Audio & Visual Gear

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Review: The Yamaha Sound System Steals the Show, but the SUV Hits Some Sour Notes

As the old joke goes, a man walks into a Yamaha store and says, “I need a piano and a boat motor.” The salesman says, “No problem.” The customer then says, “Really? Well, I also need a sound system for my brand new Mitsubishi Outlander,” and the salesman says, “You are NOT going to believe this…” As it turns out, the customer in that story was the product manager for the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander, and Yamaha designed its first-ever in-car audio system. Then they loaned me a car to test it out. I drove the SUV for one week.

News & Features

Govee TV Backlight 3 Wants to Make Your TV Wall Work a Little Harder

Govee is back with another attempt to make the wall behind your TV do more than sit there, and the new Govee TV Backlight 3 arrives with a more serious camera system, denser lighting, and broader smart home support than before. Launched today in the US and Europe, the kit is designed for people who like the idea of ambient lighting that follows what’s on-screen, but don’t want to run HDMI boxes, swap cables, or turn movie night into a small wiring project. Pricing starts at $109.99 for 55″ to 65″ TVs and $139.99 for 75″ to 85″ TVs.

News & Features

Lepro STV1 AI-Powered Smart TV Backlight Brings Screen-Synced Color to the Living Room

The Lepro STV1 AI-Powered Smart TV Backlight is built for anyone who likes the idea of the room reacting to what’s on-screen, but doesn’t want a nest of wires behind the TV or a setup process that feels like punishment. Launching May 15, 2026, the camera-based backlight extends colors from movies, games, sports, and music into the space around your television. It’s available in an 11.8′ version for 55″ to 65″ TVs for $89.99, and a 16.4′ version for 75″ to 85″ TVs for $109.99.

News & Features, Crowdfunding

XGIMI Launches TITAN Noir Series 4K Projectors with Kickstarter Pricing

XGIMI is taking another swing at the high-end home theater crowd with the TITAN Noir Series, a new family of 4K projectors that first appeared at CES 2026 and is now launching globally through Kickstarter. The lineup includes the TITAN Noir Max, TITAN Noir Pro, and TITAN Noir, with early pricing starting at $2,499. The headline feature is a Dual Intelligent Iris System, a new light-control setup meant to deepen black levels, preserve shadow detail, and help very large projected images look less washed out in rooms that aren’t perfect blackout caves or ordinary living rooms.

News & Features

The Samsung 2026 TV Lineup Goes Big on Mini LED, OLED, Micro RGB, and Vision AI

The Samsung 2026 TV lineup is expanding with refreshed Neo QLED 4K sets, a brand-new Mini LED range, updated OLED models, additions to The Frame family, and an even stronger push around Vision AI. After seeing the broader lineup in person at Samsung HQ in Edgewater, New Jersey, this March, the takeaway was less about one single hero product and more about how determined Samsung is to spread premium features across nearly every price tier. Whether that makes shopping easier or just gives you more ways to overthink your next TV purchase depends on your temperament.

News & Features

Soundboks Mix Launches at $799 with 121 dB Sound and up to 40 Hours of Battery Life

The Soundboks Mix is SOUNDBOKS‘ newest Bluetooth speaker, and it’s very clearly not trying to be tasteful background audio for a quiet dinner party. The Danish brand says this $799 speaker is built to bring high-output sound into more everyday settings, with up to 121 dB of volume, a swappable battery, app-based sound controls, and an outdoor-friendly design. In other words, it’s meant for the kind of gathering where the music is part of the event, not just something humming politely in the corner.

Reviews

BOYA Mini 2 Wireless Microphone Review: Excellent Sound and Amazing AI Noise Cancellation Made Very Affordable

Since 2012, BOYA has offered a range of audio products, including wired and wireless microphones, headphones, mixers, and accessories. In this review, we test the BOYA mini 2, an updated, AI-powered lavalier microphone system. A few months ago, we reviewed the BOYA Magic Microphone and gave it a 5 out of 5 rating. The Magic is a clever wireless mic system that can be configured in four different ways. The mini 2 is the upgraded version of the mini and shares many of the Magic’s advantages and performance in a simpler form.

