Anthem Statement A5 Multi-Channel Amplifier Review
As a firm believer in the importance of amplification in my home theater, I am always eager to hear the effect a change in amplification can have on the performance of my system. For the past few years, my daily driver speakers have been...
Seagate Personal Cloud
Reviewed by Ronald Epstein
March 2015
There are clouds everywhere you look. Tech-Savvy people are uploading and keeping their valuable information on a multitude of online services like Dropbox, Box, OneDrive and Google Drive. All these services offer free...
By Ronald Epstein
January, 2015
One of the smartest choices I made last year was my decision to switch from Android back to iOS with my purchase of the iPhone 6 Plus. At the time of that purchase I was amazed that the market was absolutely void of any media docks for Apple's new phones...
Definitive Technology Mythos ST-L SuperTower Review
As I was walking the halls of CEDIA Expo 2013, I chanced upon Definitive Technology’s booth, where they had a pretty long line of folks waiting to hear their new flagship loudspeaker. At the time I had no idea that this was the Mythos...
If you’re anything like me, the 4K displays on the horizon are a promising sign of a future we enthusiasts eagerly await. A future that offers increased resolution and contrast, sharper images and hopefully an extended color gamut. Sony is among the first manufacturers to offer a “true” 4K...
When you mention Plantronics, most immediately think of high-quality hands-free headsets for their office or mobile phone. But Plantronics has been slowly edging their way into the entertainment and fitness space with the introduction of their Backbeat series of headphones. Their latest product...
PC Gaming in the Home Theater – ASUS STRIX GTX 780 OC Review
Some of us have reluctantly admitted that gaming in the home theater is something best done on consoles, and despite the best efforts of Sony and Microsoft to bring state of the art visuals to the new generation PS4 and Xbox One...
Samsung PN64F8500 Plasma Crowned King of HDTV
by VE Shootout 2014...again?
That's right the Samsung F8500 has now became the very first HDTV to win the infamous VE Shootout back to back. In 2013 it was the battle of the Plasma's, between the Panasonic VT & ZT series which are no longer...
Overview
As a current owner of BenQ’s W6000 projector I was eager to see what has changed in BenQ’s DLP lineup for the home theater two generations after my projector was introduced. Following 2013’s W7000, the W7500 includes the same 3D functionality but ships without any included 3D glasses...
The Perfect NEST For The Home
Review by Ronald Epstein
July 2014
I have been wanting a Nest thermostat ever since it was introduced to the market in 2010 by Apple engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. These were two guys who who were unimpressed by the herd of thermostats that were...
Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote with Nest Integration
Review by Ronald Epstein
July 2014
As I sit here about to write this review, it feels like I am continually revisiting an old friend. I have been a huge fan of Logitech and their remote controls. I bought my first Logitech Universal...
DYSON D65 ANIMAL
Reviewed by Ronald Epstein
February 2014
You are probably wondering what a vacuum cleaner review is doing in a forum devoted to Home Theater. Well, truth be, I am a reviewer by heart and it just so happens that I was in need of a new vacuum cleaner to replace my Kenmore...
Oppo PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphone Review
When long time HTF sponsor Oppo announced they were getting into the headphone market, I was very excited for a multitude of reasons. First, and probably most obvious to those members who own an Oppo player, is that Oppo doesn’t build any mediocre...
Paradigm Soundtrack 2 Sound Bar Review
I admit to being a bit of a 5.1 snob but have recently had a chance to spread my wings a bit and look at a few 2 channel options that have made me give some consideration to that format and come away more impressed than I expected.
The first was in...
Marantz AV8801 Processor Review
Marantz is a well respected name in the A/V industry. Founded by Saul Marantz in 1953 in Kew Gardens, New York, the company subsisted by licensing its products to other companies. Acquired by several other companies over the years, Marantz has been owned by...
Harmony Smart Keyboard
Reviewed by Ronald Epstein
April 2014
Those of you who have been following my reviews over the years already know that I am a huge fan of Logitech Harmony remotes. I have reviewed several of their flagship products over the past decade and find myself continually...
The new 2000 series of 12-inch subwoofers from SVS features their new Sledge STA-500D amplifier with DSP controls, boasting 500 watts of power and distortion-free performance. The subwoofers come in a sealed (SB-2000) and ported (PB-2000) design. SVS sent samples of these new products for Home...
Is this the Perfect “Friend Package”?
You and I are here because we’re different. Our parents and our friends often don’t understand our predilection for this stuff. And unfortunately, we live among people who think MP3 (or AAC) is indistinguishable from uncompressed sound, and who can’t...
Projector Review: Epson 8345
When we met up with Epson at CEDIA last year, we spoke with Jason about the new line-up of Epson PJ’s and some of the existing PJ’s that have been in the Epson line-up. While Epson has a vast array of PJ’s from entry level 2D and 3D all the way up to PJ’s...
Wasn't sure where to post this but a very nice review of a higher AV receiver from AudioControl in Widescreen this month from the team here in Seattle. We have been making home audio for nearly 40 years and are very proud of this launch. Keep up the great work as well Home Theater Forum, we love...
I sold high-end audio gear back in the ‘80s and loved it. Mirage and JSE speakers, Threshold amps, Nakamichi tape decks, VPI turntables that we set up with a test LP and an oscilloscope--it was a dream job for any 20-something audiophile. Unfortunately, that job also made me a snob. My...
Speakers are, perhaps, the most subjective piece of a home theater system. What sounds fantastic to some will sound horrible to others. For newcomers to home theater, the choices for speakers, and their prices, can be overwhelming and intimidating. So, when I was given the opportunity to review...
I'm keeping this review short and tidy. I had it for 3 weeks so there are numerous things I didn't do, nor care to try as I wasn't going to re-wire many things for such a short time. I concentrated on what mattered, to me, most. How it sounded. Also going to throw in two major kudos to...
<strong class='bbc'>Boston Acoustics TVee One Speaker Base Review</strong><p><strong class='bbc'>Introduction</strong>Being a satisfied Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio owner for many years, its been my trusty alarm clock radio for over a decade, I was intrigued to hear the performance of the...
KEF E-305 5.1 HTIB Review
Introduction
I was first introduced to KEF Speakers at the dawn of the release of DVD by a neighbor who was both a huge audiophile and a laserdisk fan. At the time I had just gotten my first 'real' job and was intent on building a home theater that would be...
Sony’s BDP-S5100, which replaces last year’s BDP-S590, is loaded with features, enhancements, and a new design. Over the last four months, I’ve developed a love-hate (mostly love) relationship with the player, mostly due to Sony Tech Support’s responses to a few issues I’ve had. Overall, though...
Boston Acoustics TVee One Review
Introduction
Being a satisfied Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio owner for many years, its been my trusty alarm clock radio for over a decade, I was intrigued to hear the performance of the Boston Acoustics TVee One Speaker Base. Will it impress me in the ways my...
Panasonic Viera WT60 LED LCD 47" HDTV Review
If you have always associated Panasonic with plasma technology, then you should be aware of their LCD offerings also. The recently released Viera WT60 line features LED edge lighting, 3D technology with passive glass, and an ultra thin bezel (1.3"...
Is anyone here using 'Boxee live tv' USB adapter (49.00 USD) which connects to an OTA-HD antenna for local HD channels, I'm looking into this box and this feature would be a plus for me as I could retired my old samsung HD-STB.
Also, ATT provides free online U-Verse TV service to broadband...