Articles by 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

The Samsung S95F is our TV of the year – here’s how Samsung beat elite OLED and mini-LED TVs from the likes of LG and Sony

By Al Griffin

In a year with tough premium TV competition, the Samsung S95F rose above the rest to win TV of the year in the TechRadar Choice Awards.

Last chance: Get a massive 120-inch picture for just $1,499 in this Prime Day Epson projector deal

By Al Griffin

The Epson L650 is getting a deep 40% discount for Prime Day, bringing this super-bright ultra short throw projector to a record-low price.

Sony UBP-X700 lowest price deal image with Sony UBP-X700 on purple background

The Sony UBP-X700U is our favorite budget 4K Blu-ray player, and it’s getting a big Prime Day deal

By Al Griffin

Sony's budget player already is a cheap way to get into 4k Blu-ray, and with this Prime Day deal, it's almost a steal.

Don't wait: these 3 Dolby Atmos soundbars are back to their record-low prices for Prime Day

By Al Griffin

Prime Day is a perfect opportunity to get a big discount on a soundbar, and these three deals are among the best we've seen in the Prime Day sales.

Prime Day ends soon, but there's still time to get great deals on the 3 best mini-LED TVs I tested in 2025

By Al Griffin

Prime Day is ending soon, but you can still find excellent deals on some of the best TVs TechRadar has tested in 2025.

TCL QM9K showing colorful abstract image

I tested the TCL QM9K, and this pricey flagship mini-LED TV’s exceptional picture is worth the money

By Al Griffin

Recommended

High brightness and Gemini AI

An iPhone 17 Pro, Ghost of Yotei, and GoPro Max 2

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Apple's response to 'Scratchgate' and the ROG Xbox Ally's price reveal

By Hamish Hector

The biggest news from Apple, GoPro, Asus, Xbox, and more for Septmeber 27, 2025.

Google TV Gemini-created image of cabin and butterflies

I tried the first Google TV with Gemini, and it’s the most important Google TV upgrade yet

By Al Griffin

I tried out Google TV with Gemini, a feature currently available only on the TCL QM9K mini-LED TV, and it makes all manner of content search more useful and fun.

Netflix interface showing program info for Monsters docudrama

‘The new UI is borderline unusable’: Netflix subscribers are still complaining about the app re-design, and I’m 100% with them

By Al Griffin

Is the 'new' Netflix as bad as some users say? We gave it a close look to find out.

This one Dolby Vision 2 feature will transform the way we watch TV – here’s how

By Al Griffin

Dolby recently announced Dolby Vision 2 for TVs, and one of the new format's most intriguing features is an end-to-end solution to improve motion resolution for movies.

Epson Lifestudio Flex Plus projector with rainbow background

Epson’s new projectors with Google TV are the first to get Sound by Bose

By Al Griffin

Epson announced a feature-packed five-pack of new projectors, including four portables and one ultra short throw model.

home theater seating with green floor lighting

5 awesome home theater installations you won't believe

By Al Griffin, James Davidson

If you've considered having a home theater professionally installed, or even thought of doing it yourself, you'll find inspiration in these installations.

madVR Envy processor on purple background

Just bought a $3,000 TV? Here's why you may need a $6,000 video processor to go with it

By Al Griffin

External video processors are a pricey addition to any home theater, but if you're looking to get the best possible picture quality, they can be worth the money.

TCL QM9K TV showing Google Gemini interface

The TCL QM9K is the first Google TV with Gemini – and now there’s finally a good reason to talk to your TV

By Al Griffin

TCL has launched the QM9K, a flagship mini-LED TV series with support for the Google Gemini AI assistant and Dolby FlexConnect wireless audio.

Home theater with projection screen showing Kaleidescape interface

Welcome to TechRadar’s Home Theater Week 2025

By Al Griffin

Home Theater Week is underway, and we'll be bringing you features and news on all the latest tech coming out of CEDIA Expo, IFA, and beyond.

Panasonic Z95B review: a flagship OLED TV that combines refined pictures with powerful sound

By Al Griffin

Recommended

Panasonic's new flagship OLED TV provides a significant step-up in brightness, but it’s tuned for picture accuracy and has powerful built-in 5.1.2-channel sound.

2 Comments

Panasonic Z95B OLED TV showing image of people in colorful clothes dancing

I tested one of the brightest OLED TVs you can buy – but all that brightness comes with a catch

By Al Griffin

We measured Panasonic's new flagship OLED TV, the Z95B, and then went for a second round to investigate its surprisingly dim Filmmaker Mode picture.

Bowers & Wilkins 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition being demo'd at Audio Advice Live 25

I listened to Bowers & Wilkins’ 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition speakers, and they are a literal portal into the legendary recording studio

By Al Griffin

Bowers & Wilkins demonstrated its new 801 Abbey Road Limited Edition speakers at Audio Advice Live 25, and there are more reasons than great sound to buy these beautiful towers.

2 Comments

JVC NZ900 projector and MartinLogan speaker system at demo

Parental guidance suggested: I watched an 8K home theater demo with a 7.7.4-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system that was so intense, parents fled with their children

By Al Griffin

The joint JVC/MartinLogan 7.7.4-channel home theater demo at Audio Advice Live 25 was a dynamic display of 8K video and Dolby Atmos audio, and definitely not kid stuff.

2 Comments

I listened to a $69,000 ‘lifestyle’ speaker – here’s what you get for all that money

By Al Griffin

Focal's new Diva Mezza Utopia made its US debut at Audio Advice Live 25, and these speakers' next-level sound quality was a highlight of the show.

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from GPT-5's rocky debut to Sonos' upcoming price hike

By Hamish Hector

This week ChatGPT got an upgrade, and Tom Holland swung back into action as Spider-Man.

JVC NZ900 projector displaying image of Spider-Man

I thought I knew home theater bass until I experienced an 11.13.8-channel demo with an ‘infrasonic’ 32-inch subwoofer

By Al Griffin

The Ascendo/Trinnov demo at Audio Advice Live 25 reached a new high in Dolby Atmos immersion, and a new low in bass reproduction.

Harmon Kardon Enchant 1100 soundbar on shelf with Enchant subwoofer

Harman Kardon’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar is like a Sonos Arc Ultra, but with all the features Sonos left out

By Al Griffin

Harman Kardon displayed its new Enchant series soundbars and speakers at Audio Advice Live 25, and they look to be an appealing alternative to the Sonos audio ecosystem.

2 Comments

‘Don’t call it a soundbar’: KEF’s new Dolby Atmos soundbar is more than meets the eye

By Al Griffin

KEF debuted its first Dolby Atmos soundbar at Audio Advice Live 25, and this all-in-one model could be the best new soundbar of 2025.

Focal Utopia theater system projection screen showing image of spatial audio mix

I listened to spatial audio on a 7.4.4-channel Focal speaker system, and now I need to up my Dolby Atmos music game

By Al Griffin

Focal's 7.4.4-channel Utopia Cinema speaker system is being showcased at Audio Advice Live 2025, and it delivers exceptional sound with both movies and Dolby Atmos music.

4 Comments

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