Weekly Site Roundup (11/25/02)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Home Theater-In-A-Box Systems
Interested in setting up a home theater, but don't want to have to remodel your living room or deplete your finances to do it? Get in on the home theater craze with a minimum of hassle and cost with a home theater-in-a-box system. Here are some of my favorite picks for low cost, home theater-in-a-box systems (HTIB). Just add your own TV. (Updated for Winter 2002)
HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
A $10,000 Television? (HDTV Buyer)
AOL Movies Introduces DVD Previews... (DVDinsider)
SRS Labs' New 5.1 Circle Surround® Technology Used on ESPN NFL and NBA Telecasts (Audio World)
2.5 Million Digital Cameras Shipped In Q3 (TWICE)
Panasonic Leads The Pack In The Recordable DVD Market (DVDinsider)
Philips Upbeat On U.S. CE Operations (TWICE)
DVD-Audio Going Hybrid? (Stereophile)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Pioneer HTP-725DV Home Theater-In-A-Box
Trying to decide what components to buy for a complete home theater system? Why not get it all in one affordable package that really delivers? The Pioneer HTP-725DV may just fill the bill. This system includes a powerful 6.1 channel surround sound receiver, DVD player with progressive scan capability, and all the speakers (including powered subwoofer). Just add the TV.
FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Audio/Video Forum
Great source for DVD movie reviews and home theater discussion.
Featured in the Magzines/E-zines Subject Page.
Kief's Audio-Video
Starting out as a record shop in 1959, Kief's has evolved into a full-service audio-video dealer. Based in Lawrence, Kansas.
Featured in the Shopping Subject Page.
Manley Labs
Check out the innovative vacuum tube audio components from Manley.
Featured in the Vacuum Tube Audio Subject Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Help In Choosing A DVD Recorder
From NEW NAME:
I own the Philips DVDR985 unit and I am buying a Panasonic HS2. The reason I'm switching over is that the Panasonic has the built in hard drive...The Panasonic is a litttle cheaper if you consider that the price of both is just about the same, but with the panasonic, you get a built in hard drive (more hardware for the money). I already own a Tivo and the Panasonic sounds like it combines the best of both the dvd recording world and the Tivo world.
The way I would use it is I would use the hard drive to record TV shows (like I use my TIVO now), then if there's one I want to keep, I would just back it up to a DVD-R. Now I use the TIVO to record shows, but every once in a while I have a show I want to record and keep. Of course, the Panasonic is more like a vcr in that it can't seek out the shows I want like the TIVO does, but I'm willing to give that up since sometimes that can be too much. (If you pick a daily show, then the TIVO hard drive can fill up pretty fast...)
With the DVD-R it is compatible with just about anything and I probably would not use the DVD-RAM discs so I'm not so concerned about the compatability of the DVD-RAM format. Having the hard drive, for me takes away the aurgument of which format will survive, since the only format I would really use is the DVD-R. I believe the DVD-R is the most compatible since its the closest to the everyday dvd's that you rent at the video store.(from what I know).
If the Panasonic is easy to use and does everything it promises, then I will get rid of my TIVO and the Phillips. (Thank god for Ebay!)
My experience has been good with the Philips unit though. I use it like I do a VCR...sometimes I back up stuff from the TIVO that I want to keep, but this loses quality quick since I'm doing a digital to analog back to digital conversion which loses alot of quality. If I use the Panasonic to back up stuff from the hard drive to the DVD-R disc, then it will be all digital. (Giving me better quality backups of shows.)
The only trouble I've had with the Philips is that I can't figure out how to edit on it. I can insert my own chapter points, but I can't figure out how to make it skip commercials for example. The manual doesn't explain this. This is my only complaint about it, otherwise its like a VCR. I'm sure as the generations progress, they will get easier to use just like vcr's did.
I would also use it for backing up some digital camcorder videos too.
The only thing I am uncertain about is the editing features of the Panasonic. I hope it is easy enough to edit on.
Join in on the discussion.
ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Top Five Three-Megapixel Digital Cameras
It seems like everybody is getting into digital cameras these days. Check out some great ones for this Holiday Shopping Season as chosen by Erick Hanneman, About Cameras guide.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From Johnny:
I can't tell you how ticked off I am about (DVD) region coding. The reason has nothing to do with purchasing and re-selling DVD's to relatives in far off countries, but rather a more practical, self-enrichment application. I speak German as a second language, but am unable to purchase DVD's in Germany because my computer will only allow me to change my regional setting 5 times before the final setting becomes permanent.
In addition, I studied Swedish in Sweden over the summer and would love to watch DVD's in Swedish as a way to continue learning, but, obviously, Hollywood's gain is my loss (so much for international goodwill!).
I had thought about purchasing a code-free DVD player, but how many pieces of equipment will I ultimately end up with just to see a movie? I already have a TV, VCR, and computer with CD/DVD capabilities!...
Just thought I'd put in my two cents worth......
From Your Guide:
Thanks for the great comments...I own both a standard Region 1 DVD player and a separate multi-region player (with PAL/NTSC conversion) and both serve me well. Since I have everything connected to an AV receiver with plently of input capabilities, one more component is not an issue.
One other issue besides region coding, however, is the fact that DVDs from Germany and Sweden are in the PAL format and cannot be viewable on a U.S. TV, even with most multi-region DVD players, unless the DVD player also has a PAL-to-NTSC converter...
FINAL WORDS
Holiday News! It's that time of year once again. First, check out my annual Holiday Shopping Survival Guide, then, check in every week for a new holiday shopping article or top product picks. 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.
