Weekly Site Roundup (09/27/04)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Budget Projection Television - Top Picks
You are shopping for a big screen TV, but those Plasma Televisions are just not in your budget. Why not consider a rear projection TV? OK, so you can't hang it on the wall, and the cabinet takes up more space, but for about one-half to one-third the price of a 42-50 inch Plasma TV, you can get a rear projection TV with the same screen size, and with the same features (many with HDTV upgradability) and, in many cases, better overall picture quality. With the money you save you can get a DVD player and modest home theater audio system to go with it! Check out some of my Budget Projection Television favorites.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
DTS Added As Mandatory Audio Format For HD-DVD and BluRay (DTS Online)
Pioneer Elite Prototype Receiver 160Wx7 (Audioholics)
Emmy Awards Go to Programs Broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1 (TV Technology)
Mitsubishi Pulling Out Of Large LCDs (CNET/Reuters)
Dolby Technologies Mandatory on both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc... (Dolby Labs)
Senate Panel Votes Against Digital TV Deadline (Reuters)
Marantz Introduces Three New Plasma Displays (Audioholics)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Sony RDR-GX300 DVD Recorder
Flexibility is the key to Sony's new RDR-GX300 DVD recorder. With the ability to record in four of the five available recordable DVD formats: DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-R/DVD-RW you can make DVDs that will play in just about any DVD player. In addition, this is not only a flexible recorder but has high-end playback features, including progressive scan with 3:2 pulldown detection. Add a full complement of analog and DV video inputs, and a price of less than $500, this is definitely a DVD recorder to consider for your home theater.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Remote Technologies (RTI)
Check out RTI's line of universal remote controls and other audio/video control products.
Featured in the Gadgets and Gizmos L-Z Category Page.
THX
Find out all the details about THX certification and what it means for you.
Featured in the Audio and Surround Sound Category Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Surround Sound Receiver Without Digital Hookups
From Z:
I just bought a older(1992) Sony surround sound system. It was very cheap, and came with good floor speakers...but there are no surround sound imputs on the reciever. In no place are there RCA hookups for more than 2 channels, nor is there any sort of digital imput. What I am wondering is even thouh it says 'Pro Logic' on the system, is there really way to use its surround sound capabilites? I have a computer with 5.1 RCA and SPDIF outputs, but i dont think I can use them. Eventually I will replace the unit, but until then is there anything I can do to have surround sound?
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
NHT ST4 Loudspeaker Quick Review
Looking for some new loudspeakers? Check out Anthony Armstrong's (About Guide For Stereos) brief review of some new offerings from NHT.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From JRD:
I have IO Digital Cable and have been waiting for the availability of DVD Recorders that will record 5.1 Digital Dolby Surround. Any update on this subject, and dual layer recorders?
From Your Guide:
Consumer grade DVD recorders all have the ability to play back Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS source material, when used with an AV receiver. However, DVD recorders only have analog stereo audio inputs for recording audio, which is then encoded into two-channel Dolby Digital. The output of the recorded audio can be accessed either through the analog stereo outputs or the digital audio outputs of the DVD recorder. Although, DVD recorders cannot record in 5.1 channel Dolby Digital or DTS audio, when used with an AV receiver equipped with Dolby Prologic II and/or DTS neo:6 processors, the two channel audio recording can be reprocessed into a 5.1 or 6.1 channel soundfield, albeit not as accurate as an original 5.1 or 6.1 channel soundtrack source.
The reason for this is two-fold: Since you can't record (or shouldn't be able to) or copy DVDs and there is little 5.1 or 6.1 channel audio available from other sources to record, there is not much need for this function (although this is changing as more cable and satellite programming is transmitted in dolby digital 5.1).
However, the second factor is probably more political than technical: even if you are successful at making a copy of a DVD video, you are prevented from making a copy of the multi-channel soundtrack, thus preventing you from making an "exact" copy of a DVD on a DVD recorder that could be "passed off" as the orginal.
If the status of digital audio recording changes for DVD Recorders, I will post an update on this question in my DVD Recorder FAQs
With regards to Dual Layer DVD reocrding compatibility -- there are no standalone DVD recorders that I know of yet with dual layer recording - but there are some PC-DVD drives with this capability now (mostly in the DVD+R format - dual layer discs are referred to as DV+R DL), but the other formats will be onboard fairly soon. There are also a few newer DVD players that have DVD+R DL playback capability) I would wait until after the first of the year and the next generation of DVD recorders before jumping in.
On the other hand, there are Dual-sided DVD-RAM discs available (one layer on each side) -- however, DVD-RAM discs are not playable on most DVD players.
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.
