ASCENDO, Barco, StormAudio & PrimeTheater Present The Luxury Immersion Cinema at ISE 2026

The ‘Luxury Immersion Cinema’ Redefines What’s Possible in Residential LED Home Theater at ISE 2026   ASCENDO Immersive Audio, Barco Residential, StormAudio, PrimeTheater, and Technology Integration Partners unite to show integrators how DCI-grade LED video and immersive audio, purpose-built for LED video walls, elevate luxury home cinema.   BARCELONA, Spain — 13 January 2026 — ASCENDO, Barco Residential, StormAudio, PrimeTheater, and Technology Integration Partners (TIP) present the Luxury Immersion Cinema at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026, stand 2J500, offering a new benchmark for residential theater design. As the popularity of LED video walls continues to grow in residential settings, this fully immersive, professional-grade demonstration reveals what’s possible when cinema-level video standards and uncompromising immersive audio are combined in a luxury home environment.    DCI Video Sets the Visual Benchmark At the visual core of the Luxury Immersion Cinema is Barco Residential’s Runar, the company’s LED video wall designed for luxury home cinema. Scheduled for DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) certification under the latest HDR standards, Runar represents the highest benchmark currently defined for cinema LED performance. Featuring a 0.9mm pixel pitch and native DCI 4K resolution (4,096 × 2,160), Runar delivers uncompromising cinematic image quality at residential viewing distances. Engineered with Micro LED in Package (MIP) technology, Runar is built for future-proof compatibility with premium DCI-HDR content.    “Whether watching consumer content or digital cinema packages (DCPs), ultra-deep black levels and high brightness provide exceptional contrast performance, whilst DCI-P3 coverage and color precision provide a truly reference cinematic experience,” says Bart Devos, Business Development Manager EMEA, Barco Residential.    With 100,000:1 contrast, ultra-deep 0.005 cd/m² black levels, and full DCI-P3 color coverage, Runar brings DCI-grade HDR at 300 nits and consumer HDR at up to 500 nits to life with remarkable precision. The result is a single LED video wall capable of presenting both professional cinema content and consumer formats seamlessly—something rarely achieved in residential environments.   Immersive Audio Designed for LED Cinema Environments While LED video walls elevate visual performance, they fundamentally change how immersive audio must be designed because they don’t allow speakers to be placed behind the image, often forcing compromises in audio placement and performance.   The Luxury Immersion Cinema solves this challenge with a 14.8.8-channel ASCENDO immersive system engineered specifically for LED-based cinema applications. Recognizing the growing popularity of LED video walls in home environments, ASCENDO continues to innovate in LED screen wall audio, designing speakers that integrate around rather than behind the screens, preserving proper front-channel localization and cinematic realism.   “For LED applications, audio must be perceived as coming from the vertical center of the wall without exception,” says Geoffrey Heinzel, co-managing partner of ASCENDO. “Our design approach, as always, is to use point source speakers for seat-to-seat performance consistency in multi-seat home theater environments. Because our speakers are direct-radiating, they are capable of extremely high-performance results.”   Making its debut at ISE is ASCENDO’s latest speaker, designed for LED environments, THE8 PRO PASSIVE LED WEDGE. Six of these 3-way LED screen wall speakers will be used for the front channels. THE10 Passive WEDGE 30, THE10 Passive On Wall, and THE10 Passive LED Phantom speakers will be used for the side, overhead, and rear channels. Additionally, eight THE28 SUB PRO SQUARED subwoofers deliver extreme low-frequency infrasonic bass, amplified by eight corresponding ASCENDO AIA2-10K2 IS (infrasonic) amplifiers.   Orchestrating this high-performance ecosystem, StormAudio bridges the critical gap between the visual and audio domains. Since solid LED walls preclude the use of behind-screen speakers, the processing accuracy of the Elite 32 Analog becomes vital. It provides the advanced calibration and spatial mapping required to maintain perfect audio-video coherence, psychoacoustically placing the sound back within the image despite the physical displacement of the front channels, using StormAudio’s center shift feature. Powering this system is the Impulsion 8 amplifier, making its world debut. This new powerhouse delivers the dynamic range and transient response necessary to match the high-contrast intensity of Barco’s DCI-grade visuals.   “An LED video wall creates a massive, solid visual surface that challenges traditional theater audio design. The processor must work harder to ensure the audience believes the dialogue and action are coming directly from the actors on screen. This is where StormAudio’s center shift feature is essential,” says Olivier Thumerel, CEO at StormAudio. “With the ISP Elite 32 and our new Impulsion 8 amplifier, we provide the precise steering and dynamic power needed to ensure the audio is as impactful and localized as the video, creating a seamless sensory experience.”   Home Cinema Built for Performance The theater itself is designed and constructed by PrimeTheater, an integrator that considers every detail of the room—from acoustics to sightlines to seating—to ensure ideal performance, even on a challenging trade show floor. PrimeTheater provides turnkey, fully customizable home theaters that make installation easy.   “This is more than a technology demo. It is a masterclass in modern residential cinema, giving integrators a clear vision of how DCI-grade LED video and immersive audio designed for LED, in concert with a room built for performance, raise expectations for what luxury home theaters can—and should—deliver,” says Helder Martins, Owner of PrimeTheater.   About Technology Integration Partners Technology Integration Partners is an ISE exhibition partner, organizing a group of design-oriented technology partners at stand 2J500, with a portfolio of complementary products and services that simplify technology integration for both residential and commercial applications. As a founding member of ISE, TIP is celebrating its 22nd year of participation at Integrated Systems Europe.

