Home Theater Systems

by Richard Stevens ·Posted 01/20/2023
The league added an extra regular season game, but it’s playoff time and the Big Game is fast approaching. It can take weeks or even months to choose the perfect A/V system, but who has that kind of time? To enjoy the Big Game in all its high-definition glory, we just need the right display and audio system to pull us into the action and, thankfully, we can have it for less than the price of game-day tickets. Depending on the size of your viewing space, I’ve suggested three systems that will take your Big Game experience straight into the end
by Rich R ·Posted 03/01/2021
Epson recently announced that the white EpiqVision Ultra LS300 home theater projector will be released to join its black counterpart, which is already available. The LS300 features an ultra-short-throw ratio that can project images up to 120 from just 15.2" away, or 61" images from 1" away. This ultra-
by Rich R ·Posted 01/20/2021
From network amplifiers to soundbars to virtual assistant speakers and more, Bluesound has an extensive catalog of products. They’re now available at B&H Photo, and I’ll be walking you through it all to help you find what you need. Home Theater The POWERNODE 2i is a 2.1-channel network amplifier that’s available in black matte or
by Jason T ·Posted 08/06/2020
Since many families are forgoing their annual vacations and staying put for the summer, people are looking for creative ways to bring their loved ones together at home. With social distancing still the norm, setting up an outdoor movie theater in your backyard is a great way to get your family and close friends together to have some fun and be entertained in a safe manner. Creating a backyard theater may sound like a daunting task, but it’s easier than you may think. Choosing when to have your outdoor movie night involves some considerations
by Rich R ·Posted 07/22/2020
Samsung recently released a new line of soundbar systems with enough variety to meet the needs of most homes. Starting with the least amount of space required, the HW-S40T is a stereo soundbar that’s only 26.8" wide. It has an optical input for connecting to your compatible TV, and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless
by Mos Khan ·Posted 11/07/2022
The holidays are upon us and if you need some ideas for what to get dear old Dad, we've got you covered. Our guide includes a wide range of tech gifts from brands like Apple, Sony, DJI, and more. No two dads are alike, so the staff at Explora has put together recommendations for all types of tech-minded fathers.  A New Perspective  If Dad has ever been curious about drone photography, it's a fantastic time to enter the space. Not only did DJI's long-awaited
by Cory Rice ·Posted 06/05/2020
Sonos continues its tradition of producing brilliant audio from beautifully designed devices with a trio of updates: the Arc soundbar, Five wireless speaker, and Sub (Gen 3) wireless subwoofer. The Arc serves as Sonos’s latest soundbar, incorporating Dolby Atmos
by Rich R ·Posted 06/23/2020
To complement its line of streaming devices, Roku has recently released a series of home theater products to further enhance your TV viewing experience. The 9101R Smart Soundbar features a 2-channel design with four full-range drivers designed to provide robust stereo sound. It connects via your TV’s HDMI ARC port or its optical output for a simple, one-cable setup. Features like Speech Clarity, Volume Leveling, Night Mode, and a
by Rich R ·Posted 05/20/2020
While time may seem to be standing still for most of us, LG is continuing to churn out new home theater products to help us pass our extra hours at home. For example, it has added the 65" CXPUA OLED to its TV line, which sports a native 4K UHD resolution, various gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology, and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built in. It uses the α9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K to
by Rich R ·Posted 04/05/2019
In the 1960s, we saw starship captains flipping open a pocket-sized device and talking to their crew in orbit, and family members calling one another in full color through what looked like a TV (or at least, what a TV looked like at the time). Steven Spielberg once said, “There is no such thing as science fiction, there is only science eventuality,” and just 50 years after these shows originally aired, you can video chat with anyone around the world while waiting for a taxi, ask a speaker to play your favorite sappy love song, or tell your TV
by Rich R ·Posted 04/03/2019
BenQ is making headlines again with its update to last year’s TK800, the new TK800M Home Theater Projector. With generally minor differences, the new model has most of the same specs as its predecessor, including XPR 4K UHD resolution, 3,000 lumens of brightness, and HDR10 compatibility,
by Rich R ·Posted 03/20/2019
Samsung recently made noise in the home audio community with its newly released soundbar systems. Available in three different configurations (2.1-, 3.1-, and virtual 5.1-channel), these four models each include a wireless subwoofer with a 6.5" driver and feature Bluetooth music streaming and USB audio playback, plus an optical and 1/8" aux input. Additionally, the soundbars are all wall-mountable with included hardware, and each system is expandable to a full surround system with the optional
by Rich R ·Posted 08/27/2018
The new MusicCast speakers, from Yamaha, enable wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, or Wi-Fi, and can be controlled from your Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. Available in black or white, the MusicCast 20 is wall-mountable with its rear 1/4"-20 thread and is equipped with a 1" tweeter and a 3.5" woofer
by Rich R ·Posted 08/10/2018
Polk Audio, best known for its home theater speakers, wasn’t subtle when naming its virtual assistant speakers the “Assist;” Google Assistant is built in, allowing you to control your compatible smart devices through them with just your voice. Available in midnight black or
by Richard L Stevens ·Posted 08/08/2018
Don’t take the gazebo down just yet. Summer, or some version of it, is still in full swing—and thus, so is your ability to enjoy it. Every year around this time, my family and I prepare for an annual summer tradition of our own: our backyard movie party. Summer must end at some point, but before it does, we break out the A/V gear, fire up the grill, and send it out with a bang. This type of party always goes over well with my outdoorsy crowd. There’s something about a big screen, good company, and good food that makes you appreciate all the