Salamander Designs Salamander Designs calls their TC2 theater chair a handsome, contemporary version of the movie-house original; but, if you ask us, these chairs look a hundred times more comfy than the seats we cram ourselves into at the local megaplex. The TC2 is available in sleek midnight-black leather and features a recliner mechanism, footrest, and adjustable headrest. It's the TC2's arm options that make this chair customizable for use in the home theater. Every arm has an integrated drink holder, made of either silver or black anodized aluminum. If you're interested in creating a curved row of seats, as seen here, Salamander offers wedge-shaped inner-arm pieces. An optional tactile sound transducer and push-button motorized recline mechanism are available as options. Each individual TC2 costs $1,299. Salamander Designs (888) 224-4113 www.salamanderdesigns.com
The Home Entertainment Show highlights the best of the best in home entertainment. With over 250 exhibitors, 80 demonstration rooms, an exciting live music program and in-depth seminars, it is the largest and most comprehensive event of its kind! Learn the latest about HDTV, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVD, surround sound, 2-channel audio, and more. Click here for a list of exihibitors.
The Home Entertainment Show highlights the best of the best in home entertainment. With over 250 exhibitors, 80 demonstration rooms, an exciting live music program, and in-depth seminars, it is the largest and most comprehensive event of its kind! Learn the latest about HDTV, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVD, surround sound, two-channel audio, and more. <A HREF="http://www.homeentertainment-expo.com/exhiblist.html" TARGET=NEW>Click here for a list of exhibitors</A>.
Making good on promises it made last year, <A HREF="http://www.samsung.com">Samsung SDI Company Ltd.</A> has announced the development of a 70-inich-diagonal, plasma-display panel (PDP) that it claims is the world's largest. The new display exceeds the previous size record for every kind of direct-view monitors, including cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
Joel Brinkley lights up the 60-inch <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?119">Zenith P60W26P high-definition plasma monitor</A> and suggests that, even at $15,000, this flat screen is a deal. JB finds the new one, unlike its predecessor, delivers the video goods.
Onkyo How many of us have dreamed of owning a multidisc DVD changer? Well, Onkyo makes that dream come true with their affordable DV-CP701, a six-disc changer that's a steal at just $300. The DV-CP701 features 10-bit/54-megahertz video processing, a progressive-scan composite video output, and 24-bit/192-kiohertz audio digital-to-analog converters. When you use the rear-panel optical and coaxial digital outputs, you can also make use of Onkyo's Direct Digital Path, which ensures maximum integrity of Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM audio. All of this comes in a housing that measures a svelte 3.5 inches high and is available in a sleek silver or a traditional black finish. Onkyo also offers the DV-SP301, a single-disc model that sells for $150. Onkyo (800) 229-1687 www.onkyo.com
DVD: The Recruit—Buena Vista Video: 3 Audio: 3 Extras: 3 Al Pacino and Colin Farrell star in The Recruit, an entertaining albeit predictable spy thriller about the supposed CIA training camp called the Farm. The chemistry between Pacino, Farrell, and female lead Bridget Moynahan is enjoyable, but the film's nothing-is-as-it-seems theme could have been borrowed from the Michael Douglas film The Game.
Hackers will need more than computer skills to work around the self-destructing DVDs soon to be released by Walt Disney Company's Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
If <A HREF="http://www.toshiba.com">Toshiba</A>'s D-R1 is any indication, consumers are in for a lot of fun with the coming generation of DVD recorders.
Thomas J. Norton sets up the <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?117">Sim2 Grand Cinema HT300 Plus DLP projector</A> in the main room and evaluates what the company is able to do with the popular latest generation HD2 DLP chip.
Attempting to prevent a "movie Napster," the film industry has launched major legal assaults on makers of DVD copying software, charging that it violates the law by circumventing the format's copy-protection technology.
West Coast electronics chain Good Guys has been enormously successful in its effort to remake itself into an upscale specialty retailer. The company's partnership with Focus Enhancements is its latest move into high-quality video.