Noise Unveils Master Buds 2 at CES 2026. A bold evolution of its flagship audio experience, with Sound by Bose technology

Las Vegas, NV, 5pm PST, 5th January 2026: India’s leading wearables company, Noise, today unveiled Master Buds 2 at CES 2026, marking the next chapter in its flagship Master Series. Expertly tuned with Sound by Bose technology, Master Buds 2 is a worthy successor to the original Master Buds, building on its success with a significant leap in performance, design, intelligence and immersion.

 

The announcement reinforces Noise’s growing global ambition: to deliver world-class sound experiences that are deeply human, intuitive, and accessible.

 

Master Buds 2: Immersive Sound, Reimagined

 

The first-generation Master Buds set a new benchmark for premium listening in its category. Master Buds 2 raises the bar even further, introducing a more powerful, responsive, and intelligent audio experience designed around how people listen, move, and live today.

 

Master Buds 2 with Sound by Bose technology delivers richer acoustics, deeper bass, clear highs, and greater spatial precision, making it the most advanced and power-packed Master Series device to date.

 

Designed for the Way the World Listens

 

Master Buds 2 represents more than an upgrade—it reflects a philosophy. Built around real-world use cases, the product blends immersion, intelligence, and ease into a seamless everyday experience.

 

“With Master Buds 2, we’re not making incremental changes, we’re making a generational leap,” said Amit Khatri, Co-Founder of Noise.

 

“This product reflects our belief that great sound should be intuitive, immersive, and effortlessly integrated into daily life. Powered by Sound by Bose, Master Buds 2 is designed for how people actually listen today.”

 

Availability

 

Master Buds 2 was unveiled today at CES 2026 and will be available globally for sale by the end of the February 2026. The device will launch in two signature colorways, along with a Special Edition Variant, priced at $129.

 

About Noise

 

Noise is a global personal technology brand focused on building human-centric products across wearables, personal audio, and connected lifestyle technology. With a vision to make innovation accessible, Noise designs and builds technology that enhances how people live, work, and connect.

2025 Annual Editors Choice Awards

With New Years Eve almost upon us, it is time reflect on the reviews of this year.  There have been many products that have come across by desk.  We have had products from car audio to home audio, portables, and even a gun safe. Some have better quality and better performance than others. The best have earned our Editor’s Choice Award.  These are this years recipients, with links to their reviews.

