If you want a really big picture, you need a front projector. But the brightness of any projected image decreases as the screen size increases, and after a certain point, the picture is too dim to be fully satisfying, even in a dark room. Many home-theater projectors can't deliver adequate amounts of light to screens measuring more than, say, 10 feet wide or so, but not the new Force One from <A href="http://www.cineversum.com">Cineversum</A>, which the company claims can light up screens as large as 49 feet wide.
Great Britain has long been home to many excellent high-end audio companies, including <A href="http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk">Chord Electronics</A>. One of its newest offerings is the uncompromising CPA8000, Chord's ultimate 2-channel preamp.
When I ran across the Ultimate II speaker from <A href="http://www.magico.net">Magico</A>, I knew I had to profile it here—hey, the name says it all! This 5-way, horn-loaded monster stands 7.5 feet tall and weighs 800 pounds, and from all reports I've read, it sounds just as impressive as it looks.
What is it with glass speaker enclosures? I've profiled several such speakers here, but I remain puzzled by this choice of cabinet material. Is glass really that much better than MDF, wood, carbon fiber, or other materials? <A href="http://www.crystalcable.com">Crystal Cable</A> seems to think so—this Dutch high-end cable company recently got into the speaker business with the striking Arabesque.
One of the hallmarks of twentieth-century physics is the development of quantum mechanics, which describes the properties of matter and energy at very small scales. At its heart, this highly abstruse and esoteric branch of physics is actually quite simple: all matter and energy ultimately consists of discrete units or "packets" called quanta.
According to <A href="http://www.pure-vox.com">Purevox</A>, the company is "a new brand, a new guy in the hi-fi industry." If so, it's initial offerings are mighty impressive, at least in terms of design and price. Take, for example, the PV-Flagship turntable, which employs magnetic suspension to levitate the belt-driven main platter 2 centimeters above the subplatter, eliminating any friction between them.
The Moon brand from Canadian high-end stalwart <A href="http://www.simaudio.com">Simaudio</A> is well known among audiophiles, but I didn't realize that its premium Moon Evolution line also includes some multichannel home-theater products. Submitted for your consideration are the CP-8 preamp/processor, HDS-8 HDMI switcher, and MC-8 modular multichannel power amp.
The debate over the sound of vacuum tubes versus solid-state audio electronics has endured since the invention of the transistor, and it's not likely to be settled any time soon. With the new C-60 CD player from Australian boutique maker <A href="http://www.vincentaudio.com.au">Vincent Audio</A>, there's no need to decide—you can switch between its tube-based and solid-state output stages as desired.
In my never-ending quest for the best performing, most beautiful, and/or most expensive A/V gear, I recently happened upon the Signature Titan speaker from <A href="http://www.moonaudio.com">Moon Audio</A>. Said to be the first in a series of "ultra-limited-edition functional-acoustic artworks," only three pairs will ever be made.
When Lars Engström built his first first amplifier at age 12 in his native Sweden, he could hardly have foreseen where it would take him. But his passion and talent for audio engineering eventually led him to found <A href="http://www.thelars.se">Engström & Engström</A> in 2009 with his nephew Timo, an industrial designer whose skills complement those of Lars perfectly.
Among the myriad speakers introduced at CES 2010 was the Grand Master, the new flagship of Canadian maker <A href="http://www.hansenaudio.com">Hansen Audio</A>. A behemoth standing over six feet tall and weighing 650 pounds, it's packed with proprietary technology that promises exquisite sound.
The human hearing system is exquisitely sensitive to directional cues that let us instantly determine where a sound is coming from. This was critical for our survival in prehistory when the snap of a twig or a low growl might be the only harbinger of impending doom in the jaws of a hungry predator.
When it comes to hotbeds of high-end audio, South Africa is not the first place that comes to mind. Yet this is the home of <A href="http://www.vividaudio.com">Vivid Audio</A>, maker of beautifully curvaceous speakers, including the flagship Giya, which is available in two versions—the original G1 and the new, smaller G2 introduced at CES 2010.
Reader K. Reid asked for a profile of ultra-high-end cables from <A href="http://www.nordost.com">Nordost</A>, and I'm only too happy to oblige. At the pinnacle of the company's extensive product range is the Odin line, which includes power cords, tonearm cables, analog and digital interconnects, and speaker cables.