Weekly Site Roundup (08/16/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
36-Inch Analog And HD-Compatible Tube Televisions
You need a new television, but 27-inch sets are too small, projections sets are too big, and the new 16x9 sets just don't quite suit your tastes. You can still get the benefits of big screen viewing combined with the latest technology in a 36-inch 4x3 direct-view TV. Check out several of my favorites.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
SACD and Video? (Stereophile Magazine)
Blockbuster Enters Online DVD Rental Business (CNET)
Has Dual Disc Run Into Problems? (Audio/Video Revolution)
HD Radio Prospects Perk Up With Cox Announcement (TWICE)
NBC And VOOM Team Up To Present The Olympics In HDTV (Widescreen Review)
LG Sees $50 DTV STB By 2008 (TWICE)
Driver Cleared Of Death Crash While Watching DVD (CNN)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Pansonic PV-DR2714 DVD Recorder/VCR/TV Combo
This unit combines a 27-inch flat tube television, DVD recorder, and VCR. The TV is has a 2-line digital comb filter for a smoother image. The DVD recorder utilizes the DVD-R/RAM formats and the VCR is a 4-head HiFi stereo unit. AV inputs and both analog and digital audio output are present. You can perform two-way DVD/VHS dubbing of non-copyprotected material. One drawback is that all the three units share the same tuner, so you cannot record one TV show and watch another at the same time.
Manufacturer's Site.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Von Schweiker Audio
The ulimate quest of loudspeaker makers is to capture all of the nuances of a live performance. Von Schweiker Audio believes its "virtual reality" speaker design captures just that. Check out their entire line of innovative loudspeakers.
Featured in the Loudspeaker Manufacturers U - Z Category Page.
Rega Turntables
Analog audio lives on! Check out the excellent audio turntable lineup from Rega
Featured in the Turntables Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
CONVERTING VHS TO DVD
From JAQ12354:
I want to convert my home videos to DVD so I can get still shots for pictures. Is it possible to do this?
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
About Stereos - Vinyl Vs Compact Disc
Ever since the CD was introduced over 20 years ago, the debate has been raging on what really sounds better, the CD or Vinyl record. Anthony Armstrong, About Guide To Stereos, wants readers to cast their vote and speak their mind on his forum. This certainly sounds more interesting than the upcoming presidential election!
FROM THE MAILBOX
From MK:
I only want to have a nice music system in my living room - no plans to have a TV etc. Technically speaking, do I need an A/V receiver with 5.1 output? Budget is not a major issue and I don't want to compromise, but I want to understand if A/V receiver is better than a stereo receiver if one only wants to listen to music? and how?
From Your Guide:
This is actually a very timely question. Up until recently, it was a forgone conclusion that 2-channel audio was the best option for high-end music listening. However, with advent of multi-channel music formats, such as DVD-Audio, SACD (Super Audio CD), DTS, and Circle Surround encoded DVD and CD discs, there has been a big advance in the quality of surround sound music. In addition, with the introduction of Dolby Pro-Logic II and IIx, even two channel music sources, such as Vinyl records, standard CDs, and Cassettes, can now be heard in a realistic surround sound environment.
Although you will get heated opinions from stereo purists as to the worthiness of surround sound music formats, I would go to some independent higher end dealers and listen to some demonstrations of what is available in terms of hardware.
If you do make the jump to surround sound music, definitely don't go for a budget priced AV receiver, you need something that is designed to perform well with both music as well as video soundtracks.
Probably the best reference article on surround sound music tha currently available is in the August/September issue The Absolute Sound -- which is titled: "SACD and DVD-Audio -- How Good Are They?" I think you will find this a very interesting resource for you. The print version of the magazine is available at stores like Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc..
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/current.html.
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
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