Ask S&V
Cracked Screen, Bitstream Indicators, Ceiling Speakers
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 28, 2010
Superkid
I recently bought a 58-inch Samsung plasma for only $1200, and I loved it—that is, until my 4-year-old threw a small toy and cracked the screen. This totally disabled the TV; it would not even turn on. Is it normal for plasma screens to crack so easily, and if so, are LCD TVs more durable? Thank goodness I was able to return the TV and get a full refund, but I do not have the money to take another chance like that. I have a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old in the house, so what should I do to protect the TV?
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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 18: Joel Silver
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 27, 2010  |  Published: Apr 28, 2010
Joel Silver, founder and president of Imaging Science Foundation, discusses the importance of video calibration, ISF training of Best Buy techs, calibration as a career, overscanning, color gamuts, 3D, and more.

Run Time: 1:24:39

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Premiere Design
Studio Electric Type Two Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 27, 2010

If you've ever seen photos of the 1939 New York World's Fair, you might recognize the inspiration for these Art Deco-esque speakers from American boutique maker <A href="http://www.studio-electric.com">Studio Electric</A>. With a design based on the Trylon and Perisphere, two signature buildings at the fair, the Type Two is handcrafted from stainless steel and aluminum by master metalsmith <A href="http://electronluv.com">Josh Stippich</A>.

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3D Tech
Glasses—3D's Achilles' Heel
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 26, 2010

You get home from a long day at work, and you want to watch a movie on your brand new 3DTV. You collapse into your comfy chair, turn on the system, and—wait, where did you put those 3D glasses?

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3D Tech
Welcome to Ultimate 3D
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 26, 2010

The hype about 3D these days is overwhelming, with manufacturers and studios hailing it as The Next Big Thing. And the technology has come a long way from the red-and-cyan anaglyph glasses of the 1950s. But it still has a few drawbacks, leading some to predict it will be The Next Big Flop. Remember quadraphonic sound?

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Premiere Design
Elac FS 609 CE Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 22, 2010

Ever since its founding in 1926, German speaker maker <A href="http://www.elac.com">Elac</A>&#151;short for Electroacustic&#151;has never been one to rest on its laurels. Its engineers continue to improve the company's already well-regarded speakers with refinements and innovations that push the performance envelope. Take, for example, the FS 609 CE, Elac's flagship tower speaker that packs a lot of advanced technology into a slender form factor.

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Ask S&V
TV on Blu-ray, Sound Problems, Misdirected Audio
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 21, 2010
To Boldly Go
Like you, I am a fan of Star Trek (the original series) on Blu-ray, and I'm wondering if other TV shows I love will possibly be transferred to Blu-ray. What is required for old shows like these to go from standard-definition to high def? Can any show be converted to Blu-ray or do they have to be recorded in a particular format? What does the process involve?
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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 17: John Atkinson
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 20, 2010  |  Published: Apr 21, 2010
Stereophile editor John Atkinson talks about live vs. reproduced music, 2-channel vs. multichannel music, vinyl vs. CDs, tubes vs. solid-state electronics, exotic audio cables, and more.

Run Time: 1:14:24

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Premiere Design
Cineversum BlackWing Four LCoS Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 19, 2010

If $100,000 for the <A href="http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/ultimate-gear/cineversum_force_one_dlp_pro... One DLP projector</A> is too rich for your blood and/or you don't need to light up a 50-foot screen, <A href="http://www.cineversum.com">Cineversum</A> offers an attractive alternative&#151;the new BlackWing Four LCoS projector.

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The Big Picture
Out of the Box
Scott Wilkinson  |  Apr 16, 2010

<I>For the average consumer who takes a new LCD or plasma TV out of the box, what is the best way to set it up for home use? What is the name of the DVD used for adjusting and fine tuning?

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