Weekly Site Roundup (07/07/03)
ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Marantz SR7300ose: Product Review
Today's AV receivers pack in a lot of features and functionality for the home theater enthusiast, and, at a very reasonable price. The Marantz SR7300ose is one such receiver that includes all the functionality you would expect, but adds a few features not seen in most receivers in its price range.
MAIN PAGE HOME THEATER NEWS HEADLINES
Four Companies Collaborate On High-Def DV Format (TWICE)
BMG Licenses CD Copy-Protect Technology (TWICE)
Terk Introduces HDTV Reception Center... (Audio Revolution)
Nielsen Soundscan To Report Digital Download Music Sales (Audio Revolution)
Price War Breaks Out Between LCD and Plasma (Electrograph Display Technology News)
A Car Stereo That Can Kill You? Cool (CNN/Popular Science)
Mass Hysteria at RIAA (Stereophile Magazine)
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Yamaha YHT-740 Home Theater-In-A-Box
Yamaha has always been known for consistency in the quality of its audio and home theater products. The new YHT-740 is its latest entry in its growing home theater-in-box product category. Unlike most sytems of this type, the YHT-740 is made up of separate components that include its 6.1 channel (95wpc) HTR-5650 AV recevier, the DV-C6660 5-Disc progressive scan DVD player, its compact YST-SW015 120-watt powered subwoofer, and NS-AP3400 satellite speakers. For under $800 this package is definitely one to consider.
Manufacturer's Link
Harmonic Technology
Check out audio/video cables and digital interconnect products from Harmonic Technology.
Featured in the Home Theater Subject Page.
Needle Doctor
Looking for a stylus, cartridge, belts, or other accessories for your old turntable? If so, check out the Needle Doctor.
Featured in the Turntables Subject Page.
FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Plasma TV and LCD TV
From WTYOW:
A good resume of the technologies, although I would dispute your plasma description slightly. During my time at Panasonic Broadcast we had good training from the plasma factory. I would adjust your words as follows:
"injected gas is trapped between the layers of glass in a matrix of minute cells. The gas is 'ionised' by passing high voltage pulses through adjacent electrodes"
The ionisation of a plasma is the same as in a flourescent tube in that it produces Ultra Violet light which excites the phosphor material lining each cell of the plasma screen: red, blue or green as in colour TV. The skill is in shaping and timing the pulses to produce the best compromise of brightness, efficiency and contrast.
Panasonic lead the world with their high-contrast screens, however the prices and production costs make it a high risk business.
I am not so knowledgable about TFT/LCD technology, especially the projected life-span of such displays. There is a growing market in computer and TV TFT screens and I would like to know what consumer research has been done on life expectancy...
Join in on the discussion.
FROM THE MAILBOX
From Barbara:
Hi. I found your article on DVD recorders very interesting. I have been considering one for some time, but am waiting until the price is reasonable. I recently looked in Circuit City and they had two that were down to $499, but still not low enough for me.
I am a TV addict and like to record shows to 1) watch at my convenience and 2) fast forward through all the commercials.....nothing I want to keep, just watch one time. I reuse tapes over and over. My question is: Can you do that with the blank discs that are currently sold?
From Your Guide:
If you use the RW (Re-Writable) discs you can use them over and over again...
However, If all you need a DVD recorder for is to record TV shows and not keep them, then you might consider TIVO instead of a DVD recorder. TIVO units record on a hard drive instead of a disc and had hold 20-60 hrs of programs (depending on unit). When it fills up you can erase it and use it over again.
These units are available at Circuit City, Best Buy, etc...
FINAL WORDS
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Home Theater Magazine.
Stereophile Guide To Home Theater.
Stereophile Magazine.
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