 

American Bass SB-12

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/01/the-shallow-mount-subwoofer-showdown.html

 

Beyerdynamic Amiron 300

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/04/2025-annual-headphone-shootout-part-one.html

 

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/05/2025-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

Fender X Teufel Rockstar Air 2

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/fender-x-teufel-rockster-air-2-hi-end.html

 

The Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle from The Headrest Safe Company

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/12/vulcan-headrest-safe-bundle-review.html

 

Hertz Audio Mille Pro MPS 300 S4  

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/01/the-shallow-mount-subwoofer-showdown.html

 

Infinity Reference 1000SSL

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/06/infinity-reference-1000ssl-10-inch-car.html

 

JBL Boombox 3

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/09/jbl-boombox-3-bluetooth-speaker-review.html

 

JBL Club A758 High Performance Class D Eight Channel Amplifier

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/jbl-club-a758-high-performance-class-d.html#google_vignette

 

Master & Dynamic MW75

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/05/2025-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

PowerBass Soundtube BT-500

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/11/powerbass-soundtube-bt-500-waterproof.html

 

Romoss X1000 Portable Power Station and BE1000 Expansion Battery Pack

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/02/ramoss-x1000-portable-power-station-and.html

 

Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/05/2025-annual-headphone-shootout-part-2.html

 

Sundown Audio SA-6.5CXv2 and SA6.5CSv3

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/10/sundown-audio-sa-65csv3-2-way-component.html

 

Sundown Audio SALT-2

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/07/sundown-audio-salt-2-subwoofer-amp.html

 

Swan SwanBuddy4K

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/swann-swannbuddy4k-video-doorbell-review.html

 

Torras Coolify Cyber

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/02/torras-coolify-cyber-neck-air.html

 

Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant Smartwatch

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/05/withings-scanwatch-nova-brilliant.html

 

It’s been a great year. As you can see, there have been some excellent products that have come across my desk, from some great manufacturers.  If you are looking for a product like one of these, they deserve to be on your short list. I can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store.  We appreciate the support from our readers.  And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle Review

Electronics can be found in a lot of products that we use. And it makes our lives more convenient. An example of this is biometrics. When it comes to our security, biometrics can make it more convenient. Keypads on a safe make getting in much more convenient than a mechanical combination.  Biometrics make it even easier.  An example of this is the Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle for our vehicle from The Headrest Safe Company. MSRP is a fair $379.

 

Features and specs:

Quick and easy installation

Universal fit to most two-post headrest systems

Steel lock opens with biometrics, keypad or a hard key

Locks into seat to prevent theft

Heavy duty 18 gauge steel safe

16-gauge steel safe door

All automotive grade components

Safety tested to FMVSS 202a standards

Available in leatherette; black, tan, dark or light gray

Available in cloth; black, charcoal, dark or light gray

Installs on the passenger seat for easy access by the driver

Exterior dimensions 8.75" H x 6.5" W x 11.25" L

Interior dimensions 6" H x 3.5" W x 8.5" L

Holds a full size pistol

100% satisfaction guarantee

 

The Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle came in a standard brown box. It actually came in two boxes. One was the headrest safe, and the 2^nd box was a matching headrest, for a matching set for the front seats of your vehicle. The headrest came well protected, wrapped in bubble wrap. Materials used in the headrests were vinyl for the covering, and steel and foam for the safe. Quality of materials used was very good as well as the fit and finish. Also included was the metal poles, mounting plate, and anchors that secures the headrest to your seat, as well as the QR code for the manual and mounting instructions.

 

I love the design of the Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle from The Headrest Safe Company. It’s a two-piece set for both the driver and passenger seat, so they match and look good. It’s well concealed, as there is a flip down door that hides the safe. This makes it so strangers that walk by your vehicle do not notice that you have a safe. There’s also multiple access options for you to access your safe. The biometrics is the most convenient, but there’s also a keypad as well as a key.

 

The Vulcan Headrest Safe also has good functionality as a safe. To start off, it is well made, with 18 gauge steel in the body, and 16 gauge steel in the door. To access your safe, you have options of biometrics, a keypad, and a key. The electronics is powered by a AA battery, which charge lasts about 2 years. There is a foam insert with a cutout in the foam to hold the barrel of a gun in place. This works great to give flexibility to your safe. Not only can you secure valuables, like your wallet or cash, but you can also secure a handgun.

