Audio Video News

Meridian's chief designer and chairman, Bob Stuart, is passionate about musical truth and obtaining it with an audio system. In <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?33">For the Love of Music</A>, Lawrence B. Johnson profiles both the man and his quest for audio's Holy Grail.

DVD has taken off like no other format in consumer-electronics history. At the end of these first five years of stellar growth for DVD, <I>SGHT</I>'s editors rate the good, the bad, and the ugly in "<A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?37">DVD: Five Years and Still Sizzling</A>." More than 55 DVD reviews in one place, with ratings for sound, picture, and content.

In his review of the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?41">Sony Grand Wega KF-60DX100 rear-projection TV</A>, Tom Norton points out that "while the plasma and DLP technologies have been generating much of the latest buzz, the less glamorous LCD remains a serious contender." TJN reveals just how serious in his report.

Steven Stone takes the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?52">Marantz SA-12S1 multichannel SACD/DVD-Video/CD player</A> out for a spin or two and asks, "Is the SA-12S1 worth its lofty price tag of $3800? Welcome to the wonderful world of early adoption."

Michael Fremer sets up the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?56">B&W CM Series surround speaker system</A> in his audio/video room and gives them a complete workout. MF comments, "What B&W chose to do with the CM Series is blend good looks, high build-quality, and typically rich 'British sound' into an affordable package."

Steven Stone takes on the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?60">Earthquake SuperNova MKIV-15 subwoofer</A>, asking "What would a movie be without low-frequency effects?" SS takes a subterranean tour with the MKIV-15 to see how well it handles the big boom.

Fred Manteghian does some heavy lifting to install the 120-pound <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?64">Ayre V-6 multichannel power amplifier</A> in his home theater system. But the sound is what counts, and FM reports that the V-6 is a breath of fresh Ayre.