OTHER TECH

Photos by Tony Cordoza Mitsubishi WL-82913 82-inch HDTV (original review, November) Anybody who walks into your living room and sees this Mitsubishi will say something like, "Wow, that's one big TV." The first model in Mitsubishi's new Alpha line lives up to that name with the biggest screen available in a self-contained TV. Mitsubishi ensured its pack-leader status by also making the WL-82913 the most expensive ($21,000) and feature-laden rear-projection TV in the land. Its LCoS light engine delivers 1080p resolution for incredible detail and, yes, the same not-quite-black blacks that all first-generation LCoS TVs suffer from. The huge Mitsubishi performed just as impressively in other critical areas, with theater-level brightness and extremely accurate color. An abundance of inputs and integrated FireWire-compatible home theater control abilities give the WL-82913 the most up-to-date connectivity around and let it command a whole roomful of A/V gear. It can also receive HDTV over the air, connect directly to some high-definition cable systems, and show computer images, including split-screen action on the equivalent of two regular 44-inch TVs side by side. Wow. Mitsubishi www.mitsubishi-tv.com, 800-332-2119

-David Katzmaier

Omnifi DMS1 Digital Media Streamer (original review, November) Neatly combining traditional music playback with computer technology, the Omnifi DMS1 ($299) is an unassuming black box that acts as an interface between your computer and your music playback system. Using its software, you can rip CDs to your PC's hard-disk drive, storing them as either MP3 or WMA files, and also tune into the tasty treats of Internet radio. Then, after you transport your stored or streamed files to the DMS1, it in turn sends the music to your audio system via a wired Ethernet or an optional Wi-Fi connection. You can even transmit stored files wirelessly to the optional DMP1 car playback unit ($599, not shown). Moreover, the software supports multiple Omnifi players in different locations, streaming different music to each one simultaneously. Pets.com and its sock puppet are no more, but the Omnifi is proof that convergence is alive and well. Omnifi www.omnifimedia.com, 480-967-3565

- Ken C. Pohlmann

Mirage Omnisat 6 Home Theater Speaker System (original review, May, "Thinking Outside the Box II") The Mirage Omnisat 6 system ($1,700) tosses tradition to the winds while reproducing a gale of great sound and value. Viewed head-on, the satellite looks like a miniature football, but peer through the grille and you'll see what looks like a flying saucer hovering over the cone driver. The relative angles of the driver and reflector (the saucer) causes the sound to radiate equally in all directions. (The subwoofer is a more conventional, solid workhorse.) This innovative design and technology create a wide and deep sound field with high accuracy and minimal distortion. Dialogue stays centered on the screen, while offscreen effects fill your room with an eerie realism. You feel immersed in the movie thanks to the ample ambience, but the system never calls attention to itself. It works equally well for music, with spot-on stereo imaging and a near-holographic sound field. Mirage www.miragespeakers.com, 416-321-1800

- Rich Warren