Feature News Stories (677 Posts)

I Just Want a Dumb TV

Smart TVs are stupid, says Dennis Burger. But as he shops for a new high-performance display, it seems he has no choice but to buy another one. Continue Reading

How Will a Potential 2019 Real Estate Recession Affect Specialty A/V?

Those of us who've owned homes over the past decade have little to complain about in terms of our overall... Continue Reading

Inventory and Experience Are the Only Way to Compete with Amazon

Right before Christmas, we had a rare power outage here at my house. Thankfully my equipment racks are installed with... Continue Reading

A Killer Popcorn Recipe Reminds Us How Specialty AV Should Be Sold

There are a lot of really fantastic retail stores in Beverly Hills. Rodeo Drive only starts to highlight what the... Continue Reading

Is the AV Preamp Making a Comeback?

AV preamps have never gone away, of course. But after a bit of a nap, the preamp market is starting to wake up in ways we haven't seen in years. Continue Reading

An Insider's Look at Advertising in the World of Specialty Audio-Video

Outside of my work for HomeTheaterReview.com, I work in advertising and have for the bulk of my professional career. If... Continue Reading

What the Death of CES Can Teach the AV Enthusiast

CES is pretty much irrelevant to the specialty AV industry these days. But what can we learn from the changing winds at the world's largest consumer electronics show? Continue Reading

Wishful Thinking: Products That AV Companies Should Make (But Don't)

What AV product would you buy in a heartbeat... if only it existed? Continue Reading

Performance Versus Lifestyle: From a Reviewer's Perspective

Andrew Robinson has a few words for the naysayers who poo-poo his use of Vudu as source material for hardware reviews. Continue Reading

Trump's Technology Tariffs Create Continued Uncertainty for the AV Industry

No one can predict how these discussions will eventually play out. One thing's nearly certain, though: the continued uncertainty will affect the price of many tech products in the coming months. Continue Reading

Prices on Used Oppo Players Are Insane

If these insane prices prove anything, it's that AV enthusiasts aren't over silver discs just yet. Continue Reading

HomeTheaterReview's 2018 Holiday AV Gift Guide

Whether you're looking for a little somethin-somethin to put under your own tree, or an AV gift for that someone special in your life, these are some of our favorites. Continue Reading

Making Predictions on 4K UHD TV Pricing for the 2018 Holidays

The stretch of the calendar between Black Friday and Super Bowl Sunday typically represents prime TV-buying time. So, what are prices looking like this year? Jeff Berman breaks down the analysis and predictions. Continue Reading

HomeTheaterReview's Wireless Over-Ear Headphone Buyer's Guide

Whether you're looking for unbeatable noise cancelation, best-in-class sonic performance, or a solid mix of performance, style, and comfort, Jerry Del Colliano sorts through the current crop of circumaural wireless headphones to help you pick the right fit for you. Continue Reading

HomeTheaterReview's 4K/Ultra HD TV Buyer's Guide

Having a hard time picking a new TV from this year's crop of top contenders? Our resident video expert Andrew Robinson has tested them all, and is here to help you wade through the competition. Continue Reading

Explaining Value Ratings In HomeTheaterReview.com Reviews

Star ratings. Reviewers hate giving them. Readers love arguing about them. But how do we actually determine what number of stars to hang on a product in the "Value" category? Continue Reading

How Music Triggers Memories

There is perhaps no greater nostalgia machine than music. But Scott Schumer ponders just how much of the formative listening experience we need to recreate to fully transport ourselves back in time. Continue Reading

Answering Reader Email: Room Correction Is Not a Panacea

Good room correction can work wonders, but it's no replacement for better speaker placement and reasonable room treatments, as one reader recently learned. Continue Reading

Ten Reasons Why Brick-and-Mortar AV Stores Aren't Going Away Anytime Soon

It's not dead yet. Heck, it's barely even resting. Jeff Berman digs into ten advantages that brick-and-mortar AV retail has over online. Continue Reading

Ready or Not, Here Comes 8K TV

We've barely begun the Ultra HD era, but 8K is already on the way. When will you need it? Or will you? When will you get it? Or will you? Continue Reading