Vizio Reference RS120-B3 LCD Ultra HDTV

In early october, Vizio invited me to New York City to join other digital-stained A/V scribes in the official launch of the company’s new Reference series Ultra HDTVs. The featured attraction was the RS120-B3 ($130,000), loaded up with more than 8 million pixels on its 120-inch diagonal (10-foot!) screen. The considerably more affordable, 65-inch RS65-B2 ($6,000) joined in the festivities.

Before the introduction, Vizio hosted a briefing for television reviewers to explain the technology and offer tips and tools for evaluating and calibrating high dynamic range (HDR) sets. Later, a handful of reviewers were granted some brief private time with the big RS120-B3 to do our best to wring it out. Although I had more than 90 minutes with the set, it allowed us to make some observations in anticipation of a full review of the 65-inch version, which we hope to bring to you soon.

Yamaha YSP-5600SW

The Yamaha YSP-5600SW is a soundbar/subwoofer duo with serious audio ambitions

Yamaha's YSP-5600 is a significant piece of kit to install. You'll need either wide, solid furniture or a sturdy wall. And there's no fancy aesthetic to this soundbar either. With tapered edges, the YSP is all front-facing mesh, behind which hides a 46-speaker beam array – each mini driver controlled by its own time delay setting and amplifier. Placed at the edge are twelve (2 x 6) 28mm upward-angled height speakers. These drivers utilise the same technique favoured by Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, bouncing audio off the ceiling to create a height channel. In between are 32 beam drivers used to paint the L/C/R and surround, plus two (sub) woofers. There's a lot of directional acoustics at play here.

Onkyo TX-NR3030

Onkyo's brawny TX-NR3030 boasts an indulgent 11.2-channel design. Without the need to resort to any extra amplification (which is currently the solution proffered by its main rivals), you can install the TX-NR3030 in a premium 7.2 configuration with four Dolby Atmos channels (literally) on top. That’s like ordering a sticky toffee pudding and adding a spotted dick garnish.

Design-wise, the TX-NR3030 emulates the clean lines found elsewhere in the brand’s 2014/15 lineup. An info-packed status display is flanked by volume knob and power button, while menu functionality and bonus inputs (HDMI/MHL, USB, phono AV and digital optical audio) are tucked behind a fascia flap.

Philips 50PFT6550

Philips continues to impress John Archer with this affordable yet talented Full HD 50-incher

As apple is keen to stress now that it’s rolled out a new Apple TV box devoid of 4K/UHD capability, Full HD television is far from dead. For many people HD remains adequate for their needs – especially as HD TVs are having their prices squeezed by UHD sets.

Philips seems more aware than most of Full HD’s ongoing sales potential. It has integrated a wide selection of HD models into its current range and has already impressed us with the 40in 40PFT6510. Now it’s out to prove that HD still matters further up the screen-size ladder with the 50in PFT6550.

Quarter battery pack

A battery pack charged by MagSafe! Too good to be true?

If you want to take a bunch of your Apple gear traveling with you, you can end up tied down with cables. This battery pack, which can give any iPhone more than a full charge from its USB port, can be charged using the MagSafe 2 connector from a MacBook Air or Pro (it also has a micro-USB port for charging from elsewhere).