Harman
Kardon
You’ll feel surrounded by surround sound choices with Harman Kardon’s
AVR 520. The receiver decodes Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1- and 6.1-channel soundtracks,
including DTS-ES Discrete. You’ll need an outboard amp if you have one
or two back surround speakers, though, as there are only five powered channels,
rated to deliver 75 watts each into 8 ohms. The AVR 520 also has Dolby Pro Logic
II, DTS Neo:6, and Lexicon Logic 7 processing to create surround sound from
two-channel sources, plus Hall and Theater modes. Routing HDTV or progressive-scan
video from a DVD player through the receiver is no problem thanks to its two
wideband component-video inputs. There’s also a six-channel analog audio
input for a DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD player, five S-video inputs, and six
digital audio inputs (three optical and three coaxial). Automatic level calibration
makes setup a snap. A backlit, eight-device universal learning remote control
is supplied. Price: $999. www.harmankardon.com,
800-422-8027
Cerwin
Vega
Six easy pieces — four left/right satellite speakers, a center speaker,
and a powered subwoofer — make up Cerwin-Vega’s AVS-632 home theater
speaker system. Each L/R satellite has a 4-inch woofer and a 1-inch Mylar-dome
tweeter, while the center has dual woofers. All have a rated frequency response
of 80 Hz to 20 kHz ±3 dB. Powered by a 100-watt amplifier and rated down
to 35 Hz, the 12 1/2 x 14 1/2 x 13 1/4-inch down-firing sub has an 8-inch driver,
a variable crossover, a phase switch, and a level control. All of the magnetically
shielded cabinets are finished in graphite with perforated metal grilles. Price:
$449. www.cerwin-vega.com,
805-584-9332
RCA
Able to operate up to nine devices, RCA’s RCU1000B touchscreen controller
will have a lonely life as the only remote left on your coffee table. The LCD
measures 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches and can show up to 40 virtual keys along with
a date and time indicator. Nine macro keys can each store up to 20 keystrokes,
letting you turn on or shut down all your gear with one touch of the supplied
stylus. You can set up the RCU1000B to use codes preprogrammed in its database
or teach it commands for a given component by placing the old remote head to
tail with it and programming the keys individually. A built-in sensor turns
on backlighting in low light. Price: $129. www.rca.com,
800-336-1900
Samsung
Computer monitors using thin, flat LCD panels are on their way up in size, as
evidenced by Samsung’s 21-inch (diagonal) 211MP and 24-inch 241MP (shown).
Depth is only 2 5/8 inches with the stand, which can be removed for wall placement.
Both monitors are HDTV-ready and have a built-in NTSC tuner and RGB+H/V, component,
composite, and S-video inputs as well as a VGA input. The viewing angle is said
to extend to 170°, and contrast ratio is rated as 500:1. Maximum resolution
on the 211MP is 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, while the 241MP’s is 1,920 x 1,200
pixels. A built-in zoom can magnify any part of an image up to 17x. The supplied
speakers can be affixed to the sides of the display. Prices: 211MP, $4,999;
241MP, $6,999. www.samsungusa.com,
800-726-7864
Allison
Allison Acoustics went out of business in 1989, but now its acclaimed speakers
are being produced once again by a new company, with veteran speaker designer
Roy Allison again serving as chief acoustic engineer. The product line is led
by the Allison One, which he created in 1974 and updated in the 1980s. The new
One has the same three-way design with a 10-inch woofer, a 3 1/2-inch midrange
driver, and a 1-inch tweeter on each of two sides of the triangular cabinet,
which is designed to be placed as close to a wall as possible. Frequency response
is rated as 36 Hz to 20 kHz +1, –3 dB. Finished in your choice of cherry,
walnut, oak, or other hardwood veneers, the speaker measures 19 x 41 3/8 x 11
inches and weighs 75 pounds. Price: $6,000 a pair. www.allisionacoustics.com,
877-813-5878
Philips
Looks aren’t everything, but they count for quite a bit with Philips. Its
attractive DVDQ50 DVD player is not only a mere 3 inches tall but also has two
component-video outputs, one of them offering progressive-scan images with 2:3
pulldown. The player can read both CD-Rs and CD-RWs, even MP3 files. Built-in
Dolby Digital and DTS decoders provide 5.1-channel sound through the multichannel
analog output, and if you don’t have surround speakers, TruSurround processing
will simulate them. There are also coaxial and optical digital audio outputs.
