HT Staff

The fifth generation of any new product cycle is typically when the big benefits begin to reach affordable levels. Madrigal's Proceed AVP2 is very much in this tradition---the new multichannel audio-video surround processor shares plenty of technology found in the $30,000 Mark Levinson #40 Media Console, but the AVP2 sells for only $6,495.

Play compressed audio files on your DVD player.

Not content merely to conquer the world, the DVD player is rapidly becoming the Swiss army knife of consumer electronics. The list of formats it supports is already swollen: DVD-Video, Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, DTS, the videoCD format that's so popular in Asia, and (of course) the CD, not to mention CD-Rs and CD-RWs. Gourmet formats like DVD-Audio, SACD, and even the obscure 24/96 stereo Digital Audio Disc are finding their way into affordable DVD players, as is a decidedly nongourmet format: MP3 compressed audio is coming to a DVD player near you.

Panasonic is getting serious about DVD recorders. Early this summer, the company announced its third generation DVD-recorder. Available in August, the DMR-E30 will arrive at dealers with a new low price, only $799.95.

Speaker stands are one of those things you just don't think much about---until you need them. Once you do, finding the right ones for your speakers and your room can be a time-consuming chore. Too often, those that are available look like they would be more at home in an auto repair shop.