bought from Kaleidescape store
No Dolby Vision support

THE VERDICT
Strato serves up gorgeous, full UHD images using Kaleidescape’s unparalleled interface, with content delivered from the company’s store.

Editor's Note: As was reported over the weekend, Kaleidescape, the firm that virtually launched the at-home movie server after its founding in 2000 and survived many a fight with Hollywood and its copyright enforcers to survive and evolve through its 16 years, has officially shut down operations. Following is our review of the company's new Strato 4K movie player, originally scheduled for our October print issue. It is offered up early here with full understanding that the Strato may not be available for purchase or supported going forward.— Rob Sabin

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