Al Griffin

ViewSonic N4060w 40-inch LCD HDTV

By Al Griffin
Posted September 5, 2006

What We Think After some tweaking, this LCD panel looked great on high-def sports, but less so with DVDs and regular TV channels You've got to hand it to LCD technology for it

» Read More

Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 50-inch 1080p Plasma Monitor

By Al Griffin
Posted October 4, 2006

Over the past 2 years, new flat-panel LCD TVs with 1080p resolution have turned up in stores regularly, causing plasma-TV enthusiasts like me to wonder: Where are all the 1080p plasmas? A number of such sets have been announced, but the one I've been waiting for is the Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 50-inch 1080p plasma monitor.

» Read More

Test Bench: ViewSonic N4060w 40-inch LCD HDTV

By Al Griffin
Posted September 4, 2006

Color temperature (User preset/Warm Color Temp before calibration / User preset/Normal Color Temp after calibration): Low window (30 IRE): 6,171/6,745 K High window (80 IRE): 8,044/6,514 K Brightness (100-IRE window before/after calibration): 58.4.6/47.5 ftL

» Read More

Test Bench: Pioneer PRO-FHD1 50-inch 1080p Plasma Monitor

By Al Griffin
Posted October 4, 2006

Color temperature (User preset/Low color temperature before calibration / User preset/Manual color temperature after calibration): Low window (30 IRE): 6,278/6,501 K High window (80 IRE): 6,089/6,620 K Brightness (100-IRE window before/after calibration): 36.7/34.3 ftL

» Read More

Screen Innovations Viságe Front-Projection Screen

By Al Griffin
Posted October 4, 2006

Aside from a huge, costly flat-panel TV, the easiest way to put a big video image up on your wall is to buy a front-projector/projection screen combo. And with good high-rez front projectors now selling for as little as $2,000, that option can be particularly budget-friendly.

» Read More

Geneva Lab Sound System Model L iPod Speaker System

By Al Griffin
Posted October 4, 2006
1

The ongoing iPodification of audio has generated a huge number of products designed to sync up with, amplify, and otherwise expand the possibilities of Apple's ubiquitous player. Many first-wave iPod add-ons got the cosmetic part right (white plastic cabinet? check!) but failed to impress when it came to music reproduction.

» Read More

Test Bench: Sim2 HT3000 1080p DLP Front Projector

By Al Griffin
Posted October 5, 2006

Color temperature (Low color temperature before/Manual color temperature after calibration): Low window (30 IRE): 6,894/6,558K High window (80 IRE): 6,750/6,742K Brightness (100-IRE window before/after calibration): 19.1/16.0 ftL

» Read More

Anthem AVM 50 Preamp/Processor and MCA 50 Amplifier

By Al Griffin
Posted October 5, 2006

Anthem's AVM-series home theater audio preamp/processors are considered among the best - if not the best - for the money. An enthusiastic review in these pages back in November 2004 made much of the AVM 30's THX Ultra2 certification, multichannel analog input with full bass management, and extensive list of surround modes.

» Read More

Sim2 HT3000 1080p DLP Front Projector

By Al Griffin
Posted October 5, 2006

Video front projectors have always been the best way to watch movies at home, and now that new 1080p models capable of unveiling all the detail in high-def sources have arrived, there's even more reason to get keyed up about the category.

» Read More

Sony Bravia KDL-40XBR2 40-inch LCD HDTV

By Al Griffin
Posted November 4, 2006

Sony used to be king of the direct-view TV biz, churning out high-performance tube sets for which discerning viewers happily paid extra.

» Read More