<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$739</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: HDMI and DVI</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: 720p and 1080i</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, SACD, HDCD, MP3, WMA</LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: HDMI, DVI, component, composite and S-Video, coaxial and Toslink digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio </LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: Universal player with HDMI and DVI outputs, Faroudja deinterlacing w/DCDi, 12-bit/216MHz video DACs, full bass management with delays for all formats except SACD </LI>
</UL>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/706denon2910.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=247 BORDER=0>
<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$999</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: No</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: No</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: CD, MP3 </LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: Component, composite and S-Video, RGB/SCART, coaxial and Toslink digital audio, two-channel analog audio </LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: CD performance designed to be on par with dedicated CD players</LI>
</UL>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/706arcamdv78.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=167 BORDER=0>
<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$6,500</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: DVI (video compatible with HDMI)</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: No</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, DVD-Audio, SACD, MP3</LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: DVI, component, composite and S-Video, optional SDI digital video, coaxial (one on RCA, one on BNC), Toslink and AES/EBU digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio </LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: Universal player w/DVI output, Silicon Image deinterlacing, advanced switch mode power supply w/shielding and eight stages of regulation</LI>
</UL>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/706simmoonorbitor.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=173 BORDER=0>
<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$1,000</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: HDMI</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i/p</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: DD, DTS, MP3, WMA</LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: HDMI, component, composite and S-Video, coaxial and Toslink digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio</LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: Blu-ray Disc Player, upconversion of standard-def DVDs to 720p or 1080i/p via HDMI</LI>
</UL>
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<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$1,500</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: HDMI</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i/p</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: DD, MP3, WMA </LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: HDMI, component, one each composite and S-Video, coaxial and Toslink digital audio, two-channel and 5.1-channel analog audio, Ethernet </LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: Blu-ray Disc Player, upconversion of standard-def DVDs to 720p or 1080i/p via HDMI</LI>
</UL>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/706pioneerbdphd1.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=135 BORDER=0>
<UL CLASS="square">
<LI>$1,300</LI>
<LI>Digital Video Output: HDMI</LI>
<LI>Video Upconversion: 720p, 1080i/p</LI>
<LI>Audio Decoding: NA </LI>
<LI>Ins and Outs: NA </LI>
<LI>Feature Highlights: Blu-ray Disc Player, upconversion of standard-def DVDs to 720p or 1080i/p via HDMI</LI>
</UL>
<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/706panasonicdmpbd10.jpg" WIDTH=450 HEIGHT=115 BORDER=0>
It's taken a while to get all the facts straight. In fact, a few are still not in. But one thing is sure, the BD-P1000 doesn't look as good as the Toshiba HD-XA1. The reasons why took dozens of phone calls and a trek to the far side of Los Angeles. The complete story will be in two complete articles in our October issue. For now, here's the story of how we figured out most of it:
<span style="float:left;color:#D4D4C7;font-size:100px;line-height:70px;padding-top:2px;font-family: Times, serif, Georgia;">I</span> remember someone telling me years ago that, in order to prevent 'P's sounding like spit on the radio, D.J.'s were coached to say 'B' instead. I remember WBLR, I mean WPLR, in New Haven, Connecticut being one such station. Sometimes you'd catch them, clear as day, with a 'B' rolling off their tongues, but for the most part they got away with it, no one the wiser.
This month's Meridian Spotlight System consists of four DSP3100 monitors, a DSP3100HC center speaker, an SW1600 sub, and a G91A DVD-Audio/video player, controller, and tuner. If you want to know what happened to the amps, you'll just have to read on.