Audio Video News

As noted in a number of British journals in early February, including <A HREF="http://www.newscientist.com">New Scientist</A> (February 6, 2003)&mdash;reports brought to our attention by <I>SGHT</I> contributor J. Gordon Holt&mdash;scientists at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a new super-black coating that is said to reflect less the 0.35% of the light that strikes it, an absorption efficiency about seven times better than black paint. The coating can be put on materials ranging from metals to ceramics.

Executives from four major television networks are backing a legislative tax proposal that would help minority companies first entering the broadcasting arena.

Having a great product at a fair price is mandatory practice in the ever-competitive audio business. But getting the word out and placing those products in front of the customer is just as critical&mdash;some might argue, even more important. If this is true, then Canadian speaker company Athena has just made the score of a lifetime.

<A HREF="http://www.zenith.com">Zenith Electronics Corporation</A> is recalling many rear-projection analog televisions made and sold in the late 1990s.

Televised sports are one of the primary drivers of the digital television revolution.

At the end of January, San Francisco-based Parasound will begin shipping its highly anticipated Halo C1 audio/video controller. The Halo C1 and its sibling, the Halo C 2, are said to allow audiophiles to control their acoustic environment in ways never before possible with consumer products. The two new models are THX Ultra2-certified, multichannel A/V controllers with sophisticated DSP engines, and are claimed to deliver "previously unattainable levels of performance and control, while remaining exceptionally easy to set up and operate."

Thomas J. Norton surveyed the field, talked with the reviewers, and carefully selected the best home theater equipment released over the last year in order to come up with the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?82">2003 Editors Choice Awards</A>. As Norton notes, "The Platinum Award is for price-no-object performance. The Gold Award weighs both performance and cost."