review

In the Beginning It may be hard to believe, but I never owned a Sony Walkman. Portable music players have never really been my thing. I did own a few boomboxes back in the day, but nothing small and portable. Using a phone for music with those pesky in-ear monitors (IEMs) has never interested...

This edition of HDMI TEST BENCH explores THX's new Interconnect Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cables, which were developed in cooperation with the experts at Pixelgen Design. Pixelgen was kind enough to supply us with seven different lengths to test, ranging from 0.5m (1.64 ft) to 15m (49.2 ft)...

Personally, I’m a fan of Bowers & Wilkins speakers. I have always been a fan of their sound. But I’m also a former owner of their entry-level bookshelves, which left me wondering what to expect from these when they arrived. Several years ago, I found a trio of Bowers & Wilkins DM-601-S2 speakers...

Today we’re taking a step back from our usual home theater attack and shining the spotlight on a device that can impact your experience in the theater room and around your entire home. First released in 2021, Olibra’s Bond Bridge Pro is a unique gizmo that transforms radio frequency (RF)...

The AV receiver market has never been healthier or more exciting, as the industry's biggest names are entering 2022 with highly competitive gear stocked throughout their model ranks. Having cleansed the ills of 2020's HDMI chip issues with workable solutions, the landscape is loaded with the...

SVS has been firing on all cylinders in recent years, cementing its prodigious offerings as some of the best no-brainer buys on the market. Of course, the word "best" is subjective, but SVS's fully-retooled lineup of loudspeakers and subwoofers is tough to beat when considering moderately-priced...

The Review After getting the chance to earlier review the Mighty Monolith M-215 subwoofer I was stoked to see some more from this manufacturer! This time Monoprice sent a set of five speakers that comprises the foundation of a serious 5.X.4 ATMOS Surround system. The THX Certified, Monolith...

The wireless audio segment is loaded with affordable speaker options, but there's a catch. More often than not, convenience and savings factors are marred by middling quality and playback capabilities. That’s why outfits such as Audioengine are appealing. Audioengine caters to...

South Park: The Complete Twenty Second Season Movie: :4stars: Video: :4stars: Audio: :4stars: Extras: :2.5stars: Final Score: :3.5stars: Movie South Park is one of THE longest lasting animated comedy shoes to date, only really eclipsed by The Simpsons, and right in front of Family Guy...

Forrest Gump: 25th Anniversary Edition Movie: :4.5stars: 4K Video: :3stars: Video: :4.5stars: Audio: :4stars: Extras: :4.5stars: Final Score: :4stars: Movie It’s only been a year...

Batman Returns Movie: :4stars: 4K Video: :5stars: Video: :5stars: Audio: :5stars: Extras: :3.5stars: Final Score: :4.5stars: Movie After the massive success that Batman 1989 was, it...

RIVA Audio originally shipped a Concert review sample to my office during the speaker’s pre-launch period in late 2018 – yes, practically ages ago. And while quite a bit of time has passed, the speaker hasn’t remained packaged and huddled with other gear waiting for review. Far from it. In...

Buying a topline receiver isn’t for the faint of heart, especially when considering the inevitable four-figure price tag. But for those enthusiasts with demanding home theaters – or dreams of expanding to an immersive system with at least 11 channels – picking from the best of the best is the...

Monoprice couldn’t help itself. First, it successfully became the Internet’s go to source for reasonably priced AV cables and interconnects. Now, it’s attempting to crack the foundation of a rather insulated top-end AV marketplace with seductively disruptive gear that’s priced right. Today...

Modern flagship AV receivers are loaded to the brim with tempting technologies. Most offer relatively robust power capabilities, up to 11 – sometimes 13 – channels of processing, top-flight digital to analog conversion chips, and modern immersive sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos and...

There’s something magical about hearing your favorite tunes played on a great pair of high-end headphones, but for many enthusiasts the prospect of dumping a grand (or more) on such a small piece of gear is downright discouraging. Luckily, there are companies that take quality sound and...

For a limited time, AV NIRVANA is hosting a Giveaway Contest for a FREE HSU ULS-15 MK2 Subwoofer! Click here to learn how to win. Experts say the first step to recovery is admitting there’s a problem. But in this particular circumstance, I admit nothing because recovery is the furthest thing...

When I originally pitched SVS to review “The Ultimate SVS Ultra Atmos System,” I knew my ears were in for a treat, but I had no idea that a certified sonic beast was about to be unleashed in my reference home theater. Yes, I’ve had exposure to the company’s popular products, however my only...

The word soundbar doesn’t exactly tickle the inner audiophile. In fact, it can send hardcore enthusiasts into a comatose state of aural disinterest. And while I’d never brand myself as a soundbar naysayer, I’m comfortable admitting that I have fairly soft performance expectations when it comes...