Feature News Stories (636 Posts)

Should You Buy a Retail Protection Plan for That New TV?

Jeff Berman takes a closer look at some of the TV protection plans offered by big-name retailers. Are they worth it? Read on to find out. Continue Reading

How the FCC's Net Neutrality Decision Could Affect You

Adrienne Maxwell explains net neutrality rules and how their recent repeal could affect our little corner of the consumer electronics world. Continue Reading

Google v. Amazon: the War Is Escalating

Google recently announced that it is pulling YouTube off Amazon's Fire TV platform. If this seems like a sudden and unexpected move, then you haven't been paying attention to the growing hostilities between these two companies. Continue Reading

Best Buy Needs to Focus on the Experience to Compete with Amazon

As Amazon continues to expand its presence in the AV market, Best Buy needs to leverage its strongest asset: the ability to help people experience AV gear in a hands-on way, using well-trained salespeople to do so. Continue Reading

How Much Do Aesthetics Matter When Buying AV Equipment?

How much does a product's appearance factor in to your purchasing decision, especially with higher-end components? Are you willing to pay more to get the sexier speakers or electronics, or is performance all that matters? Continue Reading

10 Great Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs Released in 2017

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for the videophile in your life? Adrienne Maxwell picks 10 great Ultra HD Blu-ray discs that came out this year. Continue Reading

Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H Vie for ATSC 3.0 Adoption

You may already know about ATSC 3.0's video upgrades, but did you know that it will deliver enhanced audio, too? The question is, will those features come through the Dolby AC-4 or MPEG-H format? Jeff Berman gives us an update in this week's featured news story. Continue Reading

Five Questions to Ask Before Shopping for a Front-Projection System

Want to assemble a big-screen front-projection system but unsure where to begin? Adrienne Maxwell provides a list of five questions to consider upfront to help narrow down the myriad options in both the projector and screen categories. Continue Reading

The Complicated Choice Between Streaming and Downloading

The silver disc is clearly in its twilight years. Have you decided what your disc-less future will look like? Jerry Del Colliano discusses the current state of streaming and downloading for both music and movies. Continue Reading

Should You Save Your AV Boxes?

To save or not to save? That is the question posed by Jerry Del Colliano in this week's featured news story. Holding on to your original AV gear boxes does have its advantages, but are they really worth it in the long run? Continue Reading

What is the Magic Price Point for Top-Performing AV Components?

Walk around any of the growing number of audiophile and/or consumer electronics trade shows like CEDIA Expo, CES, or Munich... Continue Reading

Apple Makes Waves in the 4K Market

Apple's new Apple TV 4K media player faces a tough road, but the company's entry in the 4K software market is already making waves. Continue Reading

Is Cord Cutting Really Killing Traditional Pay TV?

There's no doubt that cord cutting has gained steam over the past few years, but is it really a serious threat to the cable and satellite providers? Jeff Berman asks the experts. Continue Reading

HDMI 2.1 Is Coming Soon to AV Gear Near You

We should begin to see AV gear with HDMI 2.1 hit the market soon. What does the latest HDMI spec offer, and how will it affect your current system? Adrienne Maxwell answers those questions in this week's featured news story. Continue Reading

Are AV Manufacturers Finding Success Via Crowdfunding?

Is crowdfunding the best way for a small or new AV manufacturer to finance a product? Have crowdfunded AV products enjoyed success? Jeff Berman explores the topic in this week's featured news story. Continue Reading

Room Correction Revisited

Dennis Burger revisits the topic of room correction, expanding on some of the original explanations from his 2013 primer and providing an updated look at the major room correction systems in use today. Continue Reading

CEDIA 2017 Show Wrap-up

The annual CEDIA Expo--which celebrates high-end home theater, whole-house AV, and all things custom-oriented--took place recently in San Diego. Adrienne Maxwell and Dennis Burger discuss the latest trends and new products on display. Continue Reading

Do You Own an AV Boat Anchor?

AV technology is always advancing (sometimes quite quickly), and that means some pieces of gear inevitably get left behind. Do you own a product that became obsolete far sooner than you would've preferred? Continue Reading

Why Aren't There More Negative AV Reviews?

One question we get from some of our most loyal readers is, "How come there aren't more negative reviews on the website?" Jerry Del Colliano answers this question and gives more insight into our review process. Continue Reading

Have You Attended a Listening Event Recently?

Looking for a pressure-free way to audition the latest AV gear? Check to see if your local specialty retailer hosts regular listening or AV demo events. Adrienne Maxwell describes a recent event she attended at Colorado's ListenUp store. Continue Reading