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Audio Video News
Broadcast Signals Must Be Carried on Cable
SV Staff  |  Nov 03, 2008
Never fear. After the digital conversion in February, cable systems must carry the same over-the-air broadcast signals for all customers. This is a new ruling from the FCC, as a result from the U.S. Court of Appeals.According to the ruling sited...
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Audio Video News
Broadcast Signals Must Be Carried on Cable
SV Staff  |  Nov 03, 2008
Never fear. After the digital conversion in February, cable systems must carry the same over-the-air broadcast signals for all ...
Continue Reading »
Custom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Loudpeakers Can be Stylish!
Kim Wilson  |  Nov 03, 2008

Designer-oriented homeowners have steadily been moving away from large behemoth loudspeakers, opting for hidden solutions. However, for those enthusiasts that still like to show off their electronics, even loudspeakers are getting more stylish. With loudspeakers like MartinLogan's Feature, you can put back the WOW in your AV presentation. The Feature is a fully powered, high-resolution, electrostatic loudspeaker designed for use either on or off-wall for center, front, or surround channel applications. Pictured here it is being used as a center speaker with MartinLogan's breathtaking Purity floor standing electrostatic speakers that make their own statement.

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AV Receiver Reviews
Pioneer Elite SC-09TX A/V Receiver
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 03, 2008
Price: $7,000 Highlights: Superb sound for both movies and music • 10 channels of powerful Class D amplification • Sets a steep learning curve but rewards with immense flexibility • Video processing has limitations, including no upconversion of HDMI sources

And the Kitchen Sink

Sometimes I get nostalgic for the early days of home theater. For example, I fondly remember the Proceed AVP processor I reviewed for Stereophile Guide to Home Theater in 1997. Conventional Dolby Digital and DTS were its most exotic operating modes, the remote had fewer than a dozen buttons, and it didn’t provide room equalization, extra surround modes, or onboard video processing. In fact, it didn’t have any video switching beyond S-video. We didn’t need no stinkin’ component, and no one had even heard of HDMI. Laserdisc was the most established source, DVD was brand new, and consumer high definition was still a mote in the FCC’s eye.

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Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-111FD Plasma HDTV
Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 03, 2008
Price: $5,000 Highlights: Blacks to die for • Precise color and excellent resolution • 72-hertz operation on film-based sources for judder-free motion • Video processing could be better

Once More, With Feeling

My review schedule is starting to look a bit like the Pioneer Channel. But timing is everything. Pioneer is introducing a boatload of interesting new products, including the newest KURO flat panels. These include the upcoming Signature Series KURO monitor plasma models. Pioneer says these models will offer enough adjustments to inspire video calibrators to set up shop in buyers’ homes. “Will calibrate for room and board.”

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Audio Video News
TiVo Is Latest Netflix Rental Medium
Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 03, 2008
Netflix will bring its streaming movie service to owners of TiVo Series3, HD, and HD XL DVRs. Testing began last week, with the rollout to all TiVo subscribers following in December.
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Audio Video News
Samsung's 4K x 2K 63-inch Plasma
SV Staff  |  Oct 31, 2008
Samsung is certainly getting a lot of press out of the FPD International 2008. We've seen their flexy OLED, their 40-inch Full HD OLED, and now, they're really pulling out all the stops. Samsung unveiled a 63-inch plasma screen with...
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Custom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
Integra Enters the Blu-ray Fray
Kim Wilson  |  Oct 31, 2008

There may be plenty of Blu-ray players out there already but Integra believes they have something special to offer their dedicated customers. Known for their premium performance products, Integra releases the DBS-6.9, their first Blu-ray player, which delivers full 1080p video at 24 frames per second, the native frame rate for most original motion pictures and HD content.

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Audio Video News
Smackdown: DVR vs. DVD
SV Staff  |  Oct 31, 2008
Since getting your DVR, have your DVD viewing habits changed? A new study from Knowledge Networks Inc. found that DVRs aren't cutting into TV watching — they're cutting into DVD watching. The study, reported at The Canadian Press, found...
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Audio Video News
Texas Instruments: Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun
SV Staff  |  Oct 31, 2008
You want to spend time with the family.  That's good. You want to watch Survivor, the kids want to watch Ugly Betty. So, you slog off to the home theater, alone, and leave the rest of the family sharing popcorn. Bummer for you.If Texas...
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