With loads of soundbars on the market, offerings with standout features or affordable price points tend garner the most amount of attention. Hisense is trying to deliver both with its latest batch of releases. There are three new Hisense Roku TV Soundbars, each delivers a compelling price point and respectable feature set that’s ready to seamlessly pair with Roku streaming media players and televisions alike. Continue reading to learn more.
VIZIO announced its 4K OLED TV lineup earlier this year, but the selection of TVs is finally available for purchase from Best Buy. You’ll find that these TVs are among the first from a company outside of Sony or LG, and VIZIO makes sure to pack quite a bit into its first-ever 4K OLED panels. From HomeKit and AirPlay 2 to a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision, these TVs are also competitively priced with deals starting at $1,200.
Just yesterday, we covered Optoma’s new CinemaX P2 4K laser projector. One day later, Samsung manages to one-up that release with two ultra-short-throw projectors of its own. Both are named Samsung The Premiere, with model numbers LSP9T and LSP7T helping to distinguish one from the other. LSP7T creates a 10-foot image like CinemaX P2, but LSP9T takes things further with a picture that measures 130 inches diagonally. That’s right — placing one of Samsung’s new laser projector in the living room will cast either a 120- or 130-inch image onto your wall. Continue reading to learn more.
The battle between projectors and televisions rages on following the unveiling of the new Optoma CinemaX P2 4K Laser Projector. It’s only been a year since P1 debuted, but that hasn’t halted the folks at Optoma from continuing to push this product line forward. One way this new offering differentiates itself from its predecessor is by delivering “25% more contrast and vibrant color performance.” You’ll also find a new Enhanced Gaming Mode alongside its “state-of-the-art digital exhibit feature.” Continue reading to learn more.
Samsung is currently taking up to $200 off a selection of its latest 2020 Frame Smart 4K TVs with prices starting at $1,200 shipped. One highlight is on the 55-inch model which is matched at Amazon and goes for $1,397.99. Down from $1,500, today’s offer is just the second time we’ve seen it on sale and the best since May. Samsung’s latest Frame TV blends into the rest of your home decor with a stylish design that’s as far from the typical black plastic bezels as you’ll find. Instead, there’s a wood finish and picture frame-esque design. Other highlights include smart functionality like AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, a 4K QLED screen equipped with HDR10+, and four HDMI ports. Rated 4.3/5 stars from 110 customers. Head below the fold for more.
Polk Audio is updating its MagniFi lineup with the MagniFi 2 Sound Bar. This series is designed to “reduce the barrier to entry to a multi-channel home theater,” and this all-new soundbar offers a performance-tuned, 6-driver array to deliver a “huge soundstage and outstanding fidelity.” This simple soundbar is a great option for those who want a mid-range home theater upgrade, something that’s better than a standard 2.1-channel setup but not quite ready for Dolby Atmos.
VIZIO is probably one of my favorite TV manufacturers around. Offering a combination of budget-focused options with feature-rich models, you’ve been able to find just about anything in VIZIO’s TV line…that is, except for OLED. But, that all changes as the company is debuting the VIZIO Masterful OLED TV Collection alongside the Dolby Atmos-enabled Elevate Sound Bar. What do these two new products bring to the table? Keep reading to find out.
Update: Now down to $521.72.
Amazon is currently offering the Sonos Playbase for $530.94 shipped. Down from $699, a price you’ll find direct from Sonos, B&H, and Best Buy, today’s offer saves you 24%, is $29 under our previous mention, and a new all-time low. Sonos Playbase enhances your home theatre’s audio with a unique design that rests underneath your TV, taking up less space than the average soundbar. An internal audio array looks to deliver room-filling sound with six midrange drivers, three tweeters, and a woofer. Plus, smart capabilities bring AirPlay 2, whole-home playback, and more into the mix. Inputs include optical and Ethernet. Over 680 customers have left a 4.7/5 star rating. Head below for additional details.
When it comes to technology companies, Samsung is a brand that spans a large amount of product categories. Soundbars are one of them and it just unleashed new models. From object tracking sound to Alexa integration, the latest Samsung soundbars certainly offer some interesting features. The release of these coincide with Samsung Terrace, a new outdoor 4K Smart TV with Apple TV and AirPlay 2 onboard. Continue reading to learn more about the latest Samsung soundbars.
