What's the Next Big Thing in high definition? 3D? 4K? 5G? Nah. Several industry experts who've seen prototype displays suggest that high dynamic range will be the newest technology to turbo-charge video. We're talking video with pitch blacks and blinding whites.
I wasn't sure why the guys at S&V asked me to have a listen to Acoustic Research's AWD510 wireless 5.1-channel headphones ($350; audiovox.com). They looked big and clunky compared with many of today's much smaller 'phones and earbuds.
With a digital video recorder, you're master of the HDTV universe today, but brought to your knees tomorrow when your DVR fills up and automatically deletes the penultimate episode of Dancing with the Stars before you've witnessed the duel play-out.
Former jazz musician and big-band arranger/composer Dave Schulz isn't too far from his passion these days. His stage now is the store he opened 7 years ago, Audio Video Synergy (908-213-0001).
"Hey, stop hanging around! You're blocking the doorway!"
That's what shop owners were shouting at teenagers who were loitering outside stores and in malls. The kids were supposedly deterring adult customers - that is, the ones with more spending power.
Many of us opt to take the do-it-yourself (DIY) route so we can build something better for less money, and for the satisfaction that comes from knowing we did it ourselves. If you're new to build- ing your own stuff, a speaker kit is a great place to start.
In this guide you'll find five starter systems, selected by the editors of Sound & Vision. While these were put together with people new to home theater in mind, longtime readers of the magazine will also find worthwhile ideas, and combinations of equipment they might not have considered.
Q. I have been using the surround processor in my receiver, fed to a multichannel amplifier, and am considering doing so again. Can you clear the air regarding voltage output from a receiver or preamplifier, amplifier input sensitivity, and amplifier input impedance.
Are they earbuds for your MP3 - or earrings for your QT? A little bit of both, maybe! For head-pleasing sound and head-turning style, there's the new Active Crystals collection from Philips and crystal artisans Swarovski (active-crystals.com).
With the SilverPC up and running, (check the August and September issues for that), it comes time to talk about software. After all, you can't run a PC without software.