Wait! Don’t click the back button! I know this is another soundbar in a very crowded soundbar market, but Niles has actually cooked up a new take on the tired soundbar formula that’s actually worth a serious look.  For starters, it’s made by Niles, which should at least garner a little attention.  Secondly, it’s an in-wall more »

Sony has taken the wraps off a few of its new receivers and soundbars for this year, rebuilt from the ground up to take advantage of today’s streaming technologies. First up is the STR-DN1040, a 7.2 1050 watt receiver, which reportedly delivers up to 165 watt per channel: Sony offers consumers the only AV receivers more »

SpeakerCraft announced last week the addition of three new SKUs to its Profile line of discreet in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, adding a new five-speaker system, a new subwoofer, and a new stereo in-ceiling speaker. If you’re in the market for a home theater speaker system, but in-room or on-wall speakers just won’t do for aesthetic more »

When rumors start circling last week that Emotiva was buying Bob Carver, LLC, I chalked it up to a late April Fool’s prank. Granted, we’re talking about two companies for which I have the utmost respect, but two companies that also seem to have very little in common. Emotiva is, for my money, the top more »

Meridian announced this week that its DSP520 in-wall loudspeaker is now available. The 520 is a more budget-friendly model in the same line as the DSP640 in-wall that Chris Schaaf first reported on during CES. Meridian has designed the DSP520 for discreet installations, but has also given customers the flexibility to pair the speaker with freestanding models such more »

Triad Speakers announced today that it’s now shipping an updated version of its popular InWall Bronze/4 SlimSub, which adds both aesthetic touchups and performance enhancements to the already impressive discrete subwoofer. The biggest standouts in the redesign include a new flush-mount, 3-15/16” deep enclosure that no longer protrudes from the wall; a new long-throw 10-inch more »

Definitive Technology’s Sound Cylinder is an intriguing beast — an Edifier-esque Bluetooth tablet speaker from one of the most recognized names in affordable hi-fi. In an ocean of me-too Bluetooth speakers, though, this one floats above the rest with its built-in subwoofer (no, really), and a neat clamping feature that allows it to double as more »

Monoprice, a favorite among tech enthusiasts for low-priced cables, adapters, and other assorted gear, seems to have run afoul of speaker maker Klipsch, who has sued the e-tailer for allegedly copying its . The story comes from CNET: A few months ago, upstart online retailer Monoprice debuted its 5.1 Hi-Fi Home Theater Satellite Speakers & more »

MartinLogan has updated its Helos line with two new models — dubbed 12 and 22 models — designed to provide accurate sound in almost invisible installations. As many an audiophile knows, Wife Acceptance Factor of giant floorstanding speakers is typically relatively low. But if you can have spacious, rich sound magically appear in the room without more »

Edifier has added the iF335BT Bric Connect Bluetooth speaker to its growing lineup of portable-but-high-quality speakers. The Bric Connect includes a built-in microphone for hands-free phone communication and multiple-listener conference calls. The Bric Connect’s Bluetooth connectivity also allows for wireless streaming of music on the go. The iF335BT Bric Connect ships with a wireless remote that offers several options: more »

If you’re into high-quality, bulletproof audiophile amps, you no doubt already know the Bryston brand. In my decade or so of covering high-end custom installations, I’ve seen the company’s amplifiers paired with just about every audiophile speaker in existence. And now we can add one more brand of speakers to that list: Bryston’s own. Designed more »

Onkyo has announced three new mid-priced receivers coming to market in April, with a 7.1-channel Home Theater in a Box system following in May. The new receiver models—TX-NR525 ($499), TX-NR626 ($599), and TX-NR727 ($899)—all three feature access to an upgraded selection of streaming music services (including Spotify, TuneIn Radio, and Last.fm), advanced remote control app more »