discussion

BIC Acoustech PL-200 II Review By Jim Wilson (theJman) BIC seems to be the master of economical subwoofers. The H-100 impressed me when I reviewed it back in 2014, and their F12 is a perennial best seller. Now they release a new PL-200, the model II, which is their top-of-the-line offering...

Rythmik Audio FV18 Review By Jim Wilson (theJman) Rythmik has a reputation to uphold, and a lofty one at that. Widely regarded as a company who creates some of the most articulate and precise subwoofers money can buy, they're in an enviable position. Most of their competitors would love to...

(picture courtesy of Hsu Research) Hsu Research CCB-8 Speaker By Jim Wilson (theJman) I'm willing to bet you've never heard a speaker this size sound this good. There are but two driver elements that comprise the Hsu Research CCB-8 - with the tweeter nestled in what would be the dustcap...

Monoprice has spent the last decade-plus cementing itself as the web’s ultimate budget destination for cables and audio parts. The phrase “bang for your buck” easily applies to the company’s traditional offerings, which have a reputation of being solid performers. And while good quality is...

Monoprice has spent the last decade-plus cementing itself as the web’s ultimate budget destination for cables and audio parts. The phrase “bang for your buck” easily applies to the company’s traditional offerings, which have a reputation of being solid performers. And while good quality is...

The HD3 is another typical product from Audioengine. This is a company for which I have reviewed numerous products, and I have developed an expectation level when a new product arrives from the team out of Austin, Texas. That expectation is that their products will be value-packed, fun to work...

Picture courtesy of SVS SVS SB16-Ultra By Jim Wilson (theJman) Do I even need to write a Conclusion section for this review? After reading through my evaluation is there anyone who doesn't already know what I'm going to say? If it's not painfully obvious at this point let me spell it...

It is no secret that I like MartinLogan speakers. To be more specific, I like electrostatic speakers, of which MartinLogan produces some of the finest on the planet. I have published in-depth reviews of several MartinLogan L/R pairs and one Center Channel model. They never disappoint. My main...

SVS refers to its Prime Elevation speaker ($199/pair) as “the world’s most versatile home theater speaker.” While that sounds like blanket marketing jargon, it may in fact be true. Elevation, you see, is a highly adaptable and well-designed dynamo that delivers big on performance and...

2016 was a statement year for 4K UHD Blu-ray. Disc sales outpaced industry expectations and early adopters were showered with a handful of first-gen player options. Initially pricy and questionably incomplete, we ended the year with five official 4K UHD Blu-ray player releases (with only one –...

OPPO Digital has established itself as the premier manufacturer of universal disc players by doing business the right way; delivering well-built high performance gear paired with customer service that’s known to be excellent. And the company’s reputation isn’t limited to disc players, having...

Picture courtesy of Seaton Sound forum member obdav Seaton Sound MFW-15 Turbo SS By Jim Wilson (theJman) The Phoenix rises. From the ashes of the notorious Internet Direct company AV123, the MFW-15 subwoofer has been reborn as the Turbo SS. Brought back to life by Mark Seaton, the...

Friday AM: Dennis and I spent the night at the Econo Lodge in Brush CO, after a prime rib dinner at Ole's in Paxton Nebraska. We are up early and about to hit the road. Let us know what you think, what you would like to see, what you have seen (if you are attending) or would like us to check...

by Wayne Myers Price Each: $999 Introduction MiniDSP has become a solid source for hardware-based Dirac Live implementations in recent years. Their products cover a range from two-channel 24b-96kbps models to eight-channel 24b-48kbps nano-sized and rack-mount models. But their offerings have...

There’s no denying the seductiveness of today’s home theater AV receivers and the dynamic multi-channel audio performances they conduct. Powerful, loaded with technology, and brandishing large price tags, the best surround sound AVRs deliver big on audio and video. But not everyone is looking...

Introduction In my quest for the perfect home theater I have thrown lots of time and money at media players and streaming devices, trying to find the best balance of quality and convenience. An HTPC hits that sweet spot for many enthusiasts - offering the convenience of an all-in-one web...

Not long ago, 7.1 channel AVRs were considered to be top-tier equipment, 9.1 models were rarefied air, and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA ruled the Blu-ray audio codec universe. Then a little thing called Dolby Atmos happened. And while a modern seven-channel receiver can offer good entry level...

OPPO is sporting quite a bit of product diversity these days, ranging from Blu-ray players and headphones to headphone amps and a slick new Wi-Fi speaker. The company officially launched its first non-disc player offerings two years ago with the introduction of the PM-1 Planar Magnetic...

Home Theater Shack and its long-standing sponsor, OPPO, are thrilled announce an exclusive summer Giveaway Contest that is sure to set your ears on fire! Over the next three months, Home Theater Shack members can enter to win one set of OPPO’s stellar PM-2 Planar Magnetic Headphones ($699...

A defining audio moment can sear itself into one’s collective memory like the taste of a flavorful food. It can’t be shaken and the desire to experience it again can be downright maddening. I had such a moment, last fall, after entering GoldenEar Technology’s demo room at CEDIA 2015. Sandy...