 

I also like how well thought out accessing the safe is. The easiest way is electronically through either the biometrics or keypad. The battery does have a finite life span, which I was told was around 2 years. So the battery does need to be changed. There is also a USB-C port. The internal battery is not rechargeable. But the charging port gives the battery just enough of a charge, so you can get into your safe and change the battery. It works well to access your safe, and the safe seems well designed to work well. Now let’s install it and see how it all comes together.

 

Installation proved to be very simple. The metal pole mounting system slid into the two holes at the top of your seat, and screwed from the bottom of the safe into the mounting plate very easily. The mounting plate attached to the headrest with 3 more screws.  And if you want to make sure it is secure to the seat, there are also anchors that could be installed so a thief who manages to find it doesn’t just pull it out. The QR code also provided easy to follow instructions for not just the installation of the safe, but to also program your own code and fingerprint to the biometric and keypad. As it was stated in the lock programming instructions, to program the biometrics, you 1st have to program a master print, then program a user print.

 

Customer Service proved to be great as well. I provided the year make and model of my truck when the safe was ordered. The metal poles that are part of the anchor system ended up being a bit too thick. So it would not slide into my seat. But I simply reached out to customer service and the right size was shipped out to me. One thing to note is the fabric. My truck has black fabric seats, so I ordered black fabric. What I got was black vinyl. When I reached out to customer service, I was told that is their black fabric. So that’s something to keep in mind, their fabric option isn’t really fabric. I’m not aware of any other headrest safe like this. So while it’s not a perfect match for my seats, it was pretty close.  Close enough to not look obvious to me, and I thought it still looked good. And I love what it does.

 

The Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle from The Headrest Safe Company proved to be a great product. It’s well made, is easy to install and program and also works well. It looks good installed as well. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Vulcan Headrest Safe Bundle from the Headrest Safe company has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.theheadrestsafe.com.

PowerBass SoundTube BT-500 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker Review

One thing I like about electronics is their constant evolving. I love my music, and always take it with me. Wireless speakers are getting better with more features. That’s the case with the PowerBass SoundTube BT-500. It's a wireless speaker shaped like a boombox and is loaded with features.  Yet MSRP is only $149.

 

Features and specs:

Waterproof design IPX7

Bluetooth 5.3 Chip provides 30Ft. of wireless range

RGB Lighting with User Selectable Effects

User Selectable Equalizer

USB-A for use with Thumb Drive Music Storage

USB-A for charging mobile devices

Built in Microphone for handsfree calling

3600mAh Rechargeable Battery provides 7 hours of music playback

TWS True Wireless Stereo – connect 2 BT-500 Tubes together for true wireless stereo sound

Shoulder Strap for easy carry

USB-C Charge Cable included

 

The PowerBass Sound Tube BT-500 came in a nice-looking color printed box with photos and specs. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some metal, cloth and rubber. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish was very good. Also included was the charging cable and shoulder strap.

 

I’m very impressed with the design of the PowerBass Soundtube BT-500. To start you get features that are common for these wireless speakers. There’s Bluetooth 5.3, IPX6 water resistance, and 3.5mm aux-in port. Also as is found on a lot of newer wireless speaker designs, there’s also a built-in rechargeable battery (7200 mah) that can also be used as a power bank to charge your smartphone.

 

PowerBass did not stop there. There are passive radiators on both sides for improved bass response. The passive radiators also light up with RGB’s that dance – very cool. There’s even a built-in mic so you can use it for hands free calls. One of the coolest features though is it’s TWS, for True Wireless Stereo. Linking two of them together, they act like a pair of stereo speakers. They don’t get extremely loud. So if you have a larger get together, having two of them would double the sound. Being able to have stereo sound is an added bonus that improves the sound, very, very cool!

 

PowerBass also did not ignore the styling, which also helps its functionality. I love the black cloth that wraps around the front and back to give it an elegant look. The buttons are all on the top and are easy to use. There are rubber feet on the bottom to help stabilize it. The ports on the back are behind a rubber cover for water resistance. The handle on top is well made and feels durable for ease of carrying it around. And on both sides of the top is a metal re-enforced slot for the should strap.

