Audio Video News

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Audio Video News
Hitachi Cable-Ready HDTVs
HT Staff  |  Jul 02, 2003  | 
Hitachi's TV lineup for the coming year will be one of the first with "plug-and-play" compatibility for high-definition programming delivered over cable systems.
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Audio Video News
Fox Television Entering HDTV Era
Barry Willis  |  Jun 29, 2003  | 

Former Chrysler Corporation CEO Lee Iacocca was famed for saying that, in the auto industry, a company "either leads, follows, or gets out of the way." Fox Television has apparently decided that where high-definition programming is concerned, it had better follow or get left behind.

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Audio Video News
Added to the Archives This Week
 |  Jun 29, 2003  | 

From the June issue, Steven Stone reviews the competitively-priced HD2-chipped <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?129">InFocus Screenplay 7200 DLP projector</A>. Stone observes that the InFocus "lowers the price of an HD2 projector below $10,000." But does it deliver? "That's the $2000 question," says Stone.

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Audio Video News
HD, Networking Standards Sought
 |  Jun 29, 2003  | 

In late June, two electronics industry groups presented proposals that could make "plug and play" a reality for high-definition video components,home networking devices, and other types of consumer products.

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Audio Video News
Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Jun 28, 2003  | 
DVD: Anastasia—20th Century Fox
Video: 3
Audio: 2
Extras: 3
They say that, in Hollywood's Golden Age, people didn't go to the movies to see movies; they went to see stars. I can only imagine that this was the case with Anastasia, a flop that stars Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brynner. A story as intriguing as that of the mysterious Romanov princess has so much potential, especially when you pair it with the prospect of a Pygmalion story in the vein of My Fair Lady. No such luck, though. Star power notwithstanding, Anastasia left me numb and, at one point, asleep.
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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Jun 27, 2003  | 
MartinLogan
MartinLogan's Cinema i center-channel speaker builds on the same foundation as the company's Cinema center channel, but it incorporates some new technologies and a supercool industrial design. The speaker includes ClearSpar technology, which is said to enhance the Cinema i's transparent aesthetic and increase both efficiency and dynamics. MartinLogan's MicroPerf design is also aboard. In this design, the stator's individual holes are smaller, which allows for more open space compared with that of the traditional ESL transducer. This 37-pound speaker is ergonomically friendly, too. Using its included stand, you can mount it on your display, on the wall, on the ceiling, or even on the floor. Just use the incorporated handgrips to aim the speaker at the listening position. This versatile center channel costs $1,795.
MartinLogan
(785) 749-0133
www.martinlogan.com
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Audio Video News
DVD Pulls Ahead of VHS
Barry Willis  |  Jun 22, 2003  | 

The DVD format reached a milestone in mid-June, out-renting VHS videocassettes for the first time.

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Audio Video News
Audio Show Success
 |  Jun 22, 2003  | 

The Home Entertainment 2003 Show, held June 5&ndash;8, 2003, at the Westin&ndash;St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, was an event that will stand out for residents, exhibitors, and visiting press as a well-attended showcase of some of the finest products and technologies the consumer electronics industry has to offer.

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Audio Video News
Blu-ray Gets a Boost
Barry Willis  |  Jun 22, 2003  | 

Even though it hasn't been officially submitted to the DVD Forum for approval, the Blu-ray high-definition optical disc format appears to have the inside track for becoming the <I>de facto</I> standard.

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Audio Video News
Added to the Archives This Week
 |  Jun 22, 2003  | 

From the June issue, Michael Fremer reviews the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?127">Philips 34PW9818 HD-ready direct-view monitor</A> featuring the company's new "Pixel Plus" process. Can regular NTSC now look as good as HDTV? Fremer tells all.

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Audio Video News
Senate vs FCC
Barry Willis  |  Jun 22, 2003  | 

It's shaping up to be a long hot summer for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell and his colleagues.

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Audio Video News
Runco Ships Reflection CL-510
HT Staff  |  Jun 21, 2003  | 
Affordable high-end imaging is going to the next level, thanks to a partnership between Runco International and Texas Instruments.
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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Jun 19, 2003  | 
Vidikron
It's not wrong to want a DLP projector that has professional features for your home theater without wanting to break your bank to buy it. Fortunately, the folks at Vidikron agree and offer their new Vision Model 20 DLP projector. The Vision Model 20 is based on Texas Instruments' HD-2 DLP chip and includes internal video processing with 3:2-pulldown detection. Are you an HDTV hound? Just add an outboard tuner, and the Vision Model 20 will give you full HDTV compatibility. With a rated light output of 850 ANSI lumens and a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, you can use the Vision Model 20 with a screen up to 96 inches wide. Vidikron offers this well-rounded DLP projector for $5,495.
Vidikron
(510) 324-5900
www.vidikron.com
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Audio Video News
Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Jun 19, 2003  | 
DVD: Dark Blue—MGM/UA
Video: 3
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
Director Ron Shelton knows sports movies; so, when corrupt cops gather in the inner sanctum of the Los Angeles Police Department, the scene resembles a Major League clubhouse—or at least a Hollywoodized version of it. The director, known for Bull Durham, Tin Cup and other athletic fare, talks about the similarity between the two cultures in his running commentary that also deals with the Rodney King trial and resulting riots against which Dark Blue's morality tale unfolds.
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Audio Video News
HE2003 RAVE Awards
HT Staff  |  Jun 17, 2003  | 

The HT staff prepares to hand out the first-annual RAVE Awards. From left to right, Jackie Augustine, Chris Lewis, Mike Wood, Maureen Jenson, Adrienne Maxwell, and Claire Lloyd.

On behalf of Pioneer, Andrew Jones accepts the award for Product of the Year: the Elite DV-47Ai universal disc player.

Morris Kessler accepts ATI's award for Best Midlevel Amplifier, the AT2007.

Bob Stuart of Meridian accepts the Best High-End Pre/Pro award for the 568.2. Meridian's 598 also won Best High-End DVD Player.

Samsung's Steve Panosian receives the trophy for Best Budget DVD Player for the DVD-P421.

Polk's DS7200 A/V system earned a Hot Gear award, accepted by Paul DiComo.

Jack Hidley picks up NHT's award for the Evolution speaker system, voted Best Midlevel Speaker System.

Sony earned two RAVEs this year. Michael Smith collected trophies for Best Entry-Level Receiver (the STR-DA3ES) and Best Direct-View Display (the KV-34XBR800).

Dan D'Agostino accepts the Best Midlevel Pre/Pro award for Krell's Showcase.

Athena earned our Hot Ticket Value Speaker System award for the Point 5. Tom Gandulla accepts the award on Athena's behalf.

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