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Audio Video News
3DAA Rethinks Surround
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 09, 2011
Look out, Dolby and DTS. The 3D Audio Alliance, a consortium put together by SRS Labs, is developing a new "object oriented" surround standard that would rethink surround sound as it's currently constituted.

The 3DAA standard would focus not on channels but on objects within the soundfield, specifying their location and movement. The playback system -- whether stereo, 5.1, or 11.1 -- would then deploy the objects as well as possible within their inherent limitations.

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Other Tech
How To Rip Your Music (Part 2)
Daniel Kumin  |  Feb 08, 2011

Where do you start when converting a music collection to data files for home (and portable) playback? In the January 2011 issue, we defined key terms and explored the pros and cons of both lossy (data-compressed) and lossless (uncompressed) music-file formats. Now we'll put that knowledge to use. With space at a premium in these columns, instead of debating all the options I'll just tell you what I do and why, and hope that you can work out your best strategy from there.

Formal Fit

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Audio Video NewsThe Big Picture
Good News for Plasma
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 08, 2011
Whenever anyone starts proclaiming that plasma is a dying technology, I put my hands over my ears and start singing, "La, la, la, I can't hear you!" Sure, LCD TVs have come a long way in terms of black levels and motion detail thanks to LED illumination and frame interpolation, but these are work-arounds for problems that most plasmas never had in the first place—and they often come with their own odious artifacts, such as frame interpolation's "soap-opera effect." So it was with great glee that I read a report in This Week In Consumer Electronics about a study from market-research firm DisplaySearch, which found that shipments of plasma panels to TV manufacturers in 2010 were way up from the previous year.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Paranormal Activity 2—Paramount
Kris Deering  |  Feb 08, 2011
Video: 3.5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Just as Dan and Kristi welcome a newborn baby into their home, a demonic presence begins terrorizing them, tearing apart their perfect world and turning it into an inescapable nightmare. Security cameras capture the torment, making every minute horrifyingly real.
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Premiere Design
SSE Reference Fixed Frame Acoustically Transparent Projection Screens
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 08, 2011
In a joint venture between US-based Seymour AV and UK-based Screen Excellence, the aptly named Seymour-Screen Excellence (SSE) recently announced its new Reference Fixed Frame (RF) acoustically transparent projection screens. Initially available are two materials—Enlightor 2 and Enlightor 4K.
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Music Reviews
Nellie McKay: 21st Century Renaissance Woman
Ken Richardson  |  Feb 08, 2011

Photo by Rick Gonzalez

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Audio Video NewsCustom Installation Equipment ReviewsCustom Installation How-ToHome Movie Theaters
All-in-One 12TB Blu-ray 3D Server
Kim Wilson  |  Feb 08, 2011

Combine a 3D Blu-ray player with a 12TB hard drive and you have the Mozaex Solo 2. With USA retail pricing less than $6,000 for up to 12TBs of media storage, the Solo 2 is more affordable than many other media server systems, providing a highly scalable solution. Up to four additional Blu-ray Players may be added for $2,495 apiece.

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Surround Processor Reviews
Integra DHC-40.2 Surround Processor
David Vaughn  |  Feb 08, 2011

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $1,200 At A Glance: THX Ultra2 Plus certification • Seven HDMI inputs • Dual HDMI outputs • Home network and Internet audio streaming

Four years ago, Integra rocked the A/V world when it released its well-reviewed DTC-9.8 surround processor (HT, May 2008) for an unprecedented price of $1,600. It boasted a bevy of cutting-edge features and was one of the first processors on the market that could decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Since that time, the company hasn’t rested on its laurels. It’s offered yearly upgrades with the DHC-9.9 (HT, July 2009) for $2,000 and DHC-80.1 (HT, May 2010) for $2,300. Each subsequent year, the processor has offered additional improvements to justify the price increase. However, those seeking out separates on a budget were being left behind.

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Audio Video News
Plasma Rebounds
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 08, 2011
What hot new video display technology grew in every quarter of 2010? Well, plasma isn't new, but aside from that, there's your answer.

"2010 was a great year for plasma TV panels," reports DisplaySearch. "Growth seems to be supply-limited."

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Premiere Design
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 5 & 10 Power Regenerators
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 07, 2011
When you think about home-theater gear, what usually comes to mind are things like displays, source devices, processors, amplifiers, and speakers. But these are nothing more than very expensive boat anchors without AC power—and that power had better be clean if they are going to perform at their best. This is where PS Audio comes in with its new PerfectWave Power Plant 5 and 10 AC Power Regenerators.
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