 

The PowerBass Soundtube BT-500 is a great example of how all the parts came together for a great product. The contacts and connections are well placed for ease of use. The handle and carry strap slots are strong for a lot of use. The black cloth that wraps around the front and back covering the two tweeters and two woofers give an elegant look. And the two passive radiators improve the bass output. It comes together well, let’s see how it sounds.

 

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj: Bang Bang – snare drum and toms, had great dynamics and pitch definition of the pad and midbass. Kick drum also was dynamic with good low-end extension. I was very impressed with the resolution of the drums. Bass beats also had good output and depth. But it was the aural feast of the vocals that stole the show. The various vocal parts were so clean with amazing harmonics that gave me goosebumps.

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – cymbals and hi-hat was really crisp and clean. Piano sounded very natural. The bass had good smoothness of the strings with good low-end extension and output. Violin strings were also smooth. Vocals had very good resolution of the texture of the timbre. Trumpet and trombone were both really clean with great dynamics and harmonics. I also wasn’t expecting this good of imaging, and a sound stage that was fairly deep.

Tiesto & Sevenn: Boom – a good bass torture track. I was impressed with what it did, and didn’t do. Bass beats were dynamic, clean and good output. It also didn’t try to play what it couldn’t play, which would have been muddy and distorted.

 

The True Wireless Stereo feature is really cool! The user manual was worded very well and easy to follow. So entering that mode was really easy. Once activated, one did function as the left speaker and the other was the right speaker. While the imaging in TWS mode was not as good as a traditional pair of wired stereo speakers, it still did sound really good. It was quite amazing actually.

 

There’s a lot to like about the PowerBass Soundtube BT-500. It’s not only a well-made wireless speaker with a lot of features that’s easy to carry around. It also sounds really good. If you’re looking for a wireless speaker, it deserves to be on your short list. Especially with its low $149 MSRP. That’s a huge band for the buck! Based on its design, features, quality and performance. The PowerBass Soundtube BT-500 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.powerbassusa.com.

 

2025 Annual Holiday Gadget Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again. Halloween is over, and November is here.  Which means that it’s also time for our annual Holiday Gadget Gift Guide.  Some family and loved ones are easy to shop for, and for others we need a little help.  Hopefully we can provide some assistance with that.  Below are products that could be a great gift, with their description of what they are and a link to the review or the schedule when to come back for the review.

 

Family and friends are an important part of our lives.  If you like to entertain, music is an important part of the party.  And sometimes a small Bluetooth speaker just won’t cut it.  You need something bigger for those outdoor venues and when there are a lot of people involved.  The Fender X Teufel Rockstar Air 2 could be exactly what you need.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/fender-x-teufel-rockster-air-2-hi-end.html

 

Life can be stressful. Somehow, music can help with that.  And if your car speakers are either starting to fail, or don’t sound as good as you would like, it could be time for a replacement.  Harman Kardon has a great sounding direct fit factory speaker replacement in their FIT6CF and FIT6F. It could be just the thing to put a smile on the face of a loved one. Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/07/car-factory-speakers-upgrade-featuring.html

 

Electronics has found its way into a lot of the products we use.  Even with gun safes, many use biometrics for ease of access.  The Headrest Company, has brought that feature into a gun safe for our vehicles.  Now you have a nice safe that is well hidden, that can be used for a gun or any other valuables.  Check back here for the review scheduled for the week ending 12/14/25.

 

There’s a lot of bass heads out there.  I like a lot of bass myself, especially in my car.  But sometimes you may not have much space for a subwoofer.  If you have a loved one who is always using their trunk, but would love to be able to have more bass, Infinity can help.  The Infinity Reference 1000SSL 10-inch car passive subwoofer with passive radiator could put a big smile on their face. Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/06/infinity-reference-1000ssl-10-inch-car.html

 

I like to take my music on the go.  Whether its by the pool, or up in the mountains while camping, JBL has a wireless speaker for you.  One of their biggest of portables is the JBL Boombox 3.  It plays loud, but is also waterproof.  So no matter the location or weather, your tunes can continue.  If you have a loved one who enjoys the same, this could be perfect for them.  Check out the review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/09/jbl-boombox-3-bluetooth-speaker-review.html

 

I love my music.  But not only that, I like it loud!  If you have a loved one who fits that bill, their factory car radio may not be providing the power their speakers need.  In this scenario, a separate amplifier could be what’s needed.  JBL makes a great one with their JBL Club A758 High Performance Class D 8 Channel Car Amplifier.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/jbl-club-a758-high-performance-class-d.html

 

PowerBass is known for their subwoofers, but they also have a great portable boombox.  It’s smaller, yet is till big on sound.  With its passive radiators it even provides good bass.  The waterproof feature makes it easy to take anywhere. Add to it the built-in power bank feature, and it has excellent usability.  You can even link two of them together for true wireless stereo sound.  Check back here for the review scheduled for the week ending 11/30/25.

