Weekly Site Roundup (09/13/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Home Theater Accessories for Committed Movie Fans
A lot of attention is placed on the basic equipment needed to experience home theater, however, there are many unusual accessories that can enhance your home theater experience. Check out my list of suggestions that can add both to the functionality and aesthetic enjoyment of your home theater experience. Some suggestions are very inexpensive and practical to implement, while others are expensive and indulgent, but all add to the variety and what can be attained in the home theater experience.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
Marantz, Dolby Show Off at CEDIA (Stereophile)
Yamaha Introduces Two New AV Receivers (Audioholics)
THX Launches Home Theater Room Certification (THX LTD)
DirecTV to Have 1000 HD Channels By 2007 (Audio Video Revolution)
Panasonic DVD Recorder Gets Connected (PC World)
Plunge In LCD Prices Expected To Slow (Reuters/CNET)
Highest Resolution Camcorder: Sony HDR-FX1 (Mobile Mag)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Pioneer DV-578A-S DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player
The Pioneer DV-578A-S is an affordable DVD player from the Pioneer stable that not only features DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio compatibility, but also plays DV-R/-RW, CDs, CDR/RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG Photo CDs. On the video side, this unit offers progressive scan with 3:2 pulldown detection and an enhanced video processor. The 578A-S is great example of how more high performance features are now being incorporated in an affordable DVD player package. With a street price of less than $199, this is definitely a unit to check out.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
SLS Loudspeakers
Custom craftsmanship and attention to technical perfection are the benchmarks of SLS speakers. Makers of both professional and home theater speaker solutions.
Featured in the Loudspeaker Manufacturers P - T Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Analog TV Shutoff
From MNIT1:
I saw the (HDTV) FAQ's but my question wasn't directly addressed. If you have an analog TV and say, Dish, DirecTV, or digital cable, will you still need an additional box to continue to see the display? Or if not, will you need to swap your current digital (Dish, DirecTV, Comcast, etc.) receiver for a new HD one, downconverted to 480i to be able to continue receiving a watchable signal?
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
About Desktop Video
Learn all about editing videos and making DVDs on your desktop computer as presented by Carl Plumer, About.com's new Desktop Video Guide.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From JD:
I stumbled across your website while doing research before I buy a new TV. It has been very informative, but I still have questions. Maybe you can make some suggestions for me, if you don't mind doing so.
We are almost complete in the the finishing of our basement. I want to put a nice TV down there for watching. We have regular Comcast cable, not digital with no real plan to change that anytime soon. We watch regular TV shows and sports, an occasional DVD maybe once a month. So I am stuck on two primary feature questions. Wide screen TV or not, and HD ready or not.
I would really like a 36" TV. My budget started at $1000.00, I could probably stretch it to $1300.00, but wouldn't want to go much above that. My grandma has a 36" Sony that seems quite nice and I think that size would work well in our basement.
PIP is a must for me as I am a channel surfer, and a sports nut. I would like HD ready only because that's the wave of the future, but I have no short term plan to utilize that feature.
The aspect ratio is my biggest question. Doesn't a 34" wide screen end up showing a smaller picture than a 34" 4:3 screen if I'm watching regular TV (ie non-16:9 format)?
Our basement is good size so I want a decent sized picture. The primary viewing area is probably 15' X 20', but the other areas are open to the main area and the TV could be seen from them as well.
Also what will happen in 2006 when supposedly everything will be HD?
Any suggestions would be great. I plan on making a purchase sometime in the next 30-60 days.
From Your Guide:
In your case, I would stick to a 36-inch 4x3 set, especially since the vast majority of your viewing is of standard television -- For the occassional DVD you will see black bars on the top and bottom of the screen if the movie is presented in widescreen -- but, since the area of a 36-inch TV is so large, the image will still be plenty big enough to view from a distance.
HD-upgradable is a good option, because it will be easier to connect digital set-top boxes and other HD-sources in the future.
For more information on 16x9 television technology -- check out my article:
Widescreen Television - The 16x9 Factor
As far as the DTV/HDTV turnover goes -- it will not come in 2006, but a few years later -- however, your TV will not become obselete -- even if it is not HD-upgradable -- you would simply purchase a set-top box (similar to a cable box) that will be able to down-convert HDTV signals to standard analog resolution in order to make the signals viewable on analog television - these boxes will be selling in the $80 - 100 range and possibly cheaper.
So, in essence, if you buy an HD-upgradable TV you will need an external tuner to receive HDTV and if you buy an analog television you will need (in about 2008 or so) a box that will enable you to receive HDTV signals in standard resolution.
One more tip -- if you buy a 36-inch analog television -- buy one with a flat tube, not a curved tube -- flat tubes have wider viewing angles, are less suseptible to ambient light glare, and there is less shape distortion in the displayed image.
Just in case you haven't seem the following, check out my HDTV FAQs
Top Picks - 36-inch Analog and HD-Compatible Televisions
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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