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Sony’s X900B 4K LED TV and its big-boy speakers make for a majestic cinema in your home

sony x900b 4k led tv xbr
Image used with permission by copyright holder
After several years of enduring complaints about how bad flat-screen televisions sounded, Sony finally decided to do something about it. The result is what you see here, the X900B series 4K television with its integrated audio system, which flanks the TV’s jet-black screen with an array of speakers. And while it seems the public is on the fence about whether the speakers are an aesthetically pleasing addition, everyone seems to agree: The X900B sounds amazing, and it’s got a stellar picture to match.

The X900B sits just below Sony’s top-of-the-line television for this year, the X950B. As such, it doesn’t feature the full array of LED backlights that are found in the the flagship model, but you’d be hard pressed to figure that out just by looking at it. The X900B has excellent black levels and contrast for an LED television, and its colors virtually pop off of the screen. The TV’s resolution is excellent when playing back Ultra High Definition content, but, more importantly, it’s processing chops make 1080p HD look stellar too.

The television’s design is both attractive and curious. With a nearly all-glass face and super-thin metallic bezel, the TV looks like a blacked out window into another world, but then there’s those speakers, which add a lot of width to the TV, and an interesting triangular profile, since the cabinet widens toward the bottom to allow more space for bass reproduction.

While not everyone is an instant fan of the how the speakers look, one listen to the TV in action proves that Sony achieved its objective of creating a television that is as fun to listen to as it is to watch. The TV is capable of some very impressive bass, reproduces dialog with crystal clarity, and delights its viewers with sweeping stereo effects. Overall, the sound is as big as the picture. And with sizes ranging up to 79-inches, that picture can be very big indeed.

If the X900B’s stark speakers and elevated price tag don’t suit you, check out the X850B, a step down model without the big speakers and a considerably lower price tag, but with comparable picture performance.

Check out Digital Trends’ review of the X900B here.

The Night Agent season 2: Everything we know so far
We'll get you ready for The Night Agent season 2!
Luciane Buchanan and Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent.

The Night Agent may not be everyone's choice to be among the best shows on Netflix, but it's in the top ten for us! The Shield creator Shawn Ryan adapted Matthew Quirk's spy action thriller, The Night Agent, for Netflix in 2023, and it proved to be a hit out of the gate. By Netflix's internal metrics, it's the sixth-highest viewed series in the history of the platform.

Those kind of numbers mean that a second season was inevitable, and Netflix made it official just over a week after The Night Agent premiered. Since the series is back in production, the details about what's coming up on the show have started to trickle out. To help you stay on top of this series, here's everything we know about The Night Agent season 2.
What is The Night Agent about?

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The 10 best Dominican cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Every seasoned cigar lover has a preference for where their cigars come from. Cuban and Cuban cigars are the more obvious choices, but there is also Nicaraguan tobacco, Central African, Indonesian, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Dominican. Some tobacco is even grown in the United States. Each region has a distinct flavor profile that adds a little something extra to the tobacco grown locally, as well as the cigars made there. The Dominican Republic is prized by many connoisseurs because of exactly this -- a rich, unique profile that enhances Dominican-grown cigars. That's in no small part due to the fertile soil and thriving climate of the region, which is ideal for tobacco growth and cultivation. If you've never tried a Dominican cigar, you're in for a real treat, there are some fantastic options out there.
The best Dominican cigars I've tried

Out of all the cigar guides I've put together so far, this one was one of the more interesting experiences for me. I had a great time trying out Dominican cigars, and I've definitely come away with an appreciation for blends made in the region. I'd also like to point out that Corey Suarez helped recommend some of these. If you haven't tried the JR Cigars or Cigars.com concierge service yet, you really should. Here's a little more about all of the best Dominican cigars I've tried:
Ashton Symmetry

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The 12 best Connecticut cigars I’ve tried and tested in 2024
Best Connecticut cigars up close and personal

Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

I'm about to take you on a magical, doughy, and delicious trek through the broad range of Connecticut cigars. In short, here are the best Connecticut cigars tried and tested by a genuine enthusiast of the craft: yours truly.
The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

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