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Audio Video News
Ad Board Nixes Time Warner's Fiber Claims
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 11, 2011
The National Advertising Review Board says Time Warner Cable can no longer run ads touting its supposedly "advanced fiber optic network." The ruling is a victory for Verizon, which makes a big deal over its FiOS fiber optic network.

Compliance with the ad-industry watchdog's recommendations is voluntary. However, most major advertisers belong to the National Advertising Review Council, and toe the line when its Review Board issues a ruling.

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Subwoofer Reviews
Test Report: Hsu Research VTF-15H Subwoofer
Brent Butterworth  |  Feb 10, 2011

I have a confession to make: I've been a woofer wuss for most of my career as an audio journalist. When I started 21 years ago, there weren't many good subwoofers, and the little ones were usually less bad than the big ones, so I stuck mostly with smaller subs for my personal systems.

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Explorer
 |  Feb 10, 2011

Premiere Design
Zanden 9600 Monoblock Power Amp
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 10, 2011
The Japanese know a thing or two about tube-based amplifiers, as demonstrated by Zanden Audio Systems, which recently released its new flagship monoblock, the 9600. This beauty joins a stable of phono and linestage preamps, a DAC, several other power amps, and a CD transport, offering everything you need for 2-channel bliss except for the speakers and cables—and a turntable if you're into vinyl.
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Audio Video News
Sony Bravias Have 500GB Drives in Japan
Mark Fleischmann  |  Feb 10, 2011
Sony has introduced three Bravia TVs equipped with 500 gigabyte hard drives. The catch is that, at least for now, these models are for the Japanese market.

With that kind of storage on board, you can record 65 hours of HD programming. The system can also accept additional external drives.

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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
It's Kind of a Funny Story (Blu-ray)
David Vaughn  |  Feb 09, 2011
Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is a stressed-out teenager who checks himself into a mental health clinic after having fantasies of committing suicide. What he finds on the inside is an unlikely mentor in Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), a potential girlfriend in Noel (Emma Roberts), and the opportunity to discover who he truly is.

Sometimes seeing a film you have never heard of can be a blessing, and such is the case here. This is a human interest story about the stresses of being a teenager and fitting into the tidy little boxes from the perspective of your friends and parents, despite what you own wishes and dreams. Gilchrist does an outstanding job in the lead role, but it's Galifianakis who steals the show as the quirky mentor.

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The Custom Installer: Three DIY Projects You Can Handle
John Sciacca  |  Feb 09, 2011

People often ask me, “John, how hard is that? Could I do it myself?” And the answer is often, “It depends.” A walk in the park for one person might be a Grand Master Sudoku puzzle for another. Take my friend Jon. He’s like Rain Man when it comes to working with engines or motors or pretty much anything mechanical. But when it comes to installing a new A/V component or programming his Harmony, he’s all thumbs, so he calls me.

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Ask S&V
3D PJs, Ground Loop, Width vs. Height
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 09, 2011
Do you need active-shutter glasses with 3D projectors at home? What's causing moving lines on my TV? Are width or height speakers better?
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Other Tech
How To: DIY Audio Measurement Page 3
Brent Butterworth  |  Feb 09, 2011

Do you trust your ears? I don't. By that I mean I don't trust my ears. Frankly, though, I don't trust anybody's. I've heard laymen enthuse about systems that had little more to offer than a few notes of booming bass. I've heard audio veterans trash impeccably engineered speakers - and praise speakers that showed glaring technical flaws.

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Other Tech
How To: DIY Audio Measurement Page 4
Brent Butterworth  |  Feb 09, 2011

Do you trust your ears? I don't. By that I mean I don't trust my ears. Frankly, though, I don't trust anybody's. I've heard laymen enthuse about systems that had little more to offer than a few notes of booming bass. I've heard audio veterans trash impeccably engineered speakers - and praise speakers that showed glaring technical flaws.

Continue Reading »

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