Audio Video News

Bose was nice enough to show me their new Lifestyle 38 ($2,999) and 48 ($3,999) home entertainment systems recently, with the nifty uMusic intelligent playback system: Music can be ripped from CD and stored on an internal hard drive (capacity unspecified at press time), but even without the benefit of an Internet connection all songs are automatically tagged with extensive track information, from a vast onboard database. In addition to helping organize and access your tunes as never before, this data can be used to create "smart" playlists automatically, with variety yet a related sound, nimbly transitioning from Steely Dan to Michael McDonald (former Dan member) to The Doobie Brothers (McDonald's subsequent group), as one mellow example.

The next wave of consolidation in the broadcasting industry has been dealt an indefinite setback by a US appeals court.

One million cable-ready high definition TVs will have been purchased by American consumers by the end of 2004, according to projections published June 23 by the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA).

Most home theater fans acknowledge that masking of front projector screens can vastly improve image quality. Most screens, unfortunately, come with black masks fixed for either 4:3 or 16:9 images. Some screens with manual masking allow adjustment of the masks by hand—a useful, but cumbersome way to get the most from films shot in a variety of aspect ratios.

Michael Fremer reviews the <A HREF="/speakersystems/504aerial">Aerial Acoustics LR5, CC5, LR3, SW12 surround speaker system</A>, noting that while many of the components may be sourced from Europe, the company's latest speakers are "American in size, scope, and reach-for-the-stars performance."

SPD-Smart
If those new windows from MW cost a fortune and you don't want to cover them with curtains or shades whenever you watch a movie in your home theater, consider using SPD-Smart windows. You control the window's tint and decide how much heat, light, and glare you want to enter the room. SPD-Smart says that the windows offer a limitless number of options between clear and dark states, so you can go from a darkened theater to a sun-filled room instantly. Imagine never having to clean between every single blind or wash those dust-filled curtains. Pricing starts at $70 per square foot.
SPD-Smart
(888) SPD-REFR
www.smartglass.com

There may be some good deals ahead for value-seeking shoppers at Best Buy stores.