Does Apple Music sound weak? It’s not your headphones’ fault
Did you get a new set of Apple or Beats headphones over the holidays, then discover that Apple Music doesn't sound as good as it used to? Here's why.
You asked: Should you buy a 70-inch TV, do you really need a Blu-ray player, and more?
More of your questions, answered. Are all Blu-ray players created equal? Will there ever be Micro-Lens Array QD-OLEDs? And what's up with eARC HDMI 2.1?
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.
Open-ear earbuds and spatial audio ruled 2023 — and they’ll be even bigger in 2024
Open-ear earbuds and spatial audio were massive trends in 2023. Here's a recap of what we saw and heard, and what it could mean for 2024.
As streaming shatters, here’s how Amazon wants to glue it back together with AI
Amazon already has previewed some of what's coming to Fire TV in 2024. But we know that's just a tease of what's likely to come.
7 things Sonos’ first headphones will need to get right
Excited for the rumored Sonos headphones? So are we. But as the company enters brand new territory, success is far from guaranteed.
You Asked: TVs over fireplaces, Sonos vs. Wi-Fi smart speakers, and 3D TVs
We provide expert advice on your burning questions, like whether it is ever OK to mount a TV over a fireplace, Sonos versus smart speakers, and 3D OLED TVs.
How televisions point the way for a future with CarPlay and Android Auto
Imagine having to buy a television that didn't allow you to also use a Roku or Fire TV stick. That doesn't sound like fun, does it?
2023 OLED TV shootout: the big three battle and we all win
Asking me to choose between the LG G3, Samsung S95C, and Sony A95L is like asking me to choose between my children. Here's how that went.
2024 is the year you need to have an antenna for your TV
With seemingly everything requiring a monthly subscription these days, 2024 should be the year you consider an over-the-air antenna for free television.
You Asked: best streaming device for image quality, plus frame rate control and more
In this installment of You Asked, we tackle your questions, including which streaming device is the best for image quality and many more.
If I had $1,000 to spend on AV gear, here’s what I’d get
Here's our expert advice on how to build the best entertainment system for your needs for under $1,000.
What we want from the AirPods Pro in 2024
Apple's iconic AirPods Pro are amazing wireless earbuds, but there's still room for improvement. Here's what what we think the company should do next.
Samsung, Google are attacking Dolby Atmos’ monopoly on 3D sound, and it’s going to get ugly
Dolby Atmos has become synonymous with immersive 3D sound, but the brand is about to face a new challenger from Google and Samsung.
You Asked: Do perfect LCD panels exist?
In this installment of You Asked: Is there such a thing as a perfect LCD panel? What is frame rate control? And we'll decode Samsung soundbar model numbers.
The living room tripod is now officially a thing you need
If you have an iPhone and an Apple TV, you need one more thing to perfect your holiday group video calls — a tripod.
The most innovative TV tech of 2023
2023 was more evolutionary than revolutionary for TVs, but MLA OLED tech and wireless TV set the stage for an exciting 2024.
The most innovative headphones and earbuds of 2023
2023 saw lots of great new wireless headphones and earbuds, but only three of these products were truly innovative.
The most innovative streaming device of 2023
Streaming devices don't get the same sort of major annual updates as other categories, but one still stood above the rest is 2023.
You Asked: Is Dolby Vision a must-have? And how to handle Atmos with irregular ceilings
In this installment of You Asked, we'll break down whether no Dolby Vision is a deal-breaker, how to get Atmos sound with funky ceilings, and plasma upgrades.
Don’t like giant ads on Amazon Fire TV? Then don’t buy one
Amazon Fire TV made a change that causes some users to be forced into full-screen ads and promos. We shouldn't be surprised.
You Asked 12: streaming audio, hotel TVs, and OLED burn-in
In this installment of You Asked, we tackle the wild volume disparity between streaming apps, how to change hotel TV settings, and more.
You Asked 11: throwing shade on OLED, TVs vs. PC monitors
Can sunlight damage your OLED? Why do monitors look better in the store? And is a TV or PC monitor better for gaming and streaming? Let's find out.
The tech behind U2’s mind-bending, spherical reality in Las Vegas
U2 is no ordinary rock band, and the Sphere in Las Vegas is no ordinary venue. We look at what went into making its immersive residency a reality.
Sony’s new PlayStation earbuds are a perfect match — for my Nintendo Switch
Sony's Pulse Explore wireless earbuds are built with PlayStation 5 and PS Portal in mind, but they're a better match for the Nintendo Switch OLED.
You Asked 10: picture calibration, best budget buys, and premium small screens
Why do sports look so terrible on TVs? Why don’t manufacturers calibrate their TVs at the factory? We dive in to this and more in this episode of You Asked.
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.