Showing 85 stories from 8 sources
Last updated 22:43
March 2026 Jazz Record Reviews
March 2026 Jazz Record Reviews John Atkinson Fri, 03/13/2026 - 15:15 Show Promo Image ill Ware and The Club Bird All Stars: Martian Sunset; JD Allen: Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions); Pat Bianchi: Confluence; Melissa Errico: I Can Dream, Can't I? (Illusions and Conversations…
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March 2026 Classical Record Reviews
March 2026 Classical Record Reviews John Atkinson Fri, 03/13/2026 - 15:07 Show Promo Image Enescu: Octet, Mendelssohn: Octet, Quatuor Ébène, Belcea Quartet; Unsuk Chin: Unsuk Chin, Ensemble Intercontemporain; Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin, Concerto For Orchestra, Lebel: The…
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Quick! Elac’s Award-winning, five-star speaker system has dropped to its lowest ever price
This superbly-priced, brilliant-sounding setup is a major bargain deal thanks to a massive saving.
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Hisense unveils its U6 and U7 Mini LED TVs
Packing maximum bang for minimum buck
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The best products that we've tested from the Amazon sale – a five-star OLED TV, award-winning projector and wireless earbuds
The Amazon sale has been very kind to wireless earbuds
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Apple alert! The rarely discounted AirPods 4 with ANC hit a new lowest price in the spring sales
Get into the fresh air with some new AirPods this spring
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The dramatic sound of forgiveness: Rotel Michi X3 Series 2 review
Not every record I own is an audiophile pressing. Not everything that I stream has outstanding dynamic range. Not every CD I own is the original master. The Rotel Michi X3 Series 2 doesn’t punish me for any of it. It also hits harder than you might expect from a […] The dramatic…
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LG’s latest OLED TVs include an alternative to Dolby Atmos made by its biggest rival
This open-source immersive audio format is coming to more TVs
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JBL launches two pairs of Sony-rivalling wireless headphones with “AI-trained” ANC and monster battery life
Up to 50 hours of play time with noise cancelling on and 80 hours without
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Cambridge Audio’s CXN100 hits lowest price since Black Friday
The excellent Cambridge Audio CXN100 can be yours for £799 at Richer Sounds – a £100 saving
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Everyone should have a box of random cables – and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise
It's hard to beat that feeling of having the right cable
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TCL has been banned from calling some of its TVs 'QLED' after losing Samsung court case
Don't expect this to be the end of it...
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Looking for a projector? The Amazon Spring Deal Days sale has you covered
Portable, outdoors, UST – there’s a projector deal for everything
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WiiM Sound vs Apple HomePod 2: which wireless speaker deserves a place in your home?
Can Apple’s three-year-old HomePod 2 cling on to its crown?
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Technics SL-1500CS Turntable
If there’s an “SL” in the name, it’s a good bet that it designates a Technics turntable. Fact is, the ubiquitous Technics SL Series includes both audiophile-level and pro-audio offerings. To add to their SL line, the longtime turntable maker recently announced a new table…
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How to watch Chinese Grand Prix 2026: live stream the F1 race from anywhere
How to watch Chinese Grand Prix 2026 live streams around the world. Free coverage, schedule, preview, 4K Ultra HD options for the F1 race weekend.
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I've scoured the Amazon Spring Deal Days sale and this Hisense projector is one of the best savings I have seen
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Amazon's spring sale is here – and we've found 9 of the best expert-approved deals on wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers and more
Put a spring in your step with these sun-based savings
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Spotify claims it saved the music industry – but who will save us from the streaming model?
Many musicians would scoff if you told them Spotify has saved the music industry
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Focal has a new owner – and I'm worried and excited in equal measure
Belgian firm Barco is set to take control of the brand
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Sky Glass Gen 2 vs Sky Glass Air: which TV should you buy?
Two ways into Sky’s all-in-one TV ecosystem – but which one makes more sense for you?
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We have only just reviewed this innovative soundbar system – but it has already had a tempting price drop
Save some hard-earned cash on this JBL model
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Hi-Fi as Art: Devon Turnbull & Ojas Audio The Cooper Hewitt Ojas system
Hi-Fi as Art: Devon Turnbull & Ojas Audio The Cooper Hewitt Ojas system John Atkinson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 06:10 Show Promo Image 0 0
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Hi-Fi as Art: Devon Turnbull & Ojas Audio
Hi-Fi as Art: Devon Turnbull & Ojas Audio John Atkinson Thu, 03/12/2026 - 06:05 Show Promo Image Since founding Ojas in the 1990s and applying the name to his audio components, Devon Turnbull has mined a young audience that the traditional hi-fi industry has struggled to reach.…
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The LG C-series is a bit of a mess right now, and it’s all the better for it
Can the C-series decide if it’s a mid-range or a flagship OLED TV?