A bit-rate indicator lets you know just how many little ones and zeros it takes
to create the image you’re watching. Price: $499. www.philipsusa.com,
800-531-0039
ReQuest
Multimedia
In the ARQ2-Pro, its next-generation digital audio server, ReQuest Multimedia
has added the option of storing music as uncompressed wav files and has also
provided coaxial and optical digital outputs. And now when you want to enter
artist and title data for a recording, you can first check the onboard CD Lookup
database before visiting Gracenote.com. You rip songs from the built-in CD player
to a hard drive of at least 40 gigabytes (GB), which holds about 300 hours of
MP3 audio encoded at 128 kilobits per second (kbps). Prices: with 40-GB drive,
$2,950; with 60-GB drive, $3,500; with 100-GB drive, $5,000. www.request.com,
800-236-0802
Rockford
Fosgate
The Rockford Fosgate RFX9210 car CD receiver doesn’t just play discs with
MP3 files — it makes them feel at home. Its Track Access and Root keys
let you select songs by assigned numbers or instantly return to the disc’s
root menu. No disc handy? The tuner has 20 FM and 10 AM presets, and there’s
an auxiliary input for an external source. The amplifier is rated to deliver
30 watts each to four channels, and there are three pairs of preamp outputs.
The faceplate slides off at the touch of a button, and a remote control is supplied.
Price: $500.
www.rockfordfosgate.com,
800-366-2349
Canton
Passive speakers starting to seem wimpy to you? Get active with Canton’s
Ergo RC-A. The three-way floor-standing speaker has dual 9-inch woofers powered
by a built-in 350-watt amplifier as well as a 7-inch midrange driver and a 1-inch
aluminum-manganese tweeter powered by your receiver or system amplifier. Bandwidth
is given as 18 Hz to 30 kHz. The bass-reflex cabinet is finished in black ash,
cherry, or beech veneer and features a removable perforated-steel grille (not
shown) and rounded wood corners. Height is 45 1/4 inches, and weight is 73 pounds.
Price: $3,500 a pair. www.cantonusa.com,
612-706-9250
Head
Wave
Drivers can’t have all the fun — now pedestrians can enjoy satellite
radio, too, with Head Wave’s APR-1 satellite-antenna headgear. The receiver
picks up both the Sirius and XM services, and the optional headphones can create
virtual surround sound. Reception is said to be clear and free of distortion
even while jogging — as long as you don’t turn east. The adjustable
band in back of the helmet ensures that one size fits all, and it comes in black,
graphite, and Midnight Sierra finishes. The headgear is powered by a dozen D-cell
batteries and weighs only 75 pounds. A neck brace is supplied. Price: if you
have to ask . . . . www.aprilfool.com,
888-UNN-REAL
JVC
The widescreen 48-inch I’Art Pro rear-projection HDTV monitor from JVC
shows you can have high-def TV without high-debt prices. In addition to two
wideband component-video inputs, there’s a DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
connector for hooking up a digital VCR or high-def satellite receiver as well
as four composite- and three S-video inputs. A built-in upconverter bumps all
signals up to the set’s native 1080i (interlaced) display format. There’s
also a center-channel input so the TV’s stereo speakers can function as
a dual center speaker, two NTSC tuners, and a 3-D digital comb filter. Price:
$2,300. www.jvc.com, 800-526-5308
Cadence
The $699 XLN-6 speaker system from Cadence offers home theater sound at a very
comfortable price. The XT-1 front left/right satellite has a 6 1/2-inch woofer,
a 1-inch tweeter, and a bandwidth of 65 Hz to 20 kHz. The XC-1 center speaker
and XS-1 surrounds have 4-inch woofers. The XLNS-8 subwoofer, rated down to
35 Hz and measuring 10 x 13 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches, has an 8-inch down-firing driver
along with a variable crossover, phase switch, and level control. All of the
magnetically shielded satellites have spring-clip connectors and come in black.
