CES is three weeks away, and my inbox is already filling up with new-product announcements. Among them is the X260.5, a new monoblock power amp from <A href="http://www.passlabs.com">Pass Labs</A>.
Price: $5,281 At A Glance: Great visual complement for ultra-thin flat-panel TVs • Sealed enclosures for controlled performance • Smooth bass from vibration-canceling in-wall subwoofer
Thin Is the New In
If you’ve shopped for a flat-screen television lately, you know that thin is in. Flat screens that used to be 3 to 5 inches thick can hardly be called flat compared with the new models that barely exceed 1 inch in depth. And new display designs promise even thinner models in the future.
Remember Warner's DVD2Blu program, which lets DVD owners trade in their old standard-def discs for brand-new high-def Blu-ray discs? Disney is going one better by offering factory-fresh BDs to DVD owners while allowing them to keep their old discs.
The biggest bugaboo for home theater DIYers is controlling the assortment of ins, outs, ons, and offs that make audio/video system components get along with one another. Most surround receivers, and even many televisions, come bundled with what their makers call "universal" remotes, but they hardly do respect to that word.
Discs are better for collecting, streaming for instant gratification. Wouldn't it be great to get both in one purchase? That's exactly what Amazon is doing with its Disc+ On Demand. The slogan is "Buy Now, Watch Now."