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Audio Video News
FCC to Do 'Soft Test' of DTV Transition
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 20, 2009
Tomorrow the Federal Communications Commission and local broadcasters will run a "soft test" of the DTV transition. Analog TV broadcasts will be interrupted three times on May 21, 2009 with a message heralding the end of analog broadcasting, coming on June 12. They message will advise consumers who depend on antennas to feed analog TVs to devise a Plan B in a hurry.
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Ask S&V
HTIBs, Signal Switching, Balanced Cables
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 19, 2009  |  First Published: May 20, 2009
HTIB Shopping
I am currently interested in purchasing a 5.1 home-theater-in-a-box system, and I'm reasonably aware of the available products. However, I am unable to determine which is the appropriate system for me. I had short-listed the Harman Kardon HKTS8/AVR-135 bundle (~$630) and the Sony DAV-DZ870 (~$550). I was going through Home Theater's reviews of the best HTIBs, and Onkyo HT-SR800 seems to be pretty good, though I haven't checked it out yet. I am now confused. What would you recommend?
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
True Blood
David Vaughn  |  May 19, 2009  |  First Published: May 20, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/trueblood.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>I didn't connect with this HBO original series based on the books by Charlaine Harris, but the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is to die for. The score features a full-bodied sound, the dynamic range is impressive, and the creative sound design utilizes every speaker in the room. Quiet passages reveal crickets chirping, and dialog is never strained. The video is solid, but I'm focusing on the audio for this Ultimate Demo.

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Music Reviews
All Dolled up and someplace to go
Jaan Uhelszki  |  May 19, 2009
Atco/Rhino
Music •••½ Sound •••½
Rarely has a reunion been as successful as the 2004 reconstitution of the New York Dolls.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
True Blood - The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  May 19, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/trueblood.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) is a sweet and innocent waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana, who has the ability to read minds. When we first meet her, she has difficulty tuning out her various customers and their crude thoughts, but when Bill Compton enters the restaurant one night, she's instantly attracted to him for one reason&#151;she can't hear his thoughts because he's a vampire, and for once in her life, she can get through a date without knowing how badly the guy wants to sleep with her.

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Audio Video News
The Shire goes green with Bag End Minima One amp
SV Staff  |  May 19, 2009
I know, it's the second Lord of the Rings reference in a week, but this one was just begging for it. Bag End Loudspeaker Systems has announced that its Minima One amplifier has become greener and minima-er, thanks to its new smaller size and lower...
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Audio Video News
Congress May Fund DTV Repeaters
Mark Fleischmann  |  May 19, 2009
Maine's Republican senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, have introduced a bill that would fund digital repeater transmitters in areas where DTV reception is weak.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
Glenn Kenny  |  May 18, 2009
20th Century Fox
Movie •½ Disc ••••
Robert Wise's original 1951 film of The Day the Earth Stood Still may be an acknowledged classi
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Music Reviews
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz!
Rob O'Connor  |  May 18, 2009
Dress Up/DGC/Interscope
Music ••• Sound •••
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' third studio album is another major advancement in the Manhattan-hatched trio's so
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Audio Video News
The IMAX experience: More than a name
SV Staff  |  May 18, 2009
Last week, IMAX generated a lot of buzz among the tech blogs. It wasn't because of the release of Star Trek on the very-big screen, but because of an argument about what constitutes "IMAX." Comedian Aziz Ansari (you may have seen him on Parks &...
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