home theater

Let's start with the most common fallacy about audio: good sound is good sound. Movies and music have very different requirements, so I recommend first acknowledging your preference for movies or music, and steer the system's performance strengths one way or the other with the right mix of speakers and electronics.

How different is movie sound from music? Let me count the ways: Today's films boast nearly unlimited soft-to-loud dynamic range; dialog is mixed to the center channel; surround effects may be ambient or point-sourced; and deep-bass demands can be extreme. Just about every feature film released … Read more

For me a great hi-fi doesn't necessarily have to be the best-sounding one.

It's more about a sound that draws me in. One CD or LP leads to the next, and I don't want to stop to eat, read, go to bed, or watch TV. A great hi-fi is one that lets the music cut loose. Even cheap gear might have what it takes to get my juices flowing. Take the Velodyne vPulse in-ear headphones; they make too much bass and are far from the most refined headphones in my collection, but I keep using them. I … Read more

TiVo and DirecTV's on-again, off-again, really off-again, kinda on-again relationship is now completely back on again.

After a 10-city rollout in December of a new TiVo HD box to DirecTV customers, the satellite TV provider is making the box available nationwide.

The TiVo HD box mainly gives users access to TiVo's excellent interface and features such as WishList Searches so you can automatically record programming based on things like an actor's name, sports team, or personal interests, and TiVo's Swivel Search will find shows across TV and DirecTV Cinema.

The box itself is capable of recording … Read more

A big TV without big speakers is just plain criminal. Alas, you can't just buy a pair and plug them directly into your LCD or plasma; you need a receiver to act as the hub and amplify the audio.

Of course, if you've ever shopped for one, you know that receivers can cost a small fortune. But not today.

Today only, and while supplies last, Woot has the Pioneer VSX-521-K 5.1-channel A/V receiver for $134.99, plus $5 for shipping. Unlike many Woot products, this one's new, not refurbished.

The VSX-521-K is nicely equipped for … Read more

The latest TV technology buzzword is "4K." This magical alphanumeric represents a quadrupling of the now-standard 1080p resolution found on Blu-ray and most HDTVs.

Have no doubt, manufacturers are going to start pushing 4K (some already are).

The thing is, though, you don't need 4K, because in the home, 4K is stupid.… Read more

This is an update of a post from many moons ago.

Mo' gadgets often means mo' problems--or, at least, mo' remotes. That's why I continue to champion Logitech's Harmony series of universal remotes, which not only take the place of multiple clickers but also let you set up crazy-handy macro functions.

One of the better models, the 650, usually sells for around $80. But if you don't mind going the refurbished route, you can get one for half the price. While supplies last, Ice Monkey has the refurbished Logitech Harmony 650 remote for $39.99 shipped.

In … Read more

During CES, I got a chance to hook up with Engage, the company behind Unity, a well-built home theater system.

Unity is the brainchild of Todd Beauchamp, an ex-Apple audio engineer (he worked closely on iPhone acoustics, for example) and Mike Fidler, an individual with a strong marketing and engineering background in Sony.

The sound system looks familiar because it has a design similar to the many sound bar and subwoofer combos out there, but stacked on top of each other. Unlike most sound bars, Unity's modular design has a depth to it that can support a 60-inch TV.

I quickly learned that the idea is a "system that can be set up in little as 15 minutes," Beauchamp said enthusiastically. You can tell that a lot of time and dedication went into the first version of the home theater and future versions could be compelling as the design evolves. … Read more

The ultimate Internet-connected TV accessory isn't Roku. It's not Apple TV, and it's not Boxee.

It's something you probably already own: a computer.

With an inexpensive cable (like this one for Mac), you can mirror your computer on your television, giving you complete access to any Internet streaming services or local content on your hard drive.

Many newer laptops even include HDMI out, giving you full 1080p mirroring. Older machines would have to rely on DVI or VGA out with an accompanying audio-out cable.

But once you hook up your computer to your TV, the setup … Read more

Buying a new TV for your football-watching party? Sure something big is a must, but there are different features and specs to consider when buying a TV for the big game.

Plasma or LCD? Online or in-store? These are just some of the questions I'll answer after the jump.… Read more