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What's in a Naim? Why are so many big hi-fi and home cinema brands being bought right now?
There’s a lot of cash changing hands in the world of hi-fi and home cinema
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Do we really need more YouTube reviews of affordable hi-fi gear? 🌶️
[Editor’s note: This is the twelfth in a series of fifteen observations from fifteen years of audio writing] YouTube is the number one driver of new people into hi-fi and head-fi. Not audio shows. Not magazine reviews. Not websites. Not a friend’s recommendation. A stranger on…
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Focal and Naim Acquired by Projector Specialist Barco
Barco, the Belgium-based display tech company, is to acquire VerVent Audio Holding. The French-British VerVent company owns Focal and Naim. The €135 million deal adds two legacy audio companies to Barco’s portfolio, increasing its ability to expand within the entertainment…
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ReDiscoveries #12: Interscope Releases the Rolling Stones' <I>Black and Blue</I>
ReDiscoveries #12: Interscope Releases the Rolling Stones' Black and Blue John Atkinson Wed, 03/11/2026 - 06:39 Show Promo Image In the Rolling Stones' long history, the Mick Taylor era was a peak, if not the peak. Taylor, who replaced cofounder Brian Jones in the late 1960s,…
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Global feedback: How expensive is too expensive?
A year ago, fifteen thousand of you answered a YouTube poll question. The question: How expensive is too expensive for a pair of loudspeakers? I filed the results away and moved on. Now, sitting in a room fitted out with as much acoustic treatment as the space permits, thinking…
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Burson Audio announces two Stellar headphone amplifiers
Australian manufacturer Burson Audio has announced two new desktop headphone amplifiers under the Stellar banner, slotting between its entry-level Party Playmate 3 and Grand Tourer ranges. One Stellar unit has an internal DAC, and the other does not. Soloist Stellar The Soloist…
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Joseph Crowe Audio Products—Where Measurements and Listening Intersect to Create Magic
Robert Schryer visits Joseph Crowe Audio Products and returns with a listening experience he's convinced will become one of those milestone moments that will stay with him for life.
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Eagles Soar Once More With One of These Nights Deluxe Edition 3LP Set Coming Our Way on May 1
So put me on a highway, and show me a sign. If you know your Eagles music, then you know that’s a key line from the quintessential California band’s “Take It to the Limit,” one of the hit singles from June 1975’s chart-topping One of These Nights LP. Well, the sign is this:…
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Barco to Acquire Focal and Naim Parent VerVent
Barco’s €135 million move for VerVent brings Focal and Naim into its portfolio, pairing premium audio with display expertise as it pushes deeper into integrated home cinema, entertainment, and high-end AV markets.
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HIFIMAN announces two WiFi headphones with onboard R2R DACs
HIFIMAN has announced two new open-back planar magnetic headphones, the HE1000 WiFi and the Arya WiFi, that allow listeners to sidestep Bluetooth in favour of WiFi-based audio transmission. The case against Bluetooth is straightforward enough. Its bandwidth is approximately 1.1…
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Why the Montréal Audiofest 2026 should be on every audiophile’s radar
The Montréal Audiofest returns March 20–22 for its 37th edition, turning Hôtel Bonaventure into a sprawling hi-fi playground with 100-plus exhibitors, immersive listening rooms, EARVANA’s headphone pavilion, and community programs that welcome new listeners.
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ATMA Classique Acquired by GFN Productions Founders
Nicholas Choinière, Gabriel Felcarek and Francis Choinière have acquired ATMA Classique and Groupe Ad Litteram, keeping ATMA’s team in place while promising to expand the Montreal label’s reach and future development.
