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

Netflix logo on TV screen with viewer holding remote control

Netflix quietly rolled out an HDR upgrade for 4K TVs – here are the details

By Al Griffin published

Pricing for Netflix's 4K Premium tier has gone up, but so has the HDR video quality according to a Netflix tech blog post.

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar on TV stand

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar review: a Sonos Beam alternative with surprisingly big sound

By Al Griffin published

Recommended

Sony's affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar is a compact, all-in-one design with surprisingly big and well-balanced sound.

Sony XR-X90L TV on stand with red car on screen

Sony X90L review: a mid-range 4K TV that performs like a mini-LED

By Al Griffin last updated

Recommended

The Sony's X90L's great all-around picture quality lets it compete effectively with higher-priced TVs.

LG S80QY soundbar with TV image of woman

4 soundbar upgrades that are worth the money

By Al Griffin published

You don't need to spend large sums on a soundbar, but these 4 upgrades will have an impact and are worth the extra money.

Hegel Viking CD player on shelf with CDs and LPs

Forget vinyl LPs – the Hegel Viking will take your CD collection to Valhalla

By Al Griffin published

CDs are far from dead, with the arrival of new dedicated CD players confirming the format’s ongoing viability.

Halloween house exterior with scary images projected on window

How to use a projector to turn a window into a Halloween horrorshow

By Al Griffin last updated

Transforming a window into a spooky cinema is easy, but you'll need a projector and scream, I mean screen.

The Max app screen showing a range of shows, with a TechRadar Choice Awards logo over it

How Max became our Streaming Service of the Year and beat Netflix

By Al Griffin published

In a year that saw streaming services consolidate and raise prices across the board, Max stands out as the best option for most people.

The Sony X90L LED TV

I tested Sony’s X90L, and this 4K LED TV matches its mini-LED competition in 3 surprising ways

By Al Griffin published

Our initial testing of Sony's new mid-range LED TV reveals multiple improvements over last year's X90K, with no change in price.

Samsung mini-LED versus banner

Samsung QN90C vs Samsung QN85C: which 4K mini-LED TV should you buy?

By Al Griffin published

We compare Samsung's 2023 mini-LED TVs on performance, value and specs to help you decide which one to buy.

Samsunng QN85C showing abstract image on screen

Samsung QN85C review: a less pricey mini-LED TV that's great for gaming

By Al Griffin published

Samsung's entry-level mini-LED offers many of the same features as its Neo QLED siblings, but at a lower cost.

Samsung QN85C TV showing colorful abstract pattern

I tested Samsung’s ‘cheap’ mini-LED – here’s what it does as well as expensive TVs

By Al Griffin published

Our initial test of Samsung's entry-level mini-LED reveals a 4K TV with strong features, but also a few compromises.

Person playing PS5 games on a TV

The PS5 finally got its Dolby Atmos update, but it’s still lacking without Dolby Vision

By Al Griffin published

The PS5 just got an update that adds Dolby Atmos support, but what I really want is a next-gen console with Dolby Vision HDR.

Tim Cook at Apple HQ

15 things we learned at Apple's September 2023 event

By Marc McLaren published

Apple's iPhone 15 event introduced us to four new phones, two new Apple Watches and a lot more. Here are the highlights.

Showgoers in the Sony booth at CEDIA 2023

From MicroLED walls to subwoofer towers – the coolest tech shown at CEDIA 2023

By Al Griffin published

CEDIA Expo is a playground for home theater fans, and we’ve rounded up the best new tech on display at this year’s show.

A foldable phone, Sonos speaker, headphones and GoPro on a green background

ICYMI: the 7 biggest tech stories of the week, from the Sonos Move 2 to GoPro

By Mark Wilson published

If you missed the week's biggest tech news, fear not – we've picked out all the best stories so you can catch up at your leisure.

Cooper house home theater installation showing seats and screen

7 home theaters to die for – the most incredible movie setups

By Al Griffin, Amelia Schwanke published

From high-spec palaces to pop-up party entertainment rooms, these are some of the best home theaters we've come across.

Samsung QN990C 8K TV on purple background

Samsung’s new 98-inch 8K mini-LED makes 8K TVs finally make sense

By Al Griffin published

Samsung has announced pricing and availability for its new 98-inch mini-LED TV, the company's largest 8K model yet.

Projection screen showing man walking through canyon

Here are the five things to consider when shopping for a projector screen

By Al Griffin published

There's lots of jargon you'll encounter when buying a screen for your projector, but this basic guide will explain key terms.

A living room with a TV

Forget 4K Blu-ray, this pricey media server is the ultimate movie player

By Al Griffin published

Kaleidescape's server and player system brings magic to the experience of watching movies at home.

Samsung MicroLED TV in living room with couch

Man cave to media room: the evolution of home theater, from CRT to MicroLED

By Al Griffin published

The evolution of home theaters has largely been driven by projectors, but it's now coming full-circle with the arrival of giant TVs.

Epson LS650 projector on gray background

Epson’s new 4K projector is the bright streaming machine your living room needs

By Al Griffin published

Epson announced the latest addition to its ultra short throw projector lineup, and it's looking very bright for the price.

Samsung Terrace outdoor TV mounted on white wall outdoors

Samsung’s 85-inch outdoor 4K TV is its largest yet – and its first with mini-LED

By Al Griffin published

Samsung has announced its largest outdoor TV yet, which is its first model to feature a display panel with a mini-LED backlight.

LG C3 OLED TV showing orange butterfly onscreen

How bright does your 4K TV need to be? We explain how OLED and mini-LED compare

By Al Griffin published

New TVs for 2023 are brighter than ever, but brightness is just one consideration when it comes to TV picture quality.

Gamers playing using the Samsung The Freestyle projectors

Samsung’s Freestyle portable projector got a gaming upgrade, and now you can buy it

By Al Griffin published

Samsung's new The Freestyle Gen 2 projector adds cloud gaming features to the company's popular portable.

Magnetar UDP900 on blue-background

Magnetar makes the world’s priciest 4K Blu-ray player – here’s why you need it

By Al Griffin published

The UDP900 costs 20 times as much as a budget player, but there's plenty going on behind its aluminum casing to justify the price.

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