Feature News Stories (677 Posts)

Pros and Cons of Today's Top Streaming Media Players

Trying to decide which streaming media player to add to your home entertainment system? Adrienne Maxwell offers the pros and cons for the major offerings from Roku, Amazon, Apple, and Google. Continue Reading

The Good, Better, and Best Headphones on the Market Today

In our third Good Better Best article, Brent Butterworth covers the headphone category, which includes a lot of worthy options for audiophiles of all budgets. Wondering what to look for at the different price points? Whether to go over-ear, on-ear, or in-ear? Brent has the answers. Continue Reading

The Good, Better, and Best AV Receivers on the Market Today

In the second installment of our Good Better Best series, we break down the crowded and often-confusing AV receiver category. What will your money get you in the entry-level, mid-level, and high-end categories, in both performance and features? Continue Reading

Why AV Enthusiasts Should Be Mad at Fireplaces

Some people won't consider buying a home that lacks a fireplace, so who would be crazy enough to rip out or cover up their living room's beautiful fireplace? Someone who cares about AV performance, that's who. Jerry Del Colliano discusses why AV lovers should shun these acoustic and logistical nightmares. Continue Reading

The Good, Better, and Best HDTVs on the Market Today

To assist our readers with any AV-related holiday shopping they might do, we're introducing a series of "Good, Better, Best" articles that explain what you can expect to find at various price points, with some product examples. The first category: HDTVs. Continue Reading

Who Is on Your Audiophile Mount Rushmore?

If you had to pick four people to honor on the Audiophile Mount Rushmore, who would they be and why? Check out our list of potential candidates, and see who Jerry Del Colliano would select. Continue Reading

Seven Steps to Hi-Res Audio Heaven

Intrigued by high-resolution audio but unsure how to begin? Mark Smotroff outlines the gear you need and other important things to consider as you begin your journey toward higher-quality music. Continue Reading

Five AV Categories That Are Much Cheaper (and Better) Than They Were Five Years Ago

There's no denying that your hard-earned dollar goes a lot further these days when it comes to buying AV gear. Jerry Del Colliano highlights five categories where prices have fallen as performance has risen. Continue Reading

The Resurgence of the Over-the-Air DVR

The rise of the cord-cutter has breathed new life into an old category: the over-the-air DVR. Adrienne Maxwell highlights popular new products in this category, which do a lot more than just tune in and record over-the-air signals. Continue Reading

Listening to Music By Mood Versus Album

How do you listen to music these days? Do you still listen to albums in their entirety, or have playlists and shuffle forever changed the way you experience music? Continue Reading

Can DTS Play-Fi Dethrone Sonos?

The Play-Fi multiroom wireless audio system from DTS is gaining momentum amongst manufacturers. How does it compare with other wireless audio technologies, and can it give the reigning king, Sonos, a run for its money? Continue Reading

There Is No AV Without IT Today

Assembling high-performance AV systems isn't just about the video and audio gear nowadays. It's all about networking. If you're planning a home theater install or upgrade, Jerry Del Colliano says, "Don't skimp on the IT." Continue Reading

Should You Open A Stereo Store?

It's a crazy question, isn't it: should you (or someone you know) open a stereo store? It's no breaking news... Continue Reading

CEDIA 2014 Show Report and Photo Slideshow

Adrienne Maxwell discusses the major themes of CEDIA 2014 and provides details on some of the hottest new products on display. Continue Reading

Four Reasons Why Ultra HD Is Becoming More Relevant to Consumers

There are plenty of Ultra HD TVs to buy right now, but the lack of content keeps a lot of shoppers on the sidelines. Jerry Del Colliano highlights some recent announcements that show Ultra HD is headed in the right direction. Continue Reading

Do You Need to Love Music to Be a True Audiophile?

What does it mean to be an audiophile? Do you need to be passionate about music (or movies), or can it be all about the sound reproduction itself? Our writers weigh in. Continue Reading

Will Blu-ray Discs Be the Real Casualty in Amazon's Current War?

As leverage in current negotiations with companies like Disney and Warner Brothers, Amazon has chosen to prevent pre-order sales on big-name Blu-ray releases. Will this affect current disc sales and the future of physical media? Continue Reading

The Incredible Shrinking Release Date

Remember when you had to wait a year for a home video release? Today, release windows have shrunk to almost no time at all, and Brandon Eberhart wonders if this is good or bad for the movie industry. Continue Reading

Do Premium HDMI Cables Really Matter?

Jerry Del Colliano poses a question that has inspired much debate in AV circles: do premium HDMI cables matter? See what some big names in the industry have to say on the subject. Continue Reading

Why Don't You Go to the Movies Anymore?

A few weeks ago, I asked our HomeTheaterEquipment.com forum members a simple question: when was the last time you went... Continue Reading