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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Darkman (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Jun 15, 2010

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/darkman.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>While working one night to perfect his invention of artificial skin, scientist Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is horribly disfigured when an explosion engulfs his lab. Barely alive, he takes some experimental medication leaving him with super-strong strength and immunity to pain, although he's prone to fits of uncontrollable rage. He proceeds to rebuild his lab in an underground hideout and seek revenge against the men responsible for his disfigurement.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
When in Rome (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Jun 15, 2010

When in Rome (Blu-ray)

Your typical presentation of a romantic comedy.

By David Vaughn

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/whenrome.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Beth (Kristen Bell) takes a whirlwind trip to Italy for her sister's wedding and finds herself pursued by the most unlikely group of men who have fallen madly in love with her. When she returns the love with one of them she questions whether it's real or if he's under the same mystical spell that has infected the others.

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Premiere Design
Audio Note Gaku-On Monoblock Power Amp
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 15, 2010

When you consider the price of a power amp, it's interesting to calculate the cost per watt. In that light, the Gaku-On monoblock from British maker <A href="http://www.audionote.co.uk">Audio Note</A> and distributed in the US by <A href="http://www.audiofederation.com">Audio Federation</A> is the most expensive power amp I know of.

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Audio Video News
RoxioNow Embraces DTS
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 15, 2010
Sonic Solutions' RoxioNow, which supplies the technology underlying Best Buy's CinemaNow and Blockbuster's online service, will add DTS to its platform.
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Audio Video News
iMovie to hit the iPhone, offer in-phone editing
SV Staff  |  Jun 14, 2010
It seems like only yesterday we were just getting video recording on your smartphones. The iPhone 3GS was the first iPhone to shoot video, and it's just one generation old. Now the iPhone 4 will feature a mobile version of iMovie, Apple's video...
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Home Theater Systems ReviewsSoundbar Reviews
KEF HTF8003 Soundbar Speaker System
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 14, 2010
Price: $2,500 At A Glance: Three-channel soundbar with coaxial drivers • Satellite surrounds, also with coaxial drivers • 10-inch wireless sub with distinctive round enclosure

Slim Bar, Wireless Sub

It goes without saying that the soundbar and satellite/subwoofer categories have grown in stature along with the overwhelming popularity of flat-panel displays. As those displays have become rigorously slimmer, their skinny bezels have provided less room for speakers—not just home-theater-worthy speakers, but even something adequate for watching the news. Thus, it’s created a desperate urgency for a flat-panel-friendly audio solution.

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3D Tech
Plasma in 3D
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 14, 2010
The last couple of weeks felt like 3D festivals in Los Angeles, with nearly simultaneous press events involving Digital Projection, Sony, and Panasonic. Panasonic's was by far the more relaxed, intimate affair. With just a few journalists briefed at a time, there was more opportunity to absorb the information and get answers to questions we didn't even know we had until recently.
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3D Tech
Sony Goes Deep
Thomas J. Norton  |  Jun 14, 2010
Last week, Sony invited hundreds of journalists to soundstages on the Sony Pictures lot in Culver City California. The event: a kickoff of its new 3D component lineup, plus announcements of upcoming 3D software.
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Premiere Design
Marten Coltrane Supreme Speaker System
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 14, 2010

I'm constantly amazed at the number and variety of super-high-end speakers out there. Among the many manufacturers I'd never heard of before is <A href="http://www.marten.se">Marten</A>, a Swedish maker whose flagship is the magnificent Coltrane Supreme.

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Home Theater Systems ReviewsSoundbar Reviews
JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar Home Theater System
Mark Fleischmann  |  Jun 14, 2010
Price: $400 At A Glance: Wireless sub goes any place with a power outlet • Soundbar contains four full-range drivers • Dolby Digital, DPLII, and DTS 5.1 surround processing

One Less Cable

Do you become a different person when you walk into a different room? For many people, the answer is yes. They’ll endure the rigors of component matching and system setup to equip the family room with a big phat flat screen and an AVR-based surround system. But they don’t want to repeat the process in every bedroom. Outside the main system, it might be OK for the screen to be 720p instead of 1080p if it’ll save a few bucks (especially if you don’t wear glasses in bed). And it may be OK to substitute a no-hassle soundbar speaker for a discrete speaker system. But that doesn’t mean you should go without surround—we’re not going to extremes here.

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