Weekly Site Roundup (07/26/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Home Theater - The Easy and Inexpensive Way
Looking to get started in home theater without all the hassle of buying everything and figuring out how to install it? Then a home theater-in-a-box system may be just right for you. There are several types of configurations, but, basically, the majority of systems come packaged with everything you need to get a basic home theater started including a DVD player/AV receiver (combination or separate components), all the speakers, including the subwoofer, a remote control, and, the best of all, all the wire is included to connect it all together, including standard AV cables to connect to an existing TV. To find out more, read my article.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
Mexico Officially Adopts ATSC Standard For Digital Television (Widescreen Review)
Best Buy Adds Westinghouse LCD TV (TWICE)
Humax, TiVo Team On 300-hour Recorder (Endgadget)
Samsung SDI Develops World's Slimmest CRT Digital TV Display (Yahoo News)
Lite-On LVW-5020 Set Top DVD Recorder and PVR (Gizmodo)
Dolby Digital Beyond DVD (Stereophile Ultimate AV)
CES 2005 To Expand Technology Showcases (TWICE)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Sony DVP-NC675P 5-Disc CD/DVD Changer
The Sony NC-675P is a great example of how much bang-for-the-buck DVD players are these days. At under $130, this unit is a 5-disc DVD changer that offers progressive scan video output with 3:2 pulldown capability, as well as DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW, CD-R/-RW/Jpeg, and CD-MP3 playback compatiblity. Whether upgrading to the increased capacity of a 5-disc DVD changer or looking for your first DVD player, make sure you check out the NC-675P.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Liquid Acoustics
Check out the innovative bookshelf speakers from liquid acoustics, which come in 35 different colors!
Featured in the Loudspeaker Manufactuers K - O Category Page.
Algolith
If you have a new HDTV and just are quite satisfied with the picture quality you are getting, then you might check out the Mosquito video processor from Algolith.
Featured in the Television Manufacturer's A - H Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Need Help With Projection TV
From IDWORDEN00:
I recently bought the Mitsubishi 48" Widescreen HD-Ready Rear-Projection TV with DVI Interface - Gray - WS-48313 from Best Buy.
Since I have gotten the tv, I have not been that happy with the picture. Sometime it looks great - other times it looks very blurry compared to some of the tube tv's we have in our house. Is this just something I need to accept considering it is a rear projection tv? Or do you think I should have technicians come out to calibrate to improve the picture? Also, the color doesn't seem to be as good as it is on our tube tv's.
I'm also wondering if our couch may be too close to the tv to optimize the picture. Currently, when sitting on the couch, you sit about 8 ft. or so from the tv.
I am just looking for any suggestions to help me improve my picture, color, etc..., otherwise I am seriously considering returning the tv and going back to a tube.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
About Stereos - Top Six Classic Tube Amps of All Time
Do you have fond memories of those classic tube audio components of the past? If so, check out some top tube amplifiers of 50's and 60's as chosen by Anthony Armstrong, About Guide To Stereos.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From DL:
Do most DVD recorders accept input from digital camcorders? For example, I am thinking of getting a Canon ZR85 MiniDV-based recorder and a $200 Wal-Mart DVD recorder:
Is there another (affordable) combination you recommend?
From Your Guide:
All digital camcorders have both analog (composite, S-Video) and digital (Firewire, iLink, IEEE1394) video outputs -- this means that you can connect a digital camcorder to any DVD recorder in either fashion.
Although the ideal way to connect a digital camcorder to a DVD recorder is with the DV or digital video connection, not all DVD recorders have digital video inputs (although most do) -- THE CYBERHOME DVD RECORDER YOU ARE LOOKING AT DOES NOT HAVE DIGITAL VIDEO INPUTS, but it does have compposite and S-Video inputs.
If you desire a DVD recorder with digital video inputs, you need to get one with a Firewire input (also known as iLink or IEEE1394), I would check models with this feature. Most DVD recorders made by Pioneer, Philips, Sony, Sharp, Toshiba, and Go Video have these inputs, but you need to check the front panel input connections to be sure on a specific model.
FINAL WORDS
Submit your own product review to home theater! Just use the new handy form and your review and name will be posted on my site!
If you need more great info on home theater and audio, with an emphasis on the higher end, be sure to check out About.com's related partner sites:
Audio Video Interiors (The Connected Guide To The Digital Home).
Home Theater Magazine.
Stereophile Ultimate AV.
Stereophile Magazine.
Lastly, I would like your feedback on this Weekly Site Update Page. If you have any comments, either positve or negative, just let me know.
A Special Reminder: Although I update this site regularly, sometimes I miss broken links, this is especially a concern as old product listings expire and new ones have different link addresses. If you encounter any broken links in my articles or listings, just bring it to my attention so I can correct the address or delete it from the site if it has expired and can no longer be accessed.
For a look at earlier Home Theater Nooz and Vewz Weekly Updates, CLICK HERE
Feel free to
email me at hometheater.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.