Polk Audio is expanding its Sigma Series lineup of sounders with the Sigma S3, a $249 option to upgrade your home theater. This model offers four performance-tuned drivers and a wireless subwoofer that gives you a fantastic theater experience right inside of your home. You can pass through the latest HD, 4K, and 8K signals and it can even decode Dolby Digital 5.1 content that provides a lifelike home theater sound through a single HDMI ARC connection. Plus, you’ll find Chromecast for Audio built-in here that makes it super simple to enjoy your favorite tunes without turning on your TV.
Roughly 6-months after Optoma unveiled its CinemaX P1 Smart 4K Laser Projector, the company is back with three new offerings. Two of these models are Optoma laser projectors with brightnesses that reach up to 4,200-lumens. To put that into perspective, CinemaX P1 has a brightness of 3,000-lumens. Massive 300-inch screen sizes can be achieved and 30,000-hour runtimes yield a theoretical lifespan of around 40-years when watching a full movie each day. Continue reading to learn more.
While it’s commonplace for startups to take a shot at an entirely new product category, it tends to occur much less frequently with large, well-known brands like Sony. Sure it’s not entirely new, Sony’s second iteration of its remote control speaker hybrid is quite interesting. It resembles a Bluetooth speaker, yet easily distinguishes itself with a plethora of buttons along the top for controlling a TV. An included charging dock makes it very simple to top off the built-in battery. Continue reading to learn more.
With loads of smart TV operating systems out there, it can be hard to decide which is right for you. Thankfully switching between platforms is simple in some regards thanks to an increased level of competition to deliver a full ecosystem of products. While Roku initially became known for its streaming devices, an expansive smart TV rollout and recent launches of a sound bar, subwoofer, and wireless speakers have bolstered its strength as a lineup. Today the company is taking its audio products a step further by letting all of them pair together to create a Roku Surround Sound experience.
Most people don’t have an upgraded sound system, considering how expensive nicer TVs generally are. However, it’s becoming easier to get a budget-focused home theater setup that’s great in both video and audio. So, if you’ve yet to upgrade your home theater system, now is a great time to do it before Super Bowl LIV comes in just a few weeks. If you’re wanting the best home theater setup for the Super Bowl, this article is for you.
Whether you’re on a tighter budget or are ready to drop it all on a fully-featured sound system, we’ve got the right option for you. Also, be sure to check out our Home Theater guide which is updated constantly with the best deals from around the web.
Amazon currently offers the Samsung Frame 55-inch 4K HDR UHDTV (2019 edition) for $1,097.99 shipped. Both Walmart and B&H are matching the price here, with Best Buy and Samsung direct’s listings entering at $2 more. Typically selling for closer to $1,400, today’s offer is good for a $300 discount and matches our previous mention from the holidays for the Amazon all-time low. The Frame stands out from other TVs on the market thanks to its unique design that more naturally blends into your home. Gone is the usual black plastic casing, and instead you’ll find a wood finish and thin form-factor. Other highlights include smart functionality, a 4K UHD screen equipped with HDR10+, and four HDMI ports. Rated 4.5/5 stars. Head below for more deals starting at $898.
Today at CES 2020, the TCL Alto 9+ Soundbar has been unveiled. It features an aggressive look that houses triple-channel speakers. While TCL doesn’t get specific, it does compare its new release with options “typically reserved for high-end home theater systems.” This is due in part to its support for Dolby Atmos and RAY·DANZ technology, which beams sound towards reflector units to create “an even wider soundstage than mainstream digital signal processing.”
Shopping for new home theater gear can be quite confusing. Whether you’re in the market for a new TV, sound system, speakers, or something entirely different, there are a lot of terms going around. Maybe you’re not quite sure what “Dolby Atmos Surround Sound” is, but your friend told you that you just had to have it over standard setups. Or, maybe you want the most immersive audio experience possible, but aren’t quite sure how to get it. In this series, we’ll go over everything you need to look for when shopping for new home theater gear.
Lots of companies make universal remotes. In fact, they’ve become so ubiquitous that a large variety of options exist for $10 or less. Logitech’s Harmony lineup has been the gold standard for quite some time, but with the Neeo Smart Home Remote, it and others may need to step up their game.
Like Harmony Elite, the Neeo Smart Home Remote tackles more than just home theater. It takes on smart home gear, allowing users to adjust lighting, alter the thermostat, and more. It runs Control4’s Smart Home OS and wields a gorgeous design that easily one-ups Logitech’s high-end remote.
