LATEST ADDITIONS

CES 2009
More from the House of Usher
Tom Norton  |  Jan 11, 2009  |  First Published: Jan 12, 2009
Usher showed up with a whole new line of relatively affordable speakers, the NV series. They're still being refined, but should be available in a few months. The NV 601 is the smallest model in the line. I was one of the first to hear it; they hooked it up for the first time at the show (they claimed) just before I walked into the room, and a few minutes from the close of the show (they had been featuring their more upscale models in their two rooms throughout the show). The sound was impressive, with a solid midrange, good balance, and detailed but very sweet highs— just the right balance for home theater and music. Estimated price will be in the neighborhood of $1100/pair (stands not included). There are also two floor standers and a center channel, the NV 603.
Continue Reading »
CES 2009
Mythos Making
Tom Norton  |  Jan 11, 2009  |  First Published: Jan 12, 2009
The new Mythos 9 ($800) from Definitive Technology may be used as an on-wall LCR speaker, or alternately as a center channel with Def Tech's Mythos STS Super Towers.
Continue Reading »
CES 2009
Pass Through
Tom Norton  |  Jan 11, 2009  |  First Published: Jan 12, 2009
Some audiophiles combine their home theater and 2-channel systems. If they have a modest AV receiver, but want to improve the sound of their system, especially for 2-channel playback, one possibility is to use a separate, quality stereo integrated amp to drive the front left and right channels, with their best 2-channel sources connected directly to it. The receiver's front left and right preamp outputs are then connected to one of the line level inputs of the integrated amp for home theater use. This can be made more direct, with less chance of messing with the calibrated home theater volume levels, if the integrated amp offers a fixed-level, pass-through input (independent of the integrated amp's volume control) to which the receiver's front channel preamp outputs can be connected.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Zodiac—Paramount Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 4/5
As a serial killer terrifies the San Francisco Bay Area and taunts police with his ciphers and letters, investigators in four jurisdictions search for the murderer. The case will become an obsession for four men as their lives and careers are built and destroyed by the endless trail of clues.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Truman Show—Paramount Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 2.75/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3.75/5
Truman is about to discover just how abnormal his seemingly "normal" life is. What he doesn't realize - just yet - is that his whole life is a reality TV show, televised and broadcast for the world to see!
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Duchess—Paramount Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 3.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 3/5
Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer, was the original "It Girl." Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country. Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party. But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke. And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons pushed her to the brink of risking banishment by her husband, family and all of London society.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Swing Vote—Touchstone Pictures (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4/5
Extras: 2.5/5
Bud Johnson's an ordinary dad drifting through life, caring about nothing except his overachieving daughter Molly. Trying to encourage him to get involved, Molly accidentally sets off a chain of events on Election Day that ends with the presidential race coming down to one vote - Bud's.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Super Troopers—20th Century Fox (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 3.75/5
Audio: 4.25/5
Extras: 3.75/5
Always looking for action, five over-enthusiastic, but under-stimulated Vermont State Troopers raise hell on the highway, keeping motorists anxiously looking in their rear view mirrors. Between an ongoing feud with the local cops over whose you-know-what is bigger and the state government wanting to shut them down, the Super Troopers find themselves patrolling the boundaries of good taste as they hilariously and unwittingly skid towards solving the crime of their lives.
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Surfer, Dude—Anchor Bay (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Continue Reading »
Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Lakeview Terrace—Screen Gems (Blu-ray)
Kris Deering  |  Jan 11, 2009
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
In "Lakeview Terrace", a young couple has just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. A stern, single father, this tightly wound LAPD officer has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he comes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives ultimately turn tragic when the couple decides to fight back.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X