Events, Gear Bits

Audeze Present LCD-5s Flagship Planar Headphones Featuring SLAM Technology at NAMM Show

Audeze, long recognized for its high-end headphone performance, has unveiled the LCD-5s, the next evolution of one of its flagship models. The new edition incorporates Audeze’s SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator) technology, delivering deeper, more realistic bass and even more precise midrange performance, all wrapped in an updated design worthy of its reputation. The LCD-5s made their first public appearance at the 2026 NAMM Show last week, where Audeze presented its full range of professional, creator-focused, gaming, and audiophile headphones. Crafted for listeners who insist on uncompromising fidelity and exceptional artisanal quality, the LCD-5s stands as a showcase of planar-magnetic…

Gear Bits, Events

TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TVs Debut with OLED-Like Blacks, 10,000 Nits Brightness, and AI-Powered Google TV

TCL has an impressively deep portfolio of products, but the area where they’re head and shoulders above the rest is in their screen technology. From phones to televisions, you know you’re getting a display like no other if it comes from TCL. But they’ve really outdone themselves with the new TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED television lineup, which promises colors and audio like never before!

Crowdfunding, Events, News & Features

UPDATED: AWOL Vision Aetherion Series Brings PixelPerfect 4K Projection to 200″ for Cinematic Living Rooms and Next-Gen Gaming

The new AWOL Vision Aetherion series enters the scene with the Aetherion Max and Aetherion Pro, a pair of ultra short-throw projectors designed to bring 4K clarity into living rooms, home theaters, or gaming dens without demanding a complicated setup or a cavern of space. The keyword here is Aetherion, because this system leans hard into precision, speed, and scale. If you have ever looked at a giant projected image and thought the details seemed a little too impressionistic, the Aetherion lineup aims to fix that problem in a very big way.

News & Features

The TCL T7 Series QLED TV Brings Premium Picture to the Living Room Without the Premium Price

If you’ve been eyeing those big, beautiful QLED TVs that make everything look like a movie, but you’re not ready to drop a month’s rent on one, the TCL T7 Series QLED TV might be your happy middle ground. Designed for people who want cinematic color, smooth motion, and smart features without the sticker shock, this 4K UHD HDR QLED TV lineup delivers big-screen luxury at prices that don’t make your wallet panic.

Reviews

BOYA Magic Microphone Review: Four Configurations with Excellent Sound and Amazing AI Noise Cancellation

Formed in 2012, BOYA offers a range of audio products, including wired and wireless microphones, headphones, mixers, and accessories. In this review, we test the BOYA Magic-01, an AI-powered transformable microphone. The BOYA Magic Microphone can be viewed either as a single microphone that can take four different forms or as a group of products that work together as a system. At its core, the BOYA Magic is two wireless lavalier microphones and three different receivers with accessories that allow it to function differently depending on your needs.

News & Features

Roku Levels Up with AI Voice, Smarter Search, and Sports Scores to Make Streaming Even Better

I’m an unabashed Roku fanboy, and have been for many years. Roku’s interface and design have just continued to improve with each iteration. They know that when you sit down to watch TV, you want to be able to zero in on your options in the increasingly expansive streaming channels. The latest refresh of Roku’s platform incorporates AI, sports, and more to make it an even better experience!

Reviews

INNOCN 25G2S Gaming Monitor Review: A 240Hz QHD 2K Gaming Monitor on a Budget

Founded in 2014 in Shenzhen, China, INNOCN manufactures a wide range of monitor types, including curved, portable, desktop, 4K, OLED, gaming, and ultrawide monitors. In this review, we test the INNOCN 25G2S, a 24.5-inch, 240Hz QHD 2k gaming monitor. Design The INNOCN 25G2S features a modern and fairly typical aesthetic, with the monitor and base finished in matte black and accented with a simulated carbon fiber design. The screen has a minimal bezel with a few controls in the lower right corner. These controls include the menu select button as well as buttons for up, down, exit, and power. The…

Events, Gear Bits

Meet the Valerion VisionMaster Max, the Ultra-Bright, AI-Powered Projector Making Its Big Debut at IFA 2025

If you’ve been waiting for a projector that can make your living room feel like a private cinema, Valerion thinks it has the answer. Unveiled at IFA 2025, the new VisionMaster Max isn’t just another big-screen machine—it’s a powerhouse built to deliver sharper colors, deeper blacks, and enough brightness to cut through almost any viewing environment. With cutting-edge AI, seamless smart home integration, and even Dolby Atmos options for those who want the full theater effect, the VisionMaster Max is setting out to redefine what a premium projector can be. Here’s why it’s generating so much buzz.

