January 2004

Features Flat TVs for Every Room Lower prices and more options are finally bringing plasma and LCD panels to the people. Shopping Made Simple: Flat-Panel TVs Pick out your dream TV from 150 slim and sexy models. Speaker, Speaker on the Wall Seven space-saving systems that put the home back in home theater — and go perfectly with a plasma TV. Disappearing Act A South Dakota couple finds a way to keep their home theater sound out of sight. CEDIA Trendsetters The big custom-installer Expo offers a glimpse into the home-entertainment future. ESPN’s High-Def Touchdown The world leader in sports broadcasting aims to take charge in the HDTV arena.

Test Reports Samsung Exclusive! World’s biggest plasma HDTV monitor Denon DVD-2200 universal player Pioneer DVR-57H DVD/hard-disk recorder with TiVo Marantz Exclusive! SR-5400 digital surround receiver TDK DA-9000 CD/hard-disk recorder Samsung SIR-S4120R DirecTV receiver/hard-disk recorder with TiVo Nakamichi Exclusive! 29-inch multimedia LCD high-def monitor Quick Takes Beyond iCEBOX FlipScreen entertainment center

Departments & Columns Track One Bob Ankosko A note from the editor Random Play UPN goes high-def, Virgin gives birth to gadgets, 15 minutes with Alex Lifeson of Rush, more Feedback Readers sound off New Products The latest home-entertainment gear Q&A Ian G. Masters Ask the expert Home Theater David Ranada Bit-starved in Chicago Digital Horizons Ken C. Pohlmann What’s in a name? The Custom Installer John Sciacca A custom life Road Gear Mike Mettler The tweak doctor is in Movies Pirates of the Caribbean, 28 Days Later, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Knife in the Water, more Music The Strokes, the Distillers, the Who’s Tommy on Super Audio CD, Marvin Gaye on DVD-Audio, more S&V Picks Real Indiana Jones gear, Cowardly Lion for sale, Victoria’s rock & roll secret, more