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The weirdest and wildest AV gear of 2023
As 2023 comes to a close, we're looking back at some of the more interesting and weirdest audio/visual and home theater gear that wowed us throughout the year.
You Asked: Dolby Atmos and EDID, minimalist soundbars, and HDMI 2.1
Just because content is available with Dolby Atmos doesn't mean you can stream it that way. Learn why, plus why you can stop worrying about HDMI 2.1 ports.
The hidden costs of buying a 4K TV are way higher than you think
It's a great time to buy a 4K TV. But if you want 4K quality, count on spending a lot more every month.
You Asked: plasma TV replacements, cheap OLEDs, and Sharp’s return
Our resident AV expert offers advice on replacing plasma TVs, if cheap OLEDs are worth it, and the surprising return of Sharp TVs
Everyone is missing the point on streaming video
Asking whether streaming video is still worth it is very much asking the wrong question. At least if you care about your own control and flexibility.
You Asked: streaming inequality, Dragon showdown, and holy grail TVs
In the seventh installment of our reader question series, we talk streaming service quality, TV FOMO, and an ultimate sound system showdown.
You Asked: Sonos setups, 5,000 nits, and dumb TVs
In this installment of You Asked, we tackle tricky Sonos setups, how many nits of brightness is too many, and some smart ideas about dumb TVs.
This is as close as we’ll get to a dumb TV anytime soon
It's not quite what folks want in a true dumb TV, but that TCL gives you any option not to use the full Google TV system is a good choice to have.
Which streaming platform has the best screensavers?
Amazon, Apple, Google, and Roku each has good options for screensavers on their various streaming devices. But one platform definitely stands out.
Are Apple TV screensavers real?
Yes, Apple TV screensavers are real. And they're spectacular. (And if you still don't believe us, read on for more.)
Sony just made all other wireless gaming earbuds obsolete
Sony's new InZone Buds are the first true wireless earbuds that meet the bar for a premium, low latency gaming experience.
Sony Bravia X95L mini-LED vs. TCL QM8 QLED: The best LCD TV and the one you should buy
I've already declared the Sony X95L the best LCD I've ever tested, so is comparing it to the TCL QM8 even fair? The answer may surprise you.
Should you buy an obsolete Apple TV?
This probably should go without saying, but we'll say it anyway: Do not buy obsolete hardware with unsupported software. Even if it's inexpensive.
You Asked: Soundbars vs. receivers, TVs with no speakers, and car stereos
We tackle reader questions in the You Asked series of columns. This week, it's soundbars versus AV receivers, speakerless TVs, HDMI bandwidth, and car stereos.
Is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect a potential soundbar killer?
I really want to be excited about Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, but I have some reservations. Here's why I'm skeptical about the new tech.
At Amazon’s annual device event, AI was everywhere — and nowhere
Artificial intelligence essentially is the fuel that powers Amazon Alexa — and any number of other features and services. The trick is making that a selling point.
Wearing Alexa is weird, but Amazon’s new Echo Frames are shockingly comfy
Smart glasses aren't quite a mainstream thing just yet, but Amazon's doing its best to break through with the new Echo Frames.
Everything announced at Amazon’s fall 2023 devices event
With a big focus on AI, Amazon's annual Devices and Services event brought a ton of new devices and features for its products. Here's everything it announced.
The Apple TV remote finder isn’t as good as a case and AirTag
Apple's new built-in ability to find a lost Apple TV remote is free, but it's also not as good as using a remote case and AirTag.
You Asked: Why we don’t buy the TVs we review
We answer the most frequently asked question we get about TV reviews: Why don't we just buy the TVs we review? There are more reasons than you might think.
What is mini-LED TV? How smaller, brighter LEDs can deliver better TV picture quality
OLED is still be the king of the hill when it comes to overall picture quality, but if there's one technology that might level the playing field, it's mini-LED.
Sonos Atmos vs. Nakamichi Dragon: beauty and the beast
It's the sleek and sexy Sonos beauty versus the beastly Nakamichi Dragon in a head-to-head comparison of the surround sound systems.
TV or monitor for gaming? Here are 5 things you need to know
TVs and monitors share a lot in common these days for gamers, but which should you choose? We break down the most important differences.