The sub has spiked feet and is finished in dark woodgrain vinyl. www.cadencesound.com,
800-477-2328
Aragon
Aragon’s Stage One, in either black or silver finish, has it — THX
Ultra2 certification, that is. It’s the latest thing, and all the cool
gear is trying to get it. The preamp/processor can decode Dolby Digital Surround
EX and DTS-ES soundtracks into 6.1 channels, plus it’s got wideband component-video
connections for HDTV signal switching. The crowded back panel has component-,
composite-, and S-video jacks along with coaxial and optical digital audio inputs.
An AM/FM tuner is onboard. A preprogrammed/learning remote control is supplied,
and an RS-232 port allows for future software upgrades. Price: $4,000. www.aragonelectronics.com,
866-781-7284
Wood
Technology
If you’re worried that sound reflections inside your walls may degrade
the performance of in-wall speakers, Wood Technology’s Sound Chamber wall
insert may be the ticket. The 7 1/4 x 12 x 4-inch device, which fits behind
and around a 5-, 6-, or 8-inch in-wall speaker, is said to suppress reflections
inside the wall cavity. The V-shaped grooves are said to let bass frequencies
escape so the entire wall can produce deep bass. Each Sound Chamber disassembles
into four pieces to ease fitting it through your wall cutout; it’s held
between the studs by tension — no installation hardware needed. Price:
$70 a pair. www.wood-tech.com,
888-445-5520
Inline
The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is slowly expanding into more home-entertainment
products, and Inline’s IN1408 video scaler is said to be the first with
DVI connections. In addition to digital video through two DVI jacks, its eight
inputs can accept virtually any analog video signal. Besides one DVI output,
two analog video outputs provide RGB (in several flavors) or component signals,
all scaled properly for your DLP projector or plasma TV at resolutions from
640 x 480 to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. Interlaced signals from film-based sources
receive automatic 2:3 pulldown during upconversion. Four of the inputs accept
both analog stereo and coaxial digital audio; all three outputs include both.
Price: $5,200. www.inlineinc.com,
800-882-7117
B
& W
Expanding its Leisure Monitor line, B&W introduces the VM1 speaker, designed
for both home theater and stereo systems. The slim two-way design, with a long-throw
5-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter, is rated for a frequency response of 75
Hz to 20 kHz ±3 dB and a sensitivity of 91 dB. Weighing in at only 6
pounds, the speaker measures 5 x 20 5/8 x 3 3/4 inches, including its removable
“foot.” The vented enclosure comes in a black, white, or silver finish.
Price: $800 a pair. www.bwspeakers.com,
978-664-2870
Esoteric
Audio
Available in lengths from 3 1/4 to 16 1/2 feet, Esoteric Audio’s CVK1,
CVK3, and CVK4 component-video connector kits each have three color-coded cables
for transmitting video signals. The CVK1 cables contain oxygen-free copper conductors
separated by a polyethylene dielectric. The CVK3 cables have shielding that
combines copper-Mylar foil with a tight copper braid, which is meant to reduce
noise caused by radio-frequency interference. And the CVK4 cables use Ultra-Grain
copper with elongated copper “grains,” said to reduce signal degradation.
Prices: $30 to $134. www.esotericaudio.com,
800-806-6111
Runco
At the heart of Runco’s DR300 video projector lies Texas Instruments’
single-chip Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology, which uses thousands
of tiny micromirrors to display images at 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution. The
projector’s contrast ratio is rated as 800:1, and it can accept high-definition
TV signals through its RGB+H/V or wideband component-video inputs. It also has
jacks for composite- and S-video. The projector can be paired with Runco’s
optional PFP (pixel-for-pixel) controller ($3,000), which scales standard signals
to precisely match the native resolution of the projector and passes high-def
signals with no processing. Price: $8,997. www.runco.com,
800-237-8626