Audio Video News

HDTV is poised to take off like a rocket, believes Bryan Burns, ESPN's vice president of strategic business planning and development. His network has made a big push with high-def programming over the past year, and is pushing it even harder this year.

DreamVision
DreamVision's graceful gray ovule is sure to make an elegant statement in your home theater. The DreamWeaver DLP projector's design is said to provide natural airflow and eliminate stray light. It also incorporates its own cable-management system to keep your theater nice and tidy. The DreamWeaver isn't just stylish, though; DreamVision has packed some serious technology into this stunning package, including Texas Instruments' HD2 Digital Micromirror Device, Faroudja's DCDi technology, and a 1,280:720 native resolution, which makes it a natural choice for the HD buff. If you're in the market for a high-end projector, this $10,995 DLP will make for sweet dreams.
DreamVision
(800) 663-9352
www.audioplus-services.com

Joel Brinkley continues his never-ending quest for the latest in digital reception with his review of the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?98">Samsung SIR-TS160 DTV/DirecTV receiver & SIR-T151 DTV receiver</A>. JB notes that, while the SIR-T151 is the least expensive digital receiver currently available, it still has plenty to offer.

The cable industry is under fire in Washington over its reluctance to embrace digital television, as well as over rate hikes that exceed the rate of inflation. Both problems have attracted the attention of legislators.

<A HREF="http://www.ce.org">Consumer Electronics Association</A> (CEA) president Gary Shapiro has pronounced 2003 as "the beginning of the end" for the transition from analog television to its digital successor.

DVD: Ghost Ship—Warner Brothers
Audio: 3
Video: 3
Extras: 2
A horror movie just isn't as terrifying without the presence of a ghost girl. While Ghost Ship's little moppet goes against the malevolent stereotype, she's no less creepy in this tale of an unsuspecting salvage crew attempting to recover a 40-year-old Titanic-like ocean liner.

From the February issue, Steven Stone installs the $3300 <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?96">Plus Piano Avanti HE-3200 DLP projector</A> into his HT system, prompting him to comment that "for such a tiny projector, the new HE-3200 has an absurdly long name . . . and maybe even a better picture than the HE-3100."