Audio Video News

The LG LHT888 is an HTiB with a rare distinction. It was fine-tuned by high-end audio guru Mark Levinson.

I've met Mark Levinson. He is a genius and has a glint of madness in his eye. He first wowed the world with products bearing his name--that brand is now under the Harman International umbrella, though Levinson himself is not. Levinson went on to found Cello, another line of high-end stereo gear featuring an equalizer, which he demoed to great effect. Then he did Red Rose Music, a small-scaled line of gear sold out of its own store on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The store contained a giant Bosendorfer piano and served as a recording studio for the varied and intimate sessions comprising Live at Red Rose Music, an SACD sampler which remains one of the jewels of my test-disc collection.

Exactly what role Levinson played in designing the LHT888 is unclear but the spec list proudly boasts "superior audio performance, tuned by renowned audio expert, Mr. Mark Levinson." The 5.1-channel system features satellite speakers shaped like champagne flutes, with wireless transmission serving the always hard-to-place rear-surrounds. The speakers get 100 watts per channel. There's an integrated DVD drive with 1080p output. You can also hook up a USB device and play MP3, MP3 VBR, WMA, MPEG4, DivX, and JPG.

LG also reportedly has a Levinson-tweaked AP3133 Blu-ray based system on the way. And it was announced at the past CES that Levinson is consulting on the audio sections of LG DTVs. See LG product page on the LHT888 and press release on both products.