Features From 2001
12/30/01 -
2001: Pick-Of-The-Picks
It's that time of year where every electronics journalist picks the best products of the year. Check out my personal favorites.
12/18/01 -
Guide Picks - Powered Subwoofers
The subwoofer has emerged as a critical component of the home theater system. Today's DVDs contain low frequency information that add a dose of "reality" to those explosions and other special effects, as well as revealing those lower musical tones. If you are considering adding a little punch to your system, consider a few of my moderately-priced powered subwoofer picks.
12/09/01 -
Guide Picks - Budget Projection TV
So, you want a big screen projection TV, but you think they are too expensive. Believe it or not, basic rear projection big screen TVs have plummeted in price in the past couple of years. If you don't need (or want) to go for all the bells-and-whistles of the latest 16x9 HD projection sets, you can actually buy a pretty good 4x3 analog projection TV that can fill your needs for quite a while.
12/01/01 -
Guide Picks - 16x9 Flat Tube TVs
As the impact of DVD, DTV, and HDTV becoming more of a factor in TV viewing, the popularity of digital TV is on the rise. Coming in 16x9 screen ratios, this new breed of TV provides high performance for both analog and digital video sources. Here are a few of my picks for 16x9 HD-ready sets in the 30 to 36-inch screen size.
11/24/01 -
Guide Picks: 27-Inch Flat Tube TVs
Big screen and Plasma TVs have been getting all the attention lately, but for those that don't have the room or the budget, there is a whole category of high-performance 27" screen size TVs. Here are some of my favorite picks.
11/22/01 -
Guide Picks: CD Players/Changers
Twenty years ago the CD came to the market as the "ultimate" means of music reproduction. In a few short years, the CD displaced the Vinyl record and Audio Cassette as the dominant form of listening to recorded music. Here are my picks for current moderately-priced CD players/changers.
11/20/01 -
Holiday Shopping: Don't Forget The Necessories!
It's that time of year for gift-giving. When giving a high-tech gift, make sure you include the accessories that make it work. Updated for Winter 2001.
11/19/01 -
Guide Picks: AV Receivers
The AV Receiver is the heart of a home theater system. It not only provides power to the speakers, but servers as an integrated control center for all of your components, often times providing both audio and video switching. Check out my list of favorites.
11/09/01 -
Guide Picks: Home Theater-In-A-Box Systems
Interested in settiing 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.
10/30/01 -
Guide Picks: TV Combos
TVs with built-in VCRs have been with us awhile, but now some TVs come with built-in DVD players and other gadgets. These new hi-tech TV combos make great holiday gifts.
10/22/01 -
Guide Picks: CD Recorders
Do you have a vinyl record collection that you never seem to have enough time to listen to? If so, why not make CD copies and take your collection anywhere you go.
10/16/01 -
Guide Picks: Budget DVD Players
DVD continues its penetration into retail stores and consumer's homes at an accelerated pace. Even if you don't have a high-end TV or home theater system, you can still enjoy the benefits of the DVD revolution. Here are some entry level players to consider for that perfect holiday gift. First in a series of gift ideas for the 2001 winter holiday shopping season.
10/08/01 -
Get Ready For The Holidays!
It's that time of year to gear up for the coming holiday shopping frenzy, but before you actually go out and buy, you need to know how to buy. Here are some tips.
10/01/01 -
Four Must-Have DVD Movies
You can have the best home theater system in the world, but in order to take advantage of its capabilities, the software your present on it must be worthy. Here are my four choices of upcoming DVD releases that are worthy of consideration.
09/24/01 -
The Home Theater Front: A Commentary
We have all been hit with dose of reality these past two weeks as the result of the WTC attack, but our lives must continue and home entertainment must continue to flourish as both a boost to the economy and to bring a release from the stress and grief of current events.
09/10/01 -
Recordable DVD Chaos
Recordable DVD has actually been here for over a year, but there still seems to be a lot of confusion over competing formats and standards. This is the latest update on the subject for Fall 2001.
09/04/01 -
Last Gasp Of The Audio Cassette?
Is the era of the audio cassette finished with the advent of the CD burner? Believe it or not, there are still some good performing audio cassette decks. The Sony TC-KE500S is one of those decks. For more info, check out the above article.
08/20/01 -
SACD Update: Multi-Channel Product Debut
It was just about two years ago that Sony announced the introduction of SACD with a $5,000 player. Now Sony is pushing SACD into the mainstream consumer market with the incorporation of the technology into a line of affordable audio and home theater products.
08/13/01 -
TV Buying Tips
We all know how to buy a TV right? Here are some useful tips that are often times overlooked in the purchasing process. A must read before you go shopping.