Events, News & Features

XGIMI HORIZON 20 Series and TITAN Introduced: Next-Level Home Cinema Meets Pro-Grade Projection

Projectors used to be the tech equivalent of a VCR: big, clunky, and mostly collecting dust in corporate boardrooms. XGIMI has spent the last decade rewriting that narrative. Instead of beige boxes that wheeze when they power on, the company has turned projection into something sleek, modern, and actually desirable. At IFA 2025, XGIMI isn’t just refreshing its greatest hits; it’s splitting its focus. The new HORIZON 20 Series brings big-screen entertainment into your living room without demanding blackout curtains, while TITAN struts in as XGIMI’s first commercial-grade projector, ready to muscle its way into conference halls and art spaces.

News & Features

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE Wireless Headphones Offer Hi-Fi Sound, Head-Turning Looks, and Thoughtful Features That Make Sense

If you’ve ever wished your wireless headphones had the sound quality of a proper hi-fi system without looking like something only an audiophile could love, Cambridge Audio has been thinking about you. Their newly launched Melomania P100 SE wireless headphones aren’t just another refresh. They’ve taken their flagship over-ear model, given it a deep sonic massage, dressed it in a bold new Blue, and added features that cater to real-life listening—whether that’s tuning out a plane full of noise or rediscovering old favorites without cranking the volume to 11.

Creative Stage Pro sitting on a console under a television ounted on a wall.

News & Features

The Creative Stage Pro Soundbar Brings Dolby Audio and Big Cinematic Sound to Small Spaces

Creative Technology has just released the Creative Stage Pro, and it might be exactly what your living room (or your cluttered desk) has been missing. It’s a sleek, 2.1-channel soundbar-and-subwoofer combo designed to make movies, games, and even your nightly scroll through YouTube feel a lot less flat. Priced at $169.99, it packs thoughtful features that bridge the gap between a traditional home theater setup and the quick fix of tinny TV speakers, all without swallowing your space.

News & Features

SOUNDBOKS Lightboks Debuts as Portable Audio-Reactive Party Light for Immersive Music and Lighting Experiences

If you’ve ever thrown a party and felt like something was missing — something intangible that kept the vibe from quite hitting — SOUNDBOKS is about to become your new favorite co-host. Their latest creation, the SOUNDBOKS Lightboks, officially launching on August 14, 2025, is an audio-reactive, battery-powered party light designed to sync with your music and transform any setting into something worthy of a music video. In other words, Lightboks is the atmosphere-maker you didn’t know you needed.

AWOL Vision’s 120" Motorized ALR Floor Rising Screen

Deals

Prime Day Lights Up with AWOL Vision and Valerion Projectors; This Is Your Moment to Go Big

If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching your not-so-smart TV for something more cinematic without turning your living room into a construction site, Prime Day is serving up some irresistible projector deals from AWOL Vision and Valerion. From July 8 through 11, you’ll find massive discounts (up to $1,550 off) on projectors that turn any room into your personal theater — and no, you don’t need blackout curtains or an engineering degree to set them up.

News & Features

Yaber T1 Pro Offers a Ticket to an Effortless Mini Cinema for Under $200

If you’ve been quietly longing to transform your dorm room, bedroom ceiling, or tent wall into a full-blown cinema without selling a kidney, Yaber must have read your mind. The newly launched Yaber T1 Pro is a compact smart projector promising powerful audio, built-in streaming, and a dead-simple setup in a design so sleek it might make your decor think twice about its purpose. And the best part is that it will only set you back $159.99, which is roughly the cost of taking a family of four to the movies once and splurging on some snacks.

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