 

For many decades, we have gotten accustomed to electricity.  It powers just about everything. But there are times when the power does go out.  Many of us may not think about it, but there are a lot of preppers that do.  If you know someone who falls into that group, the Romoss X1000 Portable Power Station and BE1000 Expansion Battery Pack could be perfect for them.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/02/ramoss-x1000-portable-power-station-and.html

 

Many of us like a lot of bass in our music.  And then, some people can take that love for bass to a whole new level of loud!  All that bass requires a lot of power, and many amps aren’t up to the task.  If you have a loved one who would love more sub power, Sundown Audio has the answer in their SALT-2 sub amp.  Its review is found here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/07/sundown-audio-salt-2-subwoofer-amp.html

 

Music is not always about the bass.  Some of us like all of the sound really loud.  If your loved one likes premium sound quality, but also play it loud enough so everyone around can also enjoy it, Sundown Audio has a solution.  It’s a great sounding factory speaker system replacement that not only sounds great, it does so while playing really loud.  Its their SA-6.5CXv2 and SA-6.5CSv3 factory upgrade speaker system.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/10/sundown-audio-sa-65csv3-2-way-component.html

 

So many of us do a lot of shopping on Amazon.  Package deliveries are getting much more popular.  Whether you want to see who is at your door, or you want to watch over packages that were delivered, a video doorbell could be just what your loved one could use.  And the Swann SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell could be the perfect solution.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/03/swann-swannbuddy4k-video-doorbell-review.html

 

Torras Coolify Cyber Neck Air Conditioner.  Just as the product name states, it’s a portable air conditioner that you wear around your neck.  It provides heat in the winter, cold air in the summer, or a fan for those slightly warm periods.  If you know someone who loves to travel, this could be perfect for them.  After all, the weather at some of our planned destinations could be less than ideal for us. Check out the review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/02/torras-coolify-cyber-neck-air.html

 

Smart Watches are getting more and more popular.  They do so much for us.  Sometimes you’re busy and can’t answer a text or phone call.  But just a glance at your watch could tell you if it’s something that can’t wait.  But some of these smart watches aren’t very dressy.  The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant is a really classy looking dress watch, but manages to also have a digital display on the face.  It even has medical grade sensors.  It could be a perfect gift for that loved one who likes to look sharp.  Check out its review here:

https://www.stereowiseplus.com/2025/05/withings-scanwatch-nova-brilliant.html

 

 

We tried really hard to give you a good variety of products in our gift guide.  Not everyone is the same.  And they all are well made products that give great functionality.  We hope we gave you some good gift ideas for your loved ones.  And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Sundown Audio SA-6.5CSv3 2-way Component and SA-6.5CX Coaxial Premium Factory Speaker System Upgrade Review

We all like our tunes, especially in our rides. Unfortunately, those factory speakers in most cars, are lacking. It’s basically planned obsolescence. So whether the days of your factory speakers are over, or you just want a serious upgrade, it’s time to replace them. There’s lots of options for you. You could go basic, high quality, or premium. We previously covered a high quality upgrade system from Harmon Kardan. This is part two of our upgrade review, and features Sundown Audio. It’s their SA-6.5CSv3 2-way components for the front, and SA-6.5CXv2 co-axial for the rear. MSRP is $399 and $199.

