LATEST ADDITIONS

Hitachi Ultravision 65XWX20B rear-projection CRT HDTV
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 19, 2003

Judging by mainstream press coverage, you'd think plasma display devices were taking over the market. "Plasma" is the buzzword, even among consumers whose only sighting of a plasma screen was an airport "Arrivals and Departures" display. And that's about all that the pathetic $3000 (add $160 for delivery), 42-inch, standard-definition models being sold today to unwary, buzzword-bitten consumers are good for.

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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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Audio Video News
PVR Dance
Barry Willis  |  Jun 15, 2003

Personal video recorders(PVRs)—or digital video recorders (DVRs), as they are sometimes called—may not be as inevitable in most consumers' homes as some experts are predicting. The reasons? Try invasion of privacy and deletion of desirable features.

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Audio Video News
HDTV Developments
Barry Willis  |  Jun 15, 2003

Several new developments in early June promise to boost the market penetration of high-definition television.

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Audio Video News
Added to the Archives
 |  Jun 15, 2003

This week, Pete Putman sets up the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?125">Marantz VP-1252 DLP projector</A> and gives it a complete examination. PP remarks that the Marantz "did some things well, and others things not so well."

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Alec Guinness Collection
Dan Yakir  |  Jun 14, 2003

<I>The Man in the White Suit</I> <BR> <I>The Lavender Hill Mob</I> <BR> <I>The Ladykillers </I> (Aspect ratio: 1.66:1. Color.) <BR> <I>Kind Hearts and Coronets</I> <BR> <I>The Captain's Paradise</I>

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Tower Speaker Reviews
Piega P5 LTD surround speaker system
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 13, 2003

Like three-button suits, ribbon drivers seem to go in and out of fashion arbitrarily. But there's a pattern. First, they're all the rage for their airy, transparent, detailed sound. Then they're shunned because of inherent technical limitations or their low impedances (which present a difficult load for an amplifier to drive). Or because of the complexities involved in getting them to mate with the traditional cone drivers typically used to produce low frequencies. Or because new materials and technologies have improved the performance of cone and dome drivers, which, being easier to manufacture and use, make ribbons' theoretical advantages not worth the hassle. Then there's a breakthrough in ribbon design and the cycle repeats.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Spirited Away
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 13, 2003

<I>Voices of Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Chiklis, Lauren Holly, John Ratzenberger, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1 (English, Japanese, French, Spanish). Two discs. 132 minutes. 2001. Walt Disney Home Video 04784. PG. $29.99.</I>

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Audio Video News
Coming Attractions
HT Staff  |  Jun 12, 2003
Tannoy
Tannoy developed the Wideband SuperTweeter titanium-dome tweeter to take advantage of high-resolution audio. According to the company, the Wideband SuperTweeter works with SACD and DVD-Audio players to produce frequencies above 20 kilohertz. Well, the Wideband SuperTweeter is making an appearance in Tannoy's new line of Sensys loudspeakers. The Sensys range includes a tower speaker, a bookshelf model, a dedicated surround speaker, and the Sensys C center-channel speaker shown here, which features two 6-inch midrange drivers in addition to the Wideband SuperTweeter. The Sensys speakers are currently available in a black-ash or a maple finish (Tannoy plans to make them available in a rosewood finish, as well), and they range in price from a reasonable $250 to $500 each.
Tannoy
(519) 745-1158
www.tannoy.com
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Audio Video News
Software Reviews
HT Staff  |  Jun 12, 2003
DVD: Just Married—20th Century Fox
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Audio-3
Extras-3
Ashton Kutcher (That '70s Show, Dude, Where's My Car?) and Brittany Murphy (King of the Hill, 8 Mile) play newlyweds who discover that they truly hate each other while they're on their honeymoon. Just Married doesn't exactly break new ground, but it's quite funny and entertaining, mostly due to the onscreen chemistry and charisma that the two stars imbue. Obviously not much of a thinker, it's at least fun. While you're watching, keep in mind that Kutcher does all of his own stunts.
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