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Vertere SOLO Moving Coil Cartridge
There’s nothing wrong with flying solo — or, in the case of the noted British manufacturer Vertere, make that an all-caps SOLO flight. What we mean by that is, Vertere have just announced their SOLO moving coil (MC) cartridge, which the company says is intended to bring out the…
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The ugly truth about beautiful hi-fi rooms
🎥 Camera: John Darko 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan 🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video – and other videos – can be found on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 Intro 2:00…
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LEAK announces TruStream streaming DAC
LEAK has announced its first streaming DAC. The TruStream follows the Stereo 130 and Stereo 230 integrated amplifiers, the CDT CD transport and the Sandwich loudspeaker into a product lineup rebuilt from scratch since the brand’s revival in 2020. The aesthetic carries over from…
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Beck’s Beautiful, Triple Grammy-Winning 2014 Morning Phase Album Achieves Near Perfection on New DSS One-Step 180g 1LP Reissue
Fans of Beck David Hansen know that this multitalented singer/songwriter, producer/performer is something of a musical chameleon who delivers his music cross-pollinated in rock, folk, Latin, hip-hop, and even symphonic sounds. This all made his triple-Grammy-winning February…
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Rega AOS MC Phono Preamp
When we say Rega gear has a certain “aura” about it, most of you know what we mean. Besides the British company’s top-notch turntables, Rega also make top-tier phono preamps, including their reference-level (wait for it) AURA moving coil (MC) model. Springboarding from a circuit…
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Six Standout Listening Bars and Hi-Fi Hideaways in LA
Los Angeles’ listening-bar scene is booming, from Venice’s Only The Wild Ones to Highland Park’s Gold Line—venues where serious hi-fi systems, vinyl DJs, and carefully tuned rooms turn cocktails and dinner into full-immersion music experiences.
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Ever driven a Bugatti on a dirt road?
Three photos. Three floorstanding loudspeakers. I want you to look at each one carefully. First up: the KEF Blade Meta, at €36,750/pair: Then the Monitor Audio Hyphn, which goes for over double that at €82,500/pair: And finally, the Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4, starting at…
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Intervention Records Does It Again With 180g 45rpm Mono 1LP Upgrade of Johnny Cash’s Classic 1957 Debut Album, With His Hot and Blue Guitar
He kept his eyes open all the time, and he also shot a man in Reno just to watch him die (or so he said). Of course, I’m talking about the one and only Johnny Cash, whose 1957 debut album on Sun Records, With His Hot and Blue Guitar, has just received a 180g 45rpm all-analog 1LP…
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Roon now integrates nugs.net’s 30,000 live shows
As of today, Roon integrates nugs.net, giving Roon subscribers access to one of the largest libraries of official live concert recordings on the planet. A nugs.net subscription is required separately. Over 30,000 live recordings For the uninitiated: nugs.net hosts over 30,000…
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Magico’s new S7 2026 floorstander weighs 174kg and costs £159K/pair
Magico’s S7 2026 is a five-driver, three-way floorstanding loudspeaker that replaces the original S7 at the top of the company’s middle-tier S Series – the range that sits between the entry-level A Series and the flagship M Series. The original S7 was discontinued in 2025 after…
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Another use case for the WiiM Ultra DAC
Most of us buy a network streamer to stream. Connect it to an amplifier, fire up Tidal or Spotify, sit down, listen. Simple. But what happens when your better-sounding DAC, the one with the R2R ladder and the tube output stage, can’t talk to your television? That’s the puzzle I…
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Paramount Wins Bidding War for Warner Bros. As Netflix Bows Out
After a months-long bidding battle, Paramount emerges victorious with a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion. WB’s leadership had previously favored a deal from Netflix, but the streaming service failed to match Paramount’s latest offer. By combining Paramount+…
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Using a WiiM Pro Plus in a different way
The WiiM Pro (US$149) and Pro Plus (US$219) are network streamers. That much we already know. But their back panels and associated WiiM Home app harbour a lesser-known trick: the ability to act as a digital-to-digital converter (DDC), a format translator that catches one type of…
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JBL Spinner BT Turntable
Every budding vinyl devotee faces the same question: do you sink your cash into a serious turntable and cartridge combo, then cobble together the rest of your system on the cheap, hoping to upgrade down the road? Or do you spread the budget equally across turntable, amplifier,…
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SVS SB-3000 R|Evolution Subwoofer Giveaway! ($1,299.99 Value)
Win the hottest new sub of 2026, the SVS SB-3000 R|Evolution Subwoofer. One lucky winner will take home this sealed powerhouse. Entry is FREE and no shipping charges to bring it to your door.
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Trickle-Down Tech: How Polk Delivers Flagship Sound Without the Flagship Price
Polk brings flagship DNA to the masses with Signature Elite and Reserve, combining Dynamic Balance drivers, Pinnacle tweeters, and Power Port refinement for articulate highs, smooth mids, and floor-shaking bass at refreshingly sane prices.