 

Features and specs:

SA-6.5CXv2:

120 watts RMS

Silk dome tweeter

Hybrid fiber cone

Adjustable crossover - midrange and tweeter

Cast aluminum frame

Magnet ID shorting ring (midrange)

Machined aluminum tweeter housing 

High-compliance rubber surround

2.75" DEPTH

 

SA-6.5CSv3:

6.5" Component Speakers System

125 Watts / Side

Silk Dome Tweeter

Machine Aluminum Tweeter Housing

Case Aluminum Frame

Magnet ID Shorting Ring (Midrange)

Carbon Fiber Cone

Rubber Surround

24dB/Octave Crossover

Adjustable Tweeter Level (-3, 0, +3)

Mounting Depth: 2.87"

Cutout: 5.63"

 

 

Both the Sundown Audio SA-6.5CXv2 and SA-6.5CSv3 came in a nice color printed box with specs printed on the box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal with some plastic, rubber, and hybrid fiber cone. Quality of materials used as well as fit and finish, was excellent. Included was woofer with built-in tweeter for the coaxial, separate woofer and tweeter and passive crossovers, for the component system, as well as wiring and screws for mounting.

 

As I mentioned before, most factory speakers are less desirable. They sound just ok and are usually made with thin paper cones and thin surround that won’t last long term. Hence the planned obsolescence. Most aftermarket speakers tend to be cheap, using a lot of plastic and stamped baskets. Some companies spend a lot of time developing a better-quality speaker with better sound, yet still cut some corners to save costs, such as using stamped baskets. With premium speakers you get superior build quality as well as superior sound.

 

I love the design of the Sundown Audio SA series speakers. Having been in business for almost 20 years, most of it building premium subwoofers. They used this experience for premium coaxial and component speakers, such as using an extended pole piece to allow for more excursion. For cooling there is a vented voice coil collar and vented magnetic gap. Having 6mm of linear one-way excursion and the extra venting translates into higher power handling. The employment of the blend of paper and wool fibers assist in damping any unwanted resonances, as does the rubber surround. Depending on where you cross over the midrange, they can handle 60-125+ watts RMS.

 

To mate well with the midrange, they paid a lot of attention on the tweeter. A silk dome is used for similar smoothness of sound. Then there’s the passive crossover. To maintain the high sound quality goal, they used high quality air core inductors and mylar capacitors. The end result yields a very well-made product for great SQ. And the crossover even allows for CPF slope as well as tweeter slope. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth, Wind & Fire: September – shaker sounded really crisp, wood block had really nice woodiness to the tone. Trumpet was really clean with excellent harmonics. Cymbal was equally really crisp and clean. Vocals had excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Drums were really dynamic with nice low-end extension.

Disturbed: Sound of Silance – Piano sounded really natural with very nice harmonics. Vocals were extremely crisp with excellent texture of the timbre. Strings were equally as crisp with nice resolution of the decay of the strings.

Nat King Cole: L-O-V-E – cymbals and high-hat were really crisp and clean, piano sounded very natural with good resolution of the strings. Strings also were silky smooth with very nice resolution of the bass. Trumpet was not only equally smooth, but also extremely dynamic with excellent harmonics. Vocals were smooth like honey with equally excellent resolution of the timbre. Soundstage was also very deep and wide, with imaging on a dime.

 

In contrast during the installation, I inspected the stock speakers in the older 2004 Toyota Rav4 when they were taken out.  I was shocked that they weren’t blown, especially with their thin cones and surrounds. The person I got it from must have never used the stereo. And their magnet was so so small, I’m surprised the speakers sounded as good as they did.  But don’t take that the wrong way.  Out of 10 I would give them a 4, but with the magnet as small as it was, I’m surprised they weren’t a 3.  And the plastic tweeter was equally unimpressive.  While you could hear the music, that’s the best I could give them. It was like listening to qood speakers with thick earmuffs on. You could hear the music, but it sounded extremely thin, flat, hardly any resolution or highs.   The Sundown Audio was a night and day difference, like a revelation.

 

Not only does the Sundown Audio SA-6.5CXv2 and SA6.5CSv3 designed to handle a lot of power, they also sound great doing it. And thanks to the excellent build quality, they should have you rocking for years. If you want to take the sound in your ride to a whole new level, the Sundown SA6.5CXv2 and SA6.5CSv3 should be on your short list. Based on their design, features, quality and performance, they have earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.sundownaudio.com.