• Last updated 1/31/13 by Scott Wilkinson

      If you're like me, you've collected hundreds—if not thousands—of shiny silver discs in various formats, including Blu-ray, DVD, and CD. Not only that, you might also be downloading and/or streaming audio and video content from the Internet. Having access to so much content is great, but it's also confusing, with multiple source devices connected to multiple inputs on your AV receiver or preamp/processor—not to mention finding what you want in a library of discs, downloaded files stored on various computers, and streaming content.   One solution to... read more

• Last updated 12/7/12 by Nick Val

   AVSForum is the premier web destination for all things Home Theater. Home to the most knowledgeable, discerning, and passionate home theater enthusiasts for the last 15 years, AVSForum has always been a resource for both DIY hobbyists and industry insiders. Over the years we’ve found our niche as the guys that know it all but aren’t know-it-alls. AVS members are constantly pushing the boundaries of what their theaters can do, and the members are all along for the ride, giving advice and sharing stories. Now we’re looking to take things to the next level and build a... read more

• Last updated 12/18/12 by Ralph Potts

In looking back over this year’s Blu-ray releases I would say that 2012 had its share of noteworthy offerings. This includes new films coming to the format as well as catalog titles several of which have received re-mastered video with impressive results. While the year isn’t quite over I wanted to take a look at 25 Blu-ray releases that I found to be special. This isn’t limited solely to discs that received reference marks from me for audio/video although there are many. I have included the Final Thoughts portion from my review of each along with a link to the review... read more

• Last updated 12/4/12 by Scott Wilkinson

    Last night, Sony launched its much-anticipated 4K Ultra HD flat panel at a gala event held at a palatial private residence known as the House of Rock, located in the high-end Los Angeles neighborhood of Brentwood. The 84-inch XBR-84X900 (seen here with the lovely Allison Holmes of Sony's Cierge customer-service group) is now available to well-heeled consumers at a list price of $25,000—but don't expect any holiday-shopping discounts, at least not this year! Sony is using the term "4K Ultra HD" to distinguish the pixel resolution of this flat panel... read more

• Last updated 11/7/12 by David Bott

So there you have it; your new home theater (or Home Cinema) all ready to go. You have the room built just like you would like it, all the new equipment is now installed, and you want to have that first movie party. But wait! Something is missing. Where is the popcorn? When Brenda and I were planning our theater, we made sure popcorn of some sort was on the list. Ok, sure, it was made with a microwave and came in a bag. But come on, we all have to start somewhere right? Even our theater gear was like that. I started out long ago with a 52” Rear projection TV... read more

• Last updated 10/24/12 by David Bott

  By David Bott, 10/24/12 Founder, AVS Forum   So there you are, the proud new owner of your newly built Home Theater. The room came out like you wanted, you have all the extras, and things are just right -- you can settle down now. Humm…Nope! Let me tell you something here. You are NEVER done with your Home Theater. In fact, you just may be ill.   You read me right: you're really not done. And it's more than likely that you will never be. Sure, you may be watching movies and enjoying your new theater, but you see, you will just never seem to stop... read more

• Last updated 10/24/12 by espodo

  By Eric Podolsky, 10/22/12   It’s that time of year again. October is the month in which we give ourselves permission to revel in the perverse, to take pleasure in fear, to seek out the dark things from which we recoil the other 11 months of the year. In a nutshell, it’s horror movie time here at AVS! Whether the macabre and gruesome is your bag or not, there is a deep, deep well of lost and not-so-lost horror/thriller classics to explore. Lucky for us, AVS has a dedicated contingent of horror movie aficionados who are more than happy to help us decide where... read more

• Last updated 10/17/12 by espodo

  Back in June, we ran a contest where we asked AVS members to share their worst home theater installation mistakes ever for a chance to win an Epson projector. The responses we got were both hilarious and heartbreaking, often simultaneously. There were tales of smashed plasmas, fried, smoking electronics, electrocution, pets and children causing destruction, and of course, lots of faulty wiring.   This “EPIC FAIL” thread was one for the records, and we thought it too good to slip quietly into the archives without highlighting some of the best/worst stories... read more

• Last updated 10/12/12 by espodo

  By Eric Podolsky, 10/12/12   As the Blu-ray format slowly pushes DVDs into yesterday’s news, us videophiles couldn’t be happier with the ever-growing plethora of old films getting remastered and released in a pristine HD format. We are very grateful to live in a time when we’re able to experience film at a cinematic level in our own homes -- Blu-ray has truly improved the quality of home theater in ways that none of us could fathom a decade ago.   But there are still a massive number of classic films that, for whatever reason, have yet to get the proper HD... read more

• Last updated 10/10/12 by espodo

  By Eric Podolsky, 10/10/12   As the 3D Blu-ray market grows larger with every passing year, we’re finding it harder and harder to sift through the plethora of mediocre 3D films to find ones that are truly worthy of our home theater. It’s certainly true that there is a discrepancy between what constitutes a good film and a good 3D film -- eye-popping 3D visuals will often make up for the lack of a good plot when it comes to 3D Blu-rays. Conversely, while there are plenty of fantastic movies that have been released on 3D Blu-ray, most of the time 3D just doesn’t... read more