Shopping for new home theater gear can be quite confusing. Whether you’re in the market for a new TV, sound system, speakers, or something entirely different, there are a lot of terms being thrown around. Maybe you’re not quite sure what “OLED” is, but your friend told you that you just had to have it vs LCD setups. Or, maybe you want the most immersive audio experience possible, but aren’t quite sure how to get it. In this series, we’ll go over everything you need to look for when shopping for new home theater gear, including HDR types, surround sound setups, as well as differences in TV panels and resolutions.
Shopping for new home theater gear can be quite confusing. Whether you’re in the market for a new TV, sound system, speakers, or something entirely different, there are a lot of terms being thrown around. Maybe you’re not quite sure what “Dolby Vision HDR” is, but your friend told you that you just had to have it vs. HDR10. Or, maybe you want the most immersive audio experience possible, but aren’t quite sure how to get it. In this series, we’ll go over everything you need to look for when shopping for new home theater gear, including HDR types (this post), surround sound setups, as well as differences in TV panels and resolutions.
When it comes to screen size, there’s no doubt that projectors tend to offer the best bang for your buck when compared with TVs. This further compounds when opting for Anker’s value-conscious Nebula projectors and even more so when jumping in on the company’s Kickstarter campaigns. The latest of which includes Nebula Cosmos and Cosmos Max, 1080p, and 4K HDR10 offerings that both run Android, opening them up to a whole slew of apps.
Amazon is currently offering its Fire TV Stick 4K for $34.99 shipped. Normally selling for $50, that’s good for a 30% discount, beats our previous mention by $5 and matches the lowest we’ve seen outside of Prime Day. Amazon has brought 4K HDR support to its latest Fire TV Stick, alongside a bundled Alexa Voice Remote that makes searching for content a breeze. Plus, all of your favorite shows from streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and more are available here. Those who don’t need 4K can pick up the entry-level Fire TV Stick for $25, down from $40. Both carry 4.5+ star ratings from over over 40,000 shoppers. Head below for more.
Walmart and Roku have teamed up to deliver the onn Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless Subwoofer, two new and individually sold products. Both releases come roughly one year after Roku unveiled its Wireless Speakers during the 2018 holiday season. Roku’s new onn Smart Soundbar follows in the footsteps of Roku TV Wireless Speakers with similar features like automatic volume leveling and cable-free pairing.
VIZIO’s latest high-end P-Series TV is one to impress. Through features like HomeKit, built-in AirPlay 2, Dolby Vision, 384 local dimming zones, and more, this screen is worthy of any home theater. Over the last several weeks, I’ve spent some quality time with VIZIO’s 2019-edition premium television, and it has reached the top of my recommendation list for a number of reasons. Keep reading to find out why I love VIZIO’s latest HomeKit-enabled 4K TV in our review.
With TV manufacturers innovating by leaps and bounds, the pressure is on the projector market to remain competitive. Optoma is keeping its head down and moving on with three new models hitting the market soon. The model with the highest pixel count is the UHD52ALV, which is a smart 4K projector that features 3,500 lumens of brightness. The other two models are HD39HDR and GT1080HDR. Both of which peak at 1080p, but deliver a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Sound bars have covered a lot of ground over the last decade. Technology like Dolby Atmos has significantly reduced the gap between surround systems and a mere sound bar with subwoofer. Simple connectivity seems to be the latest push in the space with the launch of two new Denon AirPlay 2 sound bars.
Dubbed DHT-S516H and DHT-S716H, both new models are marketed as premium with 4K HDMI input(s), Class-D amplification, and HEOS, for easy to manage multi-room playback with compatible speakers. Users of Alexa or Google Assistant will also be able to control these sound bars when using either voice assistant.
With the release of two new Marantz AV Receivers, it’s clear that the company has every intention of delivering an option for various sized home theaters. New models arrive on the scene at around the same time the company unveiled an AirPlay 2-equipped stereo receiver. Both models have a total of eight HDMI inputs, providing enough headroom for loads of consoles and streamers. With support for this many devices, both of these swiftly kick inexpensive switches to the curb.
Having over 65 years in the high-end audio business, Marantz has become a well-respected brand. With AirPlay 2 functionality often being aimed at the high-end market, it should come as no surprise that the upcoming Marantz stereo receiver supports Apple’s wireless streaming protocol.
