Al Griffin

Al Griffin

Senior Editor Home Entertainment, US

Al Griffin is Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, US at TechRadar. Previously the editor of Sound & Vision magazine, he brings nearly three decades of journalism experience to the position, and has contributed to a wide range of print and online outlets including Wirecutter, ProjectorCentral, The SoundStage! Network, Popular Science, and HD Guru. An ISF-trained video calibrator, Al specializes in TV and projector testing and has also written countless audio equipment reviews ranging from speakers and subwoofers to integrated amps. An avowed movie fanatic, he spends his free time holed up in his home theater, and is also an avid cyclist.

Articles by: Al Griffin

Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 AVR on white background

Pioneer’s new PS5-friendly 8K receiver uses AI to control bass

By Al Griffin published

Pioneer's new Elite 11.2.4-channel receiver is packed with all the latest and greatest AV tech, and some AI smarts as well.

WiiM Pro steamer on wooden desk with compter keyboard and speakers

WiiM’s cheap wireless high-res audio streamer turns any speaker into a Sonos

By Al Griffin published

The new WiiM Pro is a low-cost way to add high-res audio streaming to an existing speaker setup, and it doesn't skimp at all on features.

JBL Bar 1300X soundbar on TV stand

JBL Bar 1300X review: a soundbar that does Dolby Atmos right

By Al Griffin published

Editor's Choice

JBL's flagship 16-channel soundbar system is pricey, but for those seeking innovative design paired with uncompromised sound, it delivers.

Concept art from Avatar: The Way of Water

You can stream Avatar 2 at home soon, but don’t even bother

By Al Griffin published

Disney has announced that Avatar: The Way of Water will soon be available to buy in a digital edition, but it's not going to be the same movie we saw in theaters.

two LG OLED TVs in dark room being used for movie post production

Filmmaker Mode on LG OLED TVs may be getting a huge HDR upgrade

By Al Griffin published

LG has confirmed the approval of a Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode, but you won't be seeing it on TVs arriving in 2023.

sony HT-S20000 soundbar on red backgroiund

Sony’s new 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar is like a Sonos Beam but with DTS:X

By Al Griffin published

Sony has announced the HT-S2000, a compact 3.1 soundbar with virtual processing for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Sony-A95L QD-OLED TV on TV stand shown from side angle with city image onscreen

I saw Sony's new A95L QD-OLED, and it could be the best 4K TV of 2023

By Al Griffin published

Not yet rated

Sony’s next-gen QD-OLED TV pumps up the brightness, and new picture processing and gaming enhancements should make it a top TV contender for 2023.

Google TV onscreen interface showing streaming apps

Google TV is getting a free update that makes it easier to find what you want

By Al Griffin published

New pages that let viewers browse movies, TV shows, and more from apps they already subscribe to have been added to the Google TV smart interface.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 on top of iPhone on gray backgorund

Meet the app that's fixing Apple Music's big Dolby Atmos problem

By Al Griffin last updated

Apple Music is bad about displaying music mixed in Dolby Atmos, but help has arrived in the form of a library tracking app.

JBL Bar 1300X on TV stand

I tried JBL’s 15-channel soundbar and it’s Dolby Atmos done right

By Al Griffin published

JBL's new 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar may be pricey, but it doesn't cut any corners in delivering immersive sound.

Netflix logo on TV screen in contemporary living room

Is Netflix’s pricey Premium plan a bad deal for movie fans?

By Al Griffin published

Netflix Premium is one of the more expensive streaming options out there, but what does it offer for movie fans?

Super Bowl LVII Chiefs and Eagles helmets on gren gridiron

Super Bowl 4K TV tune-up: get the best picture for the big game

By Al Griffin published

Super Bowl LVII may be happening this weekend, but there’s still plenty of time to optimize your TV’s picture for game day.

Black Atlantic Technology TWS1 earbuds on white background

These cheaper AirPods Pro 2 competitors have a High-Res Audio advantage

By Al Griffin published

Atlantic Technology’s new wireless earbuds offer active noise-cancelling and aptX Adaptive for High-Res Audio, for less than the price of the high-end competition.

Samsung S95C OLED TV with yellow flowers on screen

Samsung’s stunning new 77-inch OLED TV is now available to pre-order

By Al Griffin published

First announced at CES 2023, Samsung’s new, larger OLED TV has arrived for pre-order in the US, and at a fairly substantial price.

STR-AZ7000ES AV receiver on table with curtain in background

Sony’s new AV receivers with PS5 & Sonos support are the future-proof option we need

By Al Griffin published

After a five year hiatus, Sony has launched a range of fully decked out receivers, and the results look – and sound – worth the wait.

Philips Fidelio S1 speaker on black table with green background

I tried Philips’ Sonos-style wireless speaker – good sound and it’s lit

By Al Griffin published

The Philips Fidelio S1 is a versatile wireless speaker that can be paired as a surround with one of the company's soundbars. Oh, and it has Ambilight .

NAD CS1 music streamer on a hi-fi console with integrated amp and speakers

NAD’s new wireless streamer is a cheap high-res audio upgrade

By Al Griffin published

The new NAD CS1 is one of the least expensive options available for adding high-res streaming to an existing music system.

Home theater with beige furniture and large screen

More 8K projectors are coming, but after seeing them I'm not sure I care

By Al Griffin published

CES 2023 marked the debut of 8K projectors from Samsung and Hisense, but they were easily upstaged by other cool TV tech on display.

Hands holding phone with Spotify mobile app

Spotify price hike looks more likely than ever after CEO comments around layoffs

By Al Griffin published

Spotify is the latest tech firm to announce mass job cuts, and the company’s pain could result in higher streaming costs

Apple TV 4K 2022 and Siri remote on white background

Apple TV 4K (2022) review: the best streaming device is now better and cheaper

By Al Griffin published

The latest Apple TV 4K isn't a big leap from the previous version, but a few new features and tweaks make it a worthy successor.

LG PF510Q projector on white background

LG’s smart projector is the square cousin of Samsung’s cool The Freestyle

By Al Griffin published

Portable projectors are being used more than ever for entertainment, and with its new compact offering LG is getting in on the game.

Hisense U8K TV displayed at CES 2023

Hisense TVs will be all mini-LED in 2023, and Samsung needs to do the same

By Al Griffin published

With mini-LED making a big showing in new TVs announced at CES 2023, all eyes are on Samsung to migrate it to lower-cost sets.

Denon AVR-X4800H receiver on white background

Denon’s 8K-ready receiver is the perfect match for your PS5

By Al Griffin published

AV receivers in recent years have shipped minus up-to-date video features, but Denon’s new model arrives fully loaded

Retail store display of Taylor Swift's album Midnights in LP and CD formats

The vinyl revival is coming to a crashing halt – but don't blame Taylor Swift

By Al Griffin published

Vinyl record sales ended a 17-year upward skyrocket in 2022, and there's plenty of blame to go around for it.

Imagine Dragons band performing onstage at the Dolby Live theater

I watched a live concert in Dolby Atmos and it sounded like a movie

By Al Griffin published

CES 2023 With ticket prices soaring through the roof, concertgoers deserve better sound, and Dolby Live delivers that.

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