All articles tagged with #home theater
The author argues that ultra-short-throw Google TV projectors offer greater flexibility, portability, and easier installation than a traditional TV, with built‑in Google TV and seamless casting making them a near‑perfect all‑in‑one display, though issues like ambient light, sound quality, and cost remain; as a result, a projector could become their primary choice in future TV purchases.
The piece compares soundbars and full surround sound systems, noting that soundbars are a cheaper, simpler upgrade that improves TV dialogue and overall audio, while surround setups deliver a theater-like, immersive experience but cost more and may require installation. For casual viewing, a soundbar is often enough; for movie nights, sports, and immersive gaming, a full system can be worth the investment, with basic setups starting at hundreds of dollars and higher-end systems reaching thousands (reddit users often cite $2,000–$5,000).
The Verge reviews Kaleidescape’s Strato E movie player, a compact $2,995 box that stores a handful of 4K titles on an internal 480GB SSD and can deliver near‑Blu‑ray quality with lossless audio thanks to its studio-tied encoding. It isn’t a streaming device, instead pulling from Kaleidescape’s store and Terra servers for larger libraries, and it outperforms typical streaming on bitrate—especially with titles like Maverick or Dune—yet it’s extremely storage‑limited and requires expensive Terra servers for expansion. For enthusiasts with the budget and a high‑end setup, it delivers an exceptional experience; for most buyers, Blu-ray, a NAS, or a cheaper player may offer better value.
A consumer-tech guide outlining four drawbacks of owning a 100-inch TV: higher upfront and ongoing costs (stand, wall mount, delivery and installation, energy use); heaviness and space requirements that complicate placement and room layout; no automatic guarantee of better picture quality, with potential artifacts on a larger panel and trade-offs despite advanced features; and increased eye strain and viewing-distance considerations, sometimes making a projector a more practical long-term option.
Gear Patrol rounds up eight notable new releases in hi-fi and home theater, from Astell&Kern SP4000T vacuum-tube player to Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TVs, Fiio Level 1 amp, Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless, Tidal Piano Classic speakers, Sony Bravia Theater Trio, Luxman D-100 Centennial CD/SACD player, and Andover Audio Andover-One MK2 turntable, with pricing hints and key feature highlights.
Amazon Outlet’s May 2026 picks spotlight five discounted tech items: the HiSense Canvas 144 Hz UHD TV with Google TV and a free wooden bezel for $1,499; the Sony Bravia Theater System 6 1,000‑W home theater package for $598; the Asus ROG Strix G17 gaming laptop with RTX 4070, Ryzen 9, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM, and a 17.3” 240 Hz QHD display for $1,359; the ATN BlazeTrek thermal imaging monocular (sensor options 384×288 or 640×512) at $862; and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) at $448. These deals illustrate Amazon Outlet’s mix of overstock/clearance on TVs, audio systems, laptops, night‑vision gear, and wearables, with limited quantities and time windows before they’re removed or rotated out.
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup highlights the latest in audio and home‑theater gear, including Sony’s flagship 1000X The ColleXion headphones, Bang & Olufsen’s Fragment Edition Beosystem 9000c, Dali Vega all‑in‑one wireless speaker, Schiit Vestri portable DAC/amp, Campfire Audio Chimera IEMs, and Denon AV receivers, plus a lineup of portable audio goodies from Fosi, Noble, Marshall and more.
A rolling, comprehensive roundup of 2026 gadget and hi‑fi releases across audio, video, and imaging—from premium speakers, headphones, and turntables to cameras, TVs, and streaming gear—featuring numerous brands, special editions, and price points, with ongoing updates throughout the year.
Amazon’s Fire TV Soundbar Plus is discounted to $174 (from $249), delivering a 3.1-channel setup with a built-in subwoofer, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X in a single HDMI bar; it also features a dedicated center dialogue channel, four listening modes, and one-cable setup through HDMI ARC/eARC with Fire TV remote integration, offering a value-savvy upgrade over cheaper two-channel bars and rivaling higher-priced 3.1 systems.
Mashable’s hands-on with the Hisense M2 Pro 4K triple-laser portable projector finds it packs bright, daylight-friendly 1,300 ANSI lumens, up to 200-inch images, 240Hz gaming with 12ms input lag, and decent onboard speakers, all in a ~9-pound chassis with a carrying case. It runs Vidaa OS but accepts external streaming devices, and it requires an AC power brick (no built-in battery). Setup includes auto-focus/keystone adjustments; best for setups that can project at least 65 inches. Priced around $1,299 (often on sale near $1,099). Verdict: a strong alternative to a TV for movie nights and gaming, with the tradeoffs of size and power needs.
Gear Patrol previews eight notable new releases across hi-fi and consumer tech, including NAD’s compact C 589 CD player, Kerr Acoustic K400 standmounts, Sennheiser HD 480 Pro headphones, Musical Fidelity M6xi amplifier, Klipsch kO-R2 speaker, Beats’ 10‑ft USB‑C cable, Victrola’s Third Man-ed Wave turntable with Tempo speakers, and LG’s Micro RGB evo TV, with price hints and key features for each.
LG has introduced its first RGB TV, the Micro RGB evo, with pre-orders starting at $5,000 for a 75-inch model and offering 86- and 100-inch sizes. It uses a Micro RGB panel driven by an Alpha A11 AI processor and a Micro RGB Engine across thousands of dimming zones to deliver wide color gamut coverage (DCI-P3, BT.2020, Adobe RGB) and enhanced contrast, marking LG’s move beyond OLED toward RGB-based displays — though it’s not as affordable as OLED/QD-OLED options.
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup highlights a wave of new releases across home audio, hi‑fi and cameras, including Denon’s AVR-S980H, Leak Sandwich 100, Wharfedale Heritage Centre, DJI Osmo Pocket 4, Advance Paris Nova A‑i130/A‑i190, CableStay, We Are Rewind WE‑001 Discogs Edition, Audio‑Technica AT‑LP60X‑PL, Kanto Tuk Grand, GoPro Mission 1 Series, and Dyson HushJet Mini Cool.
Amazon’s Ember Artline TV (55" and 65") launches in the US/Canada on April 22 as a more affordable alternative to Samsung’s Frame TV, starting at $900 with access to over 2,000 free artworks, AI-driven room-matching, and seamless Fire TV features including Alexa+ support and the new UI; UK/Germany follow later.
Sony is removing several Bravia TV guide features for over-the-air antenna channels and set-top box users, including channel logos and thumbnail images. The guide will only show programs from recently watched channels and program information may be omitted for some channels. The Set Top Box TV menu will be replaced by a Control menu, and thumbnails will disappear. The changes go into effect in late May, with Sony not providing a reason, which could make the guide less useful for affected users.