The new Marantz stereo receiver has been given a model number of NR1200, and joins a crowded lineup of the company’s other offerings. These new offering sports a moderate price tag that customers will have a hard time undercutting unless they opt for slightly older models that offer less performance.
Projectors can be an inexpensive way to score an extremely large display. No matter how fancy they tend to be, the downside generally boils down to insufficient brightness levels. With a 6,000-lumen offering, the new NEC P Series projector takes aim at solving this recurring issue.
Not only is it bright, it is also very quiet. In fact, NEC has called it “the quietest 6,000-lumen projector”. Other notable features include 4K and a USB port that yields enough power to run many of today’s most-popular streaming media players.
Despite there being oodles of speakers to choose from, LG is holding fast to its XBOOM lineup with today’s announcement of three new offerings. Each of the new LG XBOOM model has a distinct form-factor and use-case. Options include a tower, portable speaker, and full-blown music system.
With such easily-distinguishable offerings, LG appears to have found enough separation to justify the purchase of each to most consumers. Whether you’re looking for a way to improve your home theater, take music on-the-go, or shake the walls in your home, the new LG XBOOM offerings aim to get the job done.
Alongside all-new TVs with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, VIZIO announced earlier today new offerings being added to its sound bar lineup. From sound bars to premium Dolby Atmos home theater systems, the company is striving to have an option for each segment of the market.
Unsurprisingly, each one of VIZIO’s new and upcoming products is sold at a compelling price point, with cost-conscious solutions ranging from $70 to $700. Unlike its TVs, none of the announced audio systems are compatible with AirPlay 2, but it does appear that everything works with Chromecast.
As projectors gain increased brightness and 4K resolution becomes mainstream, the list of reasons that generally makes most folks stick with TVs is gradually fading away. Over the past several months we’ve covered projectors from Miroir and InFocus that zero in on portability, but leave us high and dry when it comes features that make us seriously consider replacing TVs.
At roughly the same time as BenQ debuted its newest home theater projector, Epson is now showing its latest and greatest offerings. Dubbed the Home Cinema 5050UB and 5050UBe, these new Epson 4K projectors sport 2,600 lumens, HDR10, and much more.
Over the past few years the projector market has been booming. ViewSonic recently debuted its impressive portable projector and Anker isn’t holding back either. While these two offerings merely scratch the surface of what’s going on, they do paint a picture of what consumers are looking for, and that’s portability.
With the release of the Miroir Ultra Pro Projector M631, consumers now have an option designed from the ground up to work with iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Apple TV. It weighs less than two pounds, is battery-powered, and charges via USB-C.
Best Buy is currently offering a six-month Plex Pass subscription for $19.99. You’ll receive a digital code within an hour of purchasing via email. Enjoying a single month of the service would normally run you $5, with a six month subscription totaling up to $30. Today’s offer is one of the best we’ve seen for the half-year period. Plex Pass brings Live TV and DVR, offline playback for smartphones and more. I’ve been a Plex Pass subscriber for years now, and can’t recommend the service enough to anyone who has a collection of their own movies and TV shows.
I’ve been using the Polk Audio Command Bar for several weeks now. While no one can argue that there is a shortage of sound bars on the market today, finding a solution with Alexa baked-in is an entirely different story.
Many will wonder if paying a premium to have Alexa in a sound bar is worthwhile. The answer largely depends on how much your household relies on Amazon’s voice assistant. If everyone is used to conversing with Echo Dots (as am I), then it could offer increased convenience for those in your home.
Turntables have been making a comeback over the past several years. There are loads of options out there that folks love to use for consuming both old and new records alike. While I can understand the appeal of this, I find the bulkiness of most turntables to be off-putting.
By combining a turntable with a slew of other additional features in its latest offering, McIntosh has produced an option that hits not two, but several birds with one stone. By taking this approach, consumers may find themselves more inclined to add a turntable to their home.
If you own or have owned a projector, you are likely aware that they tend to have some drawbacks when compared to TVs. A few that come to mind include loud fan noise, dim projections in bright places, and failing lamps.
Panasonic’s new PT-VMZ50 Series takes aim at all of these issues while also managing to deliver it in the “world’s smallest and lightest” form-factor in its class. With the release of its new series, Panasonic may help pave the way for better projectors across the board.