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3 reasons why CD is the best playback format
Jonson Lee pushes back against hi-res hype and streaming culture, arguing the humble CD still wins on sound quality, mastering choice, and preserving the album as a deliberate, uninterrupted experience.
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Chess Records’ 75th Anniversary Series of 180g LPs Kicks Off With a Pair of Indisputable Blues Gems From Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters
A pair of recent reissues of two raw, rockin’ classic LPs by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters are arguably ground zero for modern electric blues music as we know it today. Kicking off UMG’s 75th anniversary celebration of the venerable Chess Records label late last fall, Howlin…
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Why I still recommend stereo loudspeakers over soundbars 🌶️
[Editor’s note: This is the eleventh in a series of fifteen observations from fifteen years of audio writing] I’ve spent the better part of a decade recommending that people invest in proper stereo loudspeakers instead of a soundbar. Not everyone listens, and fair enough,…
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Edwards Audio MC6 Phono Preamp
When TALK Electronics talks, we listen. (Or something like that.) To that end, the UK manufacturer has duly alerted us that one of the brands under their umbrella has just released something worthy of our attention, so our ears have officially perked up. And thus, meet the…
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Rega’s Aura-derived (and more affordable) AOS MC phono stage
Rega has officially released the AOS MC, a dedicated moving coil phono stage whose circuit leans heavily on the company’s reference-grade Aura MC. No compromise? The AOS MC is a two-stage, pure analogue design with no digital control circuitry anywhere in the signal path. Rega…
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Don’t buy a soundbar: the KEF CODA W argument
🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan 🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video – and other videos – can be found on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko…
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Brian Eno and Bette A. Continue Their Multimedia Partnership With the Extremely Limited Edition 2 Slow Stories LP & Book Bundle Due Out March 2
In our seemingly endlessly perpetual multitasking modern world, sometimes it’s worth just taking a beat to slow everything down. Take it from someone who forcibly gets up from his Eames listening chair to enforce a moment (or five) of what I call “zen resetting” at least once a…
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Cambridge adds Qobuz Connect to streaming hardware dating back to 2014
Cambridge has pushed a free firmware update to its older StreamMagic-based network players, adding Qobuz Connect support to devices first sold over a decade ago. The over-the-air update, available from 24th February, applies to StreamMagic Generation 2 and Generation 3 hardware:…
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From A6 to A10: The Ultimate Breakdown of Eversolo’s Streamers
Eversolo’s DMP lineup spans four tiers, from the value-driven A6 Gen 2 to the flagship A10. This guide compares their DAC chips, power supplies, volume designs, DSP features, storage options and real-world sonic differences at each step up.
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The Myth of MTV's Golden Age
MTV music channel shutdowns ignite online nostalgia for its so-called music video “golden age”. But MTV and industry forces behind it may have only been another step toward popular music’s long decline.
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The Making of a Menace: N.W.A Before the Gangsta
Before the headlines and the congressional outrage, N.W.A were Compton teens in electro crews, hustlers and party DJs who pivoted hard as West Coast rap darkened—trading satin and synths for menace, money, and a marketable revolution.
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Are Homes the New Brick-and-Mortar? A Visit to The Sound Choice, Followed by Coconut Cream Pie
Sure, you can buy retailer The Sound Choice’s gear and audiophile recordings online or over the phone, but you’d be missing out on a couple of key experiences available only in person: a lot of great gear to audition in a laid-back setting and one of the sweetest endings to a…
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Devon Turnbull’s Latest Immersive Listening Room Now Open at NYC’s Cooper Hewitt Museum
Brooklyn-based artist and audio engineer Devon Turnbull has created a new audio/music installation called “HiFi Pursuit Listening Room Dream No. 3.” Now on exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, it features music played on a huge, custom-built…
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TCL to Take Over Sony Home Entertainment Business
Sony and TCL have agreed to a strategic partnership that would put TCL in control of developing, manufacturing, and selling future Sony home entertainment products, including BRAVIA TVs. The two companies will form a new joint venture, giving TCL a controlling 51% share. The…
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SVS Launches First-Ever Soundbar and New 3000 R|Evolution Series Subwoofers at CES 2026
At CES 2026, SVS introduced its first soundbar system, the SVS R|Evolution Soundbar (price TBA). This 3-channel soundbar comes with a real-deal 12-inch SVS subwoofer. Users can choose a dual-sub option and add optional wireless surround speakers. SVS also introduced the new 3000…
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GIK Amplitude Acoustic Treatments: Style and Substance?