08/05/01 -
Budget DVD Players: 2001
DVD continues its penetration into retail stores and consumer's homes at an accelerated pace. Even if don't have high-end TV or home theater system, you can still enjoy the benefits of the DVD revolution. Also, here are a few suggestions that might help you narrow down your buying decision.
07/16/01 -
Region Codes: DVD's Dirty Secret
The DVD world is divided into six regions. According to some, this is a means of providing copyright protection and preserve international film distribution arrangements, as well as prevent "illegal" copying. However, is it also a plot by movie companies to command higher prices for DVDs overseas?
07/01/01 -
Budget Home Theater -- 2001
You want to get into all the Home Theater fun, but don't have the space or the money? Have no fear, there are several inexpensive solutions that will enable you to enjoy the Home Theater experience without redoing the living room or drilling holes in your pocketbook.
06/24/01 -
Plasma, Plasma! 2001 Update
Ever since televisions became a mainstay in U.S. households in the early 1950's, we have been promised that a "hang-on-the-wall" TV was just around the corner. Well, after almost 50 years of promises, the Plasma TV has arrived and is making its way into consumer households.
06/18/01 -
DVD Fever!
It's happening everywhere. A fever is spreading across the land threating our traditional movie viewing habits and there seems to be no way to stop it. It's DVD fever! Find out what to do when you catch it and how to spread it to others.
06/03/01 -
Recordable DVD: The Second Wave
Recordable DVD has been with us for almost a year. Now second generation units are beginning to be introduced into the market.
05/19/01 -
VCD: DVD Wannabee?
The video CD has been around for some time, and is especially popular in Asia, where it garners as much popularity as the VCR for watching movies at home. Now, it is gaining popularity in western countries as a video recording format. Is the video CD really viable in face of the popularity of DVD?
05/12/01 -
Super VHS: The Comeback Kid (2001 Update)
Has the VCR finally outlived its usefulness? Is the advent of new products, such as DVD players, PVRs, and the introduction of recordable DVD, destined to displace the VCR as the dominate video gadget in our homes? The VHS format has a secret from its own past that may just insure its continued use for awhile longer.
05/05/01 -
Don't Forget The Necessories!
May and June are big gift-giving months; Mother's Day, Graduations, Father's Day, and Weddings. When giving a high-tech gift, make sure you include the accessories that make it work.
04/28/01 -
Widescreen TV -- The 16x9 Factor
Big screen and widescreen TVs are getting more and more popular, but what is the difference between a Big Screen and a Widescreen TV, and how should that difference enter into your next TV buying decision?
04/21/01 -
Electricity: The Weakest Link?
The consumer electronics revolution has changed the way we live and entertain ourselves, but is all this technology doomed for lack of reliable power sources?
04/15/01 -
Dolby Pro Logic II Arrives On Store Shelves
After an impressive debut at CES, audio components equipped with the new Dolby Pro Logic II processor are beginning to arrive on store shelves. Is this just another in a long line of surround sound formats, or a signifigant factor to consider for your upcoming AV receiver purchase? Find out in the above article.
04/07/01 -
DTV Confusion -- 2001
Are you apprehensive about the coming digital TV revolution?
2006 is the target for the permanent turnover to Digital TV, but how does this really affect your current TV buying decisions? Check out this update on the progress of DTV as it relates to the average consumer.
03/31/01 -
The Two Channel Solution
Home theater and surround sound is a great experience, but for some applications, a good-old two channel stereo receiver can handle the job.
03/24/01 -
To DVD or Not To DVD?
So, everybody on your block has a DVD player and you feel left out. With prices way down, and features and quality way up, what's holding you back? Come on in and join the fun with a useful overview of DVD technology
03/10/01 -
TV Combo Mania!
TVs with built-in VCRs have been with us awhile, but now some TVs come with built-in DVD players and other gadgets.
03/03/01 -
Adventures In CD Recording
Do you have a vinyl record collection that you never seem to have enough time to listen to? If so, why not make CD copies and take your collection anywhere you go.
02/10/01 -
Product Trends For 2001: Flat Tube TV
The fourth in my series of articles on the latest in Home Theater products and innovations introduced at this year's CES in Las Vegas.
02/03/01 -
Product Trends For 2001: DVD-Audio/SACD
The third in my series of articles on the latest in Home Theater products and innovations introduced at this year's CES in Las Vegas.
01/27/01 -
Product Trends For 2001: DVD Recorders
The second in my series of articles on the latest in Home Theater products and innovations introduced at this year's CES in Las Vegas.
01/19/01 -
Product Trends For 2001: Surround Sound
The first in my series of articles on the latest in Home Theater products and innovations introduced at this year's CES in Las Vegas.
01/12/01 -
CES 2001 Photo Gallery
Your intrepid guide was on hand at CES 2001 in Las Vegas. Here is a photo gallery of products and booths highlighting this year's gathering of manufacturers and marketers of consumer electronics products.
