February/March 2004

Features Five for Five On our fifth anniversary, we look back on five key innovations in home entertainment and consider where technology will take us next. Plasma Paradise Take a walk on the exotic side with flat-screen TVs from Marantz, Pioneer, and Zenith. HDTV Handbook Confused about high-definition TV? We answer the most commonly asked questions. DVD Insider: Barry Sonnenfeld The Men in Black director on home theater, DVD, and why subwoofers are a lot like tomatoes. The Download Challenge Online music sellers are open for business, but which ones are playing your tune? Jay’s in the Attic Engineer Jay Messina tells how he remixed the Aerosmith classic Toys in the Attic for surround SACD. One Player Fits All A guide to “universal” DVD players that spin DVD-Audio discs, SACDs, and lots more. S&V Entertainment Awards The best of 2003 on DVD and CD.

Test Reports Spotlight:HDTV Bargains Widescreen sets from Panasonic, Philips, and Toshiba give high-definition without high prices. Toshiba Exclusive! D-R1 multiformat DVD recorder Paradigm Exclusive! Studio 40 v.3 home theater speaker system Harman Kardon Exclusive! AVR 330 digital surround receiver Magnepan Exclusive! Magneplanar MMG flat-panel home theater speakers The Cutting Edge Kaleidescape’s movie server is like having a cineplex in a box. Quick Takes Creative Sound Blaster wireless music receiver The Cutting Edge The Dell Dimension 4600C Media Center brings A/V and PC closer.

Entertainment Movies Alien Quadrilogy, The Two Towers Extended Edition, Hulk, T3, The West Wing, more Music Pink, Sarah McLachlan, Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on surround SACD, more Games Star Wars: Rebel Strike, Prince of Persia, Karaoke Revolution, more

Departments Track One Bob Ankosko A note from the editor Random Play Pirates plunder Master and Commander, 15 minutes with Uma Thurman, more Feedback Readers sound off New Products The latest home-entertainment gear Q&A Ian G. Masters Ask the expert Tech Talk David Ranada Multichannel revisionism Digital Horizons Ken C. Pohlmann How sweet it was The Custom Installer John Sciacca Wiring for the future Road Gear Mike Mettler Shared listening S&V Picks Videogame accessories for all ages

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