Tom Norton

Wisdom Audio makesd highly specialized and very expensive in-wall audio systems. The utilize line-array full-range speakers with the midrange and high end covered by long planar drivers, the lower end by several mid-sized bass units per channel, and, now, humongous subwoofers consisting of two 15" PRO drivers in cabinets estimated at over 12 cubic feet. Wisdom's brochure assures us that these 17.75" wide, 36" deep, and (I'd guess) five feet high monsters are "space efficient!" But they are designed to be hidden away.

Wolf Cinema has launched three new projectors, including one that is surprisingly affordable for this premium brand. The lamp-based, 2D, DCC-100FD, a single chip DLP, is expected to list for $10,000 when it becomes available early next year. It's rated at 1300 ANSI lumens.

A year or so ago I reviewed an Arcam AV receiver. It was one of the best sounding pieces I have experienced. But its HDMI inputs were switching only--no audio over HDMI. That has been corrected with the new AVR600 ($4000; $4500 with Internet LAN connectivity). It will also decode all of the latest audio formats, including DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. It's also one of the first AVRs to feature Dolby Volume. 120 Wpc, availability expected in late November.

As an update to its Titan and Lightning 1080p projectors, Digital Projection has added lens memory that automates changes in zoom, shift, and focus at up to 10 specific preset positions. The repositioning is said to be accurate to within two pixels over repeated cycles. This allows the use of a 2.35:1 screen for 3.25:1 content without the need for an anamorphic lens. While there are important advantages to the full anamorphic approach, there are disadvantages as well. Simply zooming out the 2.35:1 image to fit the 2.35:1 screen does eliminate considerable expense and complication.