LATEST ADDITIONS

Darryl Wilkinson  |  Aug 21, 2005  |  First Published: Aug 22, 2005
Multiroom audio is not a new idea. Nor are the concepts of digital amplification, touchscreen controllers, and audio distribution over CAT5 wiring. But not everyone has thought to bring all of those ideas together in one particular audio distribution product - and when a relative newcomer to the audio-in-any-room party shows up with an amplified (that's "amplified" as in "watts per channel") touchpanel in his hand, it's time to cock an eyebrow, act like you're not interested, and then try like heck to figure out exactly what's going on and how much it's going to cost.
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 21, 2005
If you're like me, with a large library of DVDs (I think I'm over 1000, but I haven't counted them lately), just finding the one you want is a chore. Try as I might to keep them in some sort of order, it never works for long. I pull out a few to watch, and before you know it there are little piles scattered all around the house.
A. Grimani  |  Aug 21, 2005
Bass is like salt. Really, it is. Salt is a seasoning, a treat that we add to good food to make it taste even better. Bass is the same way. A sound system without it lacks the last little element that transforms an ordinary activity like listening to music or watching a movie into an extraordinary, emotionally charged experience.
HT Staff  |  Aug 19, 2005
DVD: Be Cool:
I am a big Get Shorty fan. The dialogue, the acting, and the plot all just exude a coolness that is never struggled for, just achieved. The thought of a sequel seemed a little odd, but knowing that it is based on the Elmore Leonard sequel novel, I had high hopes. The end result was admittedly funny but nowhere near the quality of the original. The story takes place a few years after Get Shorty, and Chili Palmer is deciding to get out of the movie business. After a friend gets murdered, he decides to get into the music business instead. Far too many jokes are rehashed, but that in itself isn't the problem. Whereas the original was an effortless cool, this movie tries too hard to be cool—and rarely succeeds. Far too much time is spent on the (admittedly excellent) secondary characters, with Chili himself just kind of showing up to drive the plot along. The effect, though, highlights two of the best aspects of this movie: the Rock and André 3000. These two absolutely steal the movie, and this disc is worth a rental just for them. There are many musician cameos, but, unlike in Get Shorty, where actor cameos are natural (as in, they can act), the musician cameos are often awkward and distracting.
Scott Wilkinson  |  Aug 18, 2005

Lions Gate Home Entertainment (LGHE), a division of Lions Gate Entertainment, announced last Wednesday that it will release content on the Blu-ray Disc format. As part of its cooperation with the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), LGHE will begin releasing new films, TV programming, and other titles from the company's vast library when Blu-ray hardware launches in North America.

SV Staff  |  Aug 17, 2005

We regret to inform you that the contest to win a GEORGE (the tabletop music system from Chestnut Hill Sound) ended at 12:00 PM on August 28.

But fear not! We'll have other great prizes to win real soon.

Scott Wilkinson  |  Aug 17, 2005

In a move to protect against illegal copying and large-scale piracy while allowing consumers the flexibility to manage and enjoy copies of their legally purchased content, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has adopted the most comprehensive content-management system (CMS) ever employed on an optical-disc format. The Blu-ray CMS includes three primary components: Advanced Access Content System (AACS), ROM Mark, and BD+.

 |  Aug 16, 2005

The new 50PY2DR plasma HDTV from LG comes with a bright yellow insert explaining in all caps that the set's CableCARD and TV Guide On Screen electronic program guide eliminate the need to rent an outboard box from your cable company.

 |  Aug 15, 2005
Welcome to the List, where Sound & Vision's editors share their recommendations on the best home-entertainment gear. Everything appearing on The List has been reviewed by our expert staff and has stood out for performance or value. Watch our test reports for the "S&V Approved" icon (above) designating that a product has been added to The List.

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