GIK Acoustics has introduced a new Amplitude line of acoustic treatments. This new line uses patented “recessed plate” technology to improve both looks and performance. The line includes Acoustic Panels, Bass Trap Panels, and Corner Bass Traps. Read on to learn more.
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Dolby and LG Unveil First Soundbar System Powered by Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
The new LG Sound Suite is a flexible wireless audio ecosystem featuring the H7 soundbar, M7 and M5 wireless speakers, and W7 subwoofer (prices TBA). These can be mixed and matched, and all models work with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This technology allows you to place your…
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2025 Audioholics Product of the Year Award Winners
From cutting-edge processors and thunderous subwoofers to refined loudspeakers and modern classics in analog and wireless audio, 2025 delivered some truly standout gear. Each year we sift through the noise to find the components that raised the bar in performance, value, and…
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Darling: Hollywood’s Hip Hi-Fi Restaurant
Chef Sean Brock has opened Darling, a West Hollywood restaurant featuring elevated wood-fired food, craft cocktails, and a Hi-Fi listening lounge. Inspired in part by Japanese listening bars, Darling’s listening lounge features vintage Tannoy speakers (along with newly-built…
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Paramount Offers $108 Billion to Tempt Warner Bros. Shareholders Away from Netflix Deal
Just days after Netflix announced an $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., a $108 billion hostile bid from Paramount might derail the deal. Paramount says that its offer is the “clearly superior alternative,” and is giving Warner Bros shareholders until January 8, 2026 to…
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Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. In $83 Billion Deal
Netflix plans to acquire Warner Bros. in a landmark deal worth $82.7 billion. If approved, the acquisition will give Netflix control over the competing HBO Max platform, along with huge intellectual property rights. Everything from the DC Universe to Harry Potter would fall…
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LG 136-Inch MAGNIT Active Micro LED TV Promises True Cinematic Immersion
With Active Matrix technology and Dolby Vision, the new 136-Inch LG MAGNIT Active Micro LED display promises true cinematic immersion and stunning 4K visuals. Pricing has not been announced, but this will likely be a 6-figure product. Will LG and other TV manufacturers…
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2025 Audioholics Christmas Buying Guide & Deals!
This Christmas, skip the guesswork and dive straight into our expert-curated AV gift guide featuring the best receivers, speakers, turntables, streamers, and more. From wallet-friendly upgrades to statement-level showpieces, we spotlight the gear that delivers true…
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Netflix Keeps Sesame Street on the Map
After the Trump administration pulled funding from PBS, the future of Sesame Street was uncertain. Netflix stepped in, streaming new and classic episodes in 2025 while allowing new episodes to continue airing free on PBS.
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Arendal Celebrates 10 Years With Gorgeous Limited-Edition 1528 Towers
Arendal Sound is celebrating its first decade in business with the launch of the 1528 Tower 8 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition ($12,900/pair). These beautiful speakers are finished in real rosewood and satin black. Mostly a cosmetic upgrade over the standard versions, they do…
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New Beatles Anthology Docuseries & Albums Reveal Unreleased Footage & Music
The restored Beatles Anthology documentary series premieres November 26 on Disney+ with an all-new Episode Nine. Watch Paul, George, and Ringo reunite in the 1990s to create The Anthology. The updated albums include new Giles Martin mixes and previously unreleased tracks. Read…
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EISA Hi-Fi Awards 2025-2026
EISA Hi-Fi Awards 2025-2026 Len Porcano Thu, 08/14/2025 - 17:56 Show Promo Image EISA, or the Expert Imaging and Sound Association, is an organization representing 53 of the most respected special interest publications and websites from 26 countries that cover Hi-Fi, Home…
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Engineering Single-Mic vs Multi-Mic Recordings: Conclusion
Sound engineer, Doug Fearn explains… “Back in 2017, I asked […] The post Engineering Single-Mic vs Multi-Mic Recordings: Conclusion appeared first on The Absolute Sound.
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Home Page
Home Page Stereophile covers everything high-end and audiophile audio. Turntables and music servers, to solid-state and tube amplifiers and preamps, to loudspeakers. Len Porcano Thu, 06/17/2010 - 04:05
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Notice
Notice The Dealers' Open House is a section where dealers can post product news and announcements. We ask that dealers do not use this space as free advertising. The forum is not intended to support the buying or selling of goods or services, and those dealers looking to…
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Notice
Notice The Manufacturers' Showcase is a section where manufacturers can post product news and announcements. We ask that manufacturers do not use this space as free advertising. The forum is not intended to support the buying or selling of goods or services, and those…
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