Q. I installed a home theater in my living room (which is essentially a square room) using a ceiling-mounted front projector, motorized screen, and four freestanding Magnepan speakers in the four corners of the room. It's great for watching movies. Then, my wife decided daytime viewing would be better with a plasma in the room.
My experience, nay, love affair, with Harmony remote controls began four years ago when I reviewed one of the first, the 768 (that remote is no longer available, even though the review still is, at soundandvisionmag.com). The marching orders for developing the Harmony remotes were simple yet groundbreaking, then and now.
Here's a predictable plot: A world-famous director buys a mansion in the Hollywood Hills and immediately demands that his underlings bring forth a traditional screening room - an opulent show-place, sealed off from the rest of the house, complete with a hulking projector, Voice of the Theater-type speakers, leather recliners on shag-covered risers, red velvet curtains, and a touchscreen rem
Klipsch might be the most recognizable name in speakers. After all, the company has been around for more than 60 years - ever since founder Paul Klipsch figured out how to create a compact version of the huge horn speakers used in movie theaters.
If you've ever wondered whether it's worth it to splurge for premium audio and video cables, join the club. Given the Viagra-like claims of enhancement made by some manufacturers, it's often hard to separate the science from the fiction.
With all the press that wireless technologies like Wi-Fi have been getting, it's easy to forget that hard-wired systems make the A/V world go round. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, adding a component to your system means running at least one wire.
Everyone knows which company is the No. 1 seller of MP3 players. But do you know who's No. 2? It's not a major electronics company like Sony. And it's not a major computer company like Dell. It's SanDisk. How can an "unknown" company like that become a powerhouse in a consumer technology market?
"DO I FEEL LUCKY?" (Well, do ya, punk?) That's the question that millions of people are asking themselves as they think about buying a new video player. In particular, should they go for Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD? If you choose one and buy a few hundred movies for it, but the format goes bust, you'll be lucky to recoup pennies on the dollar on eBay. That's quite a gamble.
Q. I read that the newer HDMI version 1.3 effectively solves the lip-sync issue that can sometimes pop up in HDTV broadcasts because of the digital audio being quicker than the video. I am considering a receiver upgrade. Would you recommend looking for a receiver with HDMI 1.3? Shawn Crandall Via e-mail
