<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/life.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT><i>Planet Earth</i> is one of the best documentaries of the new millennium and The Discovery Channel and the BBC join forces to bring us closer to how life begins on our planet with a view from every continent and habitat. Witness 130 stories in fabulous high-definition.
Is the NL Reference from Florida-based <A href="http://www.edgeamp.com">Edge Electronics</A> just another high-power, high-priced monoblock power amp? I think not.
Monster has started shipping its FlatScreen SuperThin Cables for HDMI, which (spoiler alert!) are much thinner than regular cables. According to Monster, these new cables are 55% thinner than conventional HDMI cables. Thinness alone isn't that...
Price: $3,400 At A Glance: Totally invisible speakers • Extremely diffuse dispersion • Must be used with a subwoofer
Invisible or Invisibull?
It’s a terrible disease in which your brain gets eaten away from the inside out—yet you won’t see those little donation boxes at checkout counters begging for your loose change to find a cure. In fact, most people aren’t aware that it even exists, although they certainly see its debilitating effects every day. It’s called Chronic Euphemism Syndrome (CES), and it runs rampant throughout consumer electronics companies’ marketing departments. Salespeople suffer mightily from it, too. The entire profession is tainted with images of the truth being throttled to within inches of its life in the back room where the salesperson heads after he says, “Let me ask my manager.”
Of all the various types of audio and video products, speakers seem to offer the most potential for design variation. Case in point—the Magic Flute from Swedish maker <A href="http://www.swspeakers.com">SWSpeakers</A>.
Price: $2,900 At A Glance: 10-step calibration option • Strikingly deep blacks • Crisp resolution and accurate color • Local-dimming LED technology
Black Is the Color
Although 3D is about to make a loud buzz in the HDTV world, most current sets aren’t ready for the 3D gravy train yet. The top-of-the-line LG Infinia LX9500 series will be 3D capable. At one step down in LG’s lineup is the solidly 2D Infinia 47LE8500 LCD HDTV, reviewed here. It’s surprisingly thin, and with local-dimming LED technology, it comes well equipped to compete for honors as the best overall LCD we’ve yet seen from any manufacturer.
Monitor Audio has just announced a new line of outdoor, all-weather speakers for patios, yards, and other outside applications. The line includes the CL50, CL60, CL80, and CL60-T2. The CL50, 60, and 80 are two-way satellites with single 1-inch...