Built-in TV speakers are notoriously not very good. You don’t have deep bass, you’ll miss the high notes of songs in movies, and voice can sound muffled. This is all because most TV speakers either fire toward the wall (most common) or downward, and not out toward you. Pair that with the ever-slimming TV thickness, and speakers just don’t have much room to move. With Super Bowl LIII just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure that you have the best sound bar or audio system for the big game.
Whether you have a limited budget or the sky’s the limit, we’ve got a great sounding audio system for you. There are many more choices than the ones listed below, however. You can always swing by our home theater roundup, which is highlighted by a massive Sonos sale from $349 and a nice 5.1-Channel Polk Audio system for $399 right now.
Truth be told, outside of the 4K monitor mounted to my desk, I have not really embraced UHD. While this is partly due to not typically seeing a large difference between 1080p and 4K streams, the main reason is a lack of other exciting features to push me over the edge and invest in new gear. With my recently-established love for Alexa, ViewSonic’s upcoming X Series may have what it takes to inch me along in spending the money required on a UHD projector.
If you’ve been trying to keep up with the best deals on specific home audio items from this year’s Black Friday ad leaks, well, it’s been a little hard. There are dozens of ads to sort through, and trying to compare prices is never fun. That’s what we’re here for though! We’ve got all of the best home theater deals from Black Friday 2018 right here in one convenient place for you.
Cord cutting certainly has its perks. but ditching your monthly cable subscription does have its downsides too. Missing news, sports, and other live content makes taking the plunge a difficult task for some. That’s where HDHomeRun comes in. When paired with Plex and an OTA antenna, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from your favorite shows to live football and more. Head below for an in-depth walkthrough on how to get started.
The entertainment center is the main focal point for many homes. It’s where you’ll watch TV with the family, movies with friends, and is the center of many homes. A neat and tidy setup is a must, as no one likes wires coming out from everywhere. These are some of our favorite items to organize your entertainment center and make it look brand-new, without spending a fortune.
When it comes to a full-blown home theater setup, things can get a little confusing. There are multiple remotes for the DVR, TV, Blu-ray player, and A/V receiver. You have Apple TV, Xbox, and your cable provider’s boxes to switch through. This can be a pain if you’re looking for new content to watch.
Caavo is trying to change that with its Control Center. This central smart home theater hub sports 4 HDMI inputs, Alexa/Assistant integration, and a unique interface that could help simplify your home theater lifestyle.
With theater subscription services from MoviePass coming along to get people in theaters, large entities like AMC have been pressured to step up to the plate with competing options. While competition is likely to get the theater on people’s minds, the heat dished by the latest home theater gear works to negate that by giving customers a plethora of ways to have top-notch experiences without the need to leave their house. To make home theater hardware even better, Denon and Marantz have both announced updates for some A/V receivers to provide support for IMAX Enhanced, a technology that was unveiled earlier today.
Japan-based company, JVC has announced 3 new projectors to be released in the near future. While two of its new projectors offer native 4K resolution, the one that takes the cake is what the company is calling the “world’s first” 8K e-shift home theater projector. There are a lot of 4K projectors from brands like ViewSonic, Optoma, Epson, and Sony available on Amazon, but you will be a hard-pressed to find similar options from JVC. While JVC is a brand that is fairly well-known by consumers, most of its products are no-where near as popular as the previously-mentioned competitors’ offerings in the US. With the unveiling of its new high-end consumer-focused projectors, the company may be able to pique the interest of folks looking to improve their home theater setup.
Today only, as a part of its Deal Zone, B&H is currently offering the BenQ HT1070A 1080p CineHome Theater Projector for $379 shipped. That’s over $160 off the going rate found at other retailers like Amazon and is the lowest price we have tracked. Ports include: 2x HDMI, audio in/out, and more. This highly-rated projector displays full 1080p on screens ranging from 60- to 180-inches, making it a flexible option for your home.
LG has released what it’s calling the 4K Laser CineBeam Projector. Initially announced at CES about 6 months ago, it stands out from the competition due to its a unique, portable design that retains a competitive price point.
Amazon has the Denon AVRS530BT 5.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD AV Receiver on sale for $229 shipped. Matched at B&H, Best Buy, and Crutchfield. This receiver normally fetches around $280 and is currently a match for the Amazon all-time low and our last mention.
