Audio Video News

<I>Victor Sj&#246;str&#246;m, Ingrid Thulin, Bibi Andersson, Gunnar Bj&#246;rnstrand, Gertrud Fridh, Max Von Sydow. Directed by Ingmar Bergman. Aspect ratio: 4:3. Dolby Digital mono. 91 minutes. 1957. The Criterion Collection 139. NR. $39.95.</I>

The world is full of millions of DVDs, so <I>SGHT</I>'s editors have sorted through the piles and come up with <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?35">2001: A DVD Odyssey</A>. Over 80 DVD reviews in one place, with ratings for sound, picture, and content.

<A HREF="http://www.cedia.com">CEDIA</A>, <A HREF="http://www.montecarlogameroom.com">Monte Carlo Game Room</A>, and <I>Audio Video Interiors</I>, <I>Home Theater</I>, <I>Stereophile Guide to Home Theater</I>, and <I>Stereophile</I> magazines challenge you to "Get in the Game" as they host this year&rsquo;s Elf Foundation Charity Raffle and Blackjack Tournament at CEDIA Expo 2002.

Meridian's chief designer and chairman, Bob Stuart, is passionate about musical truth and obtaining it with an audio system. In <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/showarchives.cgi?33">For the Love of Music</A>, Lawrence B. Johnson profiles both the man and his quest for audio's Holy Grail.

Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (<A HREF="http://www.cablelabs.com">"CableLabs"</A>) has issued a new set of specifications for high-definition-compatible set-top converter boxes. The Louisville, CO&ndash;based organization released its "Advanced Host and High Definition STB Host" specifications last week, describing requirements for retail set-top boxes that decode all formats of high definition signals used on digital cable plants. The specs are available to manufacturers, content developers, and the public through the <A HREF="http://www.opencable.com">OpenCable website</A>.