LATEST ADDITIONS

It's a Classic
Tom Norton  |  Jun 04, 2006

The folks from, Classic Records did announce new LP releases, as described by FM below. But they also announced the release of six new, audio only, 24-bit/96kHz DVDs (they call them HDADs). Playable on most DVD machines, these classical recordings originate from the old Everest label and were originally recorded on 35mm magnetic film. The photo shows the LP of one of them, but the cover art on the HDADs (which will be available this summer) should be the same. The kicker here is that the original recordings were 3-channel (left, right, center) and the same three discrete channels will be recorded on the discs. (RCA has provided enthusiasts with a similar service in their SACD releases of classic 3-channel recordings.)

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Ask Sony and You Shall Receive
Tom Norton  |  Jun 04, 2006

We've had a lot to say about various Sony video announcements and events at the show, but they unveiled a new 7.1-channel receiver as well. Its style is similar to that of other recent, but silver-toned Sony AV receiver designs. Features include 120W x 7 channels of amplification, HDMI switching and upconversion of composite, S-Video, and component sources to HDMI, and automated setup. ($800/August).

Big Mac
Tom Norton  |  Jun 04, 2006

The McIntosh XRT2K speakers sounded as big as they look, driven by a pair of the company's MC2KW, 3-module, 2000W (into 8 ohms), modular monoblock amps. Each speaker has six 12" aluminum cone woofers, sixty-four titanium-cone midranges, and forty " titanium-cone tweeters. The speakers are $45,000 each (and a quarter ton of weight, or 590 lbs.). The amps will cost you $30,000 each (they're nearly as heavy as the speakers at 495 lbs.!).

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Nola
Tom Norton  |  Jun 04, 2006

Nola, the company formerly known as Alon/Acarion, introduced this LCR Reference center channel speaker at $2195. In the fashion of other Nola speakers, the midrange is open-backed. The mid and tweeter are arranged in a vertical array that should provide superior horizontal dispersion. The LCR Reference is also touted for left and right channel use.

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Disturbed By Ayre And Vandersteen
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 04, 2006

OK, it's probably more fair to say I was "Disturbed" <I>at</I> the Ayre and Vandersteen room. Ayre's Steven Silberman was on a mission this weekend to prove to any doubters out there that zero feedback amplifiers and first-order loudspeakers can ROCK!

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Looks Like a Thermos, X-Rays Like a Bomb
Fred Manteghian  |  Jun 04, 2006

Packing day, Sunday, before breakfast. My only disappointment with the show lies in the paucity of true home theater experiences. You'd think that in La-La land, movies would be high on the list of priorities for the exhibitors. Or maybe everyone in LA already HAS a home theater (duh!) and they're trying to reintroduce stereo. Next big thing. It's Hot!

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Serious Sonics?
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 04, 2006

Allen Perkins of Immedia is shown here with the new Allegria speakers from Sonics, a newish speaker company founded by the man who formerly founded and designed some highly regarded speakers for Audio Physic, Joachim Gerhard.

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I Am Dangerous, Iceman
Shane Buettner  |  Jun 04, 2006

Oh yeah, other than that oddly uncomfortable beach volleyball scene and the Kenny Loggins music, we all love <I>Top Gun</I>.

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Custom Installation How-To
Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player
Rob Sabin  |  Jun 03, 2006
Here are the three most important things you should know about Toshiba's much anticipated HD-XA1, the world's very first high-definition optical disc player: 1. It's not just a DVD player - it's a computer.
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AV Receiver Reviews
Shootout: Three Mid-Price A/V Receivers
Daniel Kumin  |  Jun 03, 2006

For most people, flagship A/V receivers costing $4,000 to $6,000 are just too much: too much size, weight, complexity, and, for sure, money. But the cheapest models are too limited in connections and, more often than not, too flimsy. The result?

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