Weekly Site Roundup (10/14/02)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Top Picks: Plasma TVs
Plasma TV is finally becoming a viable alternative to those bulky tube and projection sets as prices are coming down and a variety of screen sizes are available. Check out some of my favorites.
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
Will High-End DVD Players With Digital Video Outputs Force The Adoption of a Standard? (Audio Revolution)
DVD Rental Revenues Continue To Rise At Record-Breaking Rate (DVD Spotlight)
D-VHS Expands At CEDIA Expo (TWICE)
New Universal Audio/Video Player from Integra (Audio/Video News)
FCC Denies Satellite Merger (TWICE)
FCC Grants 1st Analog-TV Shutdown (TVinsite)
DVD-A Chips Ahoy (Stereophile)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Marantz SR7200 AV Receiver
This is a mid-range AV receiver that packs punch in both features and value. A fully functional 6 channel unit, the SR-7200 also has DD and DTS 5.1 decoding, as well as Dolby Pro-Logic II, but also features DTS-ES, Dolby Digital 6.1 matrix, and SRS Circle Surround. Another feature of the Marantz SR-7200 is its multi-zone expandability
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
The Analog Shop
Looking for the best in new and used analog audio and home theater components? Check out the offerings from the Analog Shop.
Featured in the Shopping Subject Page.
Van Slyke Engineering
Those inexpensive rubber feet on the bottom of your turntable and other components aren't enough to isolate your components from internal/external vibration. For better sound and video quality, check out some unique isolation products.
Featured in the Audio Components and Turntables Subject Pages.
American Theater Systems
More that just an ordinary E-tailer, these guys are specialists in custom home theater installation and services.
Featured in the Home Theater Subject Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Those Pesky Black Bars
From CHRIS60640:
I recently purchased a Panasonic PT47WX42, which is a 47" widescreen projection TV (16:9 aspect ratio). I love it, and would recommend it to anyone, but there is one thing that is driving me a little crazy. It seems like every DVD movie that I watch has horizontal black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Furthermore, TV shows that are broadcast in a widescreen format also have horizontal black bars. This doesn't seem right. TV shows broadcast in widescreen format should perfectly fit 16:9 TV screens, shouldn't they? Am I doing something wrong?
If anyone could shed any light on this, it would be greatly appreciated.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Desktop Video
Learn how to create digital images from video clips using Abode Premiere and Photoshop, as shown by Brian Paul Henderson, About Desktop Video Guide.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From MARTHA:
I recently bought a Samsung DVD player, which I've been trying to use with my TV/VCR combo. All sorts of weird things are happening: the color fades in and out, the picture gets wavy, dark bands appear out of nowhere -- you get the picture. Samsung's customer support told me it's because I'm using it with a TV/VCR combo -- that the DVD player purposely messes up the picture so that people won't tape the DVD movies on the VCR (!!).
Have you ever heard of this, or are they handing me a line of bull? Many thanks for any information you might have on this!
From Your Guide:
They are correct. If you have the DVD player hooked into the AV inputs of the TV/VCR combo you will continue to experience this problem. The only practical solution is to buy an RF modulator, which will enable you to plug both the DVD player and your cable or antenna into the cable input of the TV section. You would then watch your DVD player on channel 3, as long as the VCR section is not activated this will solve your problem. However, you will not get full benefit of the best video quality of the DVD player.
This problem is not the fault of Samsung or any other manufacturer -- it is imposed by the movie studios to prevent unauthorized copying of DVDs and video tapes.
FINAL WORDS
Holiday News! It's that time of year once again. I have begun my series of product picks and related articles for the winter holiday shopping season. If you have any suggestions, just send me a line.
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.
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.
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.
