Price: $1,399 At A Glance: Impressive absolute black level • Sharp, crisp image • Below average video processing
Keeping It Affordable
It’s been an eternity in video-years since I last reviewed a Hitachi HDTV. In fact, the last one I reviewed was in November 2002 for Stereophile Guide to Home Theater. The subject then was the 51-inch Hitachi 51SWX20B HD-ready CRT RPTV. It was the smallest sibling in what was arguably the best line of CRT RPTVs Hitachi—and perhaps anyone else—ever produced.
Mistaking my confidence for actual knowledge, many of my friends have inundated me with home theater questions lately. I don’t know why this is happening more now. Perhaps waves of unemployed people finally have the time to do that installation they’ve put off. Or maybe they’re preparing for the Blu-ray release of Twilight: New Moon (sexy shirtless werewolves are a powerful motivator). I thought I’d answer these questions in a feature called A Socratic Dialogue with an Imaginary Amalgam of All the People Who Have Been Asking Me Home Theater Questions as of Late.
In the May 10, 2010 issue of Newsweek, famed movie critic Roger Ebert writes "Why I Hate 3-D (and You Should Too)," giving nine reasons with extended commentary. I don't disagree with everything he says, but "hate" is far too strong a word for me.
DirecTV has just officially rolled out its multi-room DVR across the country. The new service, called Whole Home DVR, lets users record and watch multiple shows in multiple rooms with one DVR unit.
Whole Home DVR works by using a single DVR...
Some critics say hip-hop is dead. If they’re right, then Kanye West and Li’l Wayne should get into the A/V receiver business. The two industries bear striking similarities. Hip-hop artists maximize sales by loading up their albums with guest performances. Audio manufacturers maximize sales by loading up their receivers with guest technologies.
Alfred Hitchcock fans will get a special treat this fall: Psycho is going to be released on Blu-ray in a new 5.1-channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.
Scott Wilkinson | May 13, 2010 | First Published: May 14, 2010
I had not heard of California-based <A href="http://www.nttaudiolab.com">NttAudiolab</A> before coming across its flagship Model 101 MkII speaker. Judging strictly by the specs, this is one awesome music box.
Integra has announced two new A/V receivers designed with 3D video in mind. The DTR-20.2 and DTR-30.2 use HDMI 1.4a to let 3D video signals pass through from a 3D-capable DVD or Blu-ray Disc player to a 3D-capable HDTV. That's the main feature...