M-Go promised to have the technology for better search and recommendations of movies. When it launched it didn't make good on its promises. Find out which streaming services and devices do a better job.
The results of last week’s survey are in. We asked where you shop for and buy A/V gear and the top response from 328 of the survey’s 1,220 respondents was “wherever I can get the best deal.” In the number two and three spots with 278 and 202 votes, respectively, were...
Sonos Playbar Soundbar Performance Features Ergonomics Value
Sonos SUB Subwoofer Performance Features Ergonomics Value
Price: $699 At A Glance: Excellent sound quality for music and movies • Powerful optional subwoofer • Mixed surround-sound performance
Since its launch in 2005, the Sonos wireless music system has won accolades and an extensive fan base thanks to an early focus on tapping into the digital music libraries that consumers built after the iPod’s launch in 2001, and an evolving graphic interface that, in today’s version, brings the benefits of room, source, and track selection to intuitive touchscreen apps that run on smartphones and tablets.
For those unfamiliar, you start by plugging one Sonos component into your network router to create a bridge to the Internet and to your home PC or hard drive where your personal music is stored. It can be any component the company sells. Sonos offers several powered speaker systems (Play:5, Play:3, the SUB subwoofer) and two player modules that feed music into either an existing hi-fi system (the Connect) or into a pair of speakers (Connect: Amp). If none of these devices can be placed near a live Ethernet jack, you can plop the aptly named Bridge wireless adapter next to your router.
You may have heard that sales of soundbars are skyrocketing today. I’m excited about that. The best of the new premium soundbars sound pretty great, and with their unassuming presence, lack of speaker wires, and relatively simple installation, they stand to introduce legions of new ears to the joys of a high-quality home theater experience.
Bigger is better. That’s probably the dominant argument in favor of buying a separate multichannel amplifier and surround processor instead of an A/V receiver. It’s also the wrong argument. There are three good reasons for you to choose separates: to scale up your system to a larger room, to power more-demanding speakers, or to achieve higher performance than you can get with an average AVR.
Tube televisions are starting to look like relics of a bygone era, but they had a long run, from the very beginning of the TV age until just a few years ago. CRTs evolved from round, to rounded squares, to squarish, almost flat tubes—but cathode ray tube TVs (and projectors) remained the unchallenged display technology right through to the dawn of hi-def TV.
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Pioneer Elite Receivers Offer Studio Quality Content Playback and Multi-Zone/Multi-Source Capabilities
VSX-43 and VSX-70 Increase Entertainment Options Throughout the Home
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 10, 2013) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduced two new Elite® home theater AV receivers, the Elite VSX-43 7.1-channel receiver and VSX-70 7.2-channel receiver, designed for expanded entertainment and control throughout the home.
Emotiva UMC-200 Preamp/Processor Audio Performance Video Performance Features Ergonomics Value
Price: $599 At A Glance: Audiophile audio quality at a bargain price • Customizable EQ solution • Outstanding value
I’m not an engineer, and no, I don’t play one on TV either, although I’ve been around the A/V business long enough to know the technological challenges manufacturers face when creating a new pre/pro or AVR from the ground up. This is especially hard for smaller companies with limited budgets in an HDMI-enabled world.
With more tools than ever at our disposal, shopping for and buying A/V gear is a very different experience today than it was just a few years ago. What’s your strategy in the age of mobile shopping? Do you have a favorite store or e-tailer? Take a few minutes to respond to this week’s HT Poll and tell us about your experiences in Comments. Stories encouraged!
Where do you shop for and buy A/V gear?
Local independent retail store
17% (202 votes)
Big-box retailer (Best Buy, etc.)
15% (183 votes)
Custom installation company
4% (45 votes)
Online retailer (Amazon, Crutchfield, etc.)
23% (278 votes)
Direct from company websites when possible
5% (65 votes)
I shop in a store but sometimes make the purchase online
5% (60 votes)
I shop in a store but often make the purchase online