Home Theater Speaker

Installing a home theater system at home

2008-11-30T23:33:00.000-08:00

With the modern technology more and more people would set up a home theater in their room just to enjoy the home theater system sound and viewing the way their enjoy in the theater. With the present technology it does not take many big space to installed the home theater system and the large screen television. Even the cost of today's home theater system and the large screen television is much more cheaper then in the olden time where the sound was not much trilling and exciting and even the price are four to five times more expensive then today.

When installing a home theater system at home, the home theater systems must be place above the height of a person and should be at least seven feet above the ground to get the best sound from the system. Created a soundproofed on the floor. To had a good sound the room must have four satellite speakers a special center designed speaker and a powered subwoofer to get the real sound from the gun shots, fighting and falling item.

To enjoy home theater speaker at home

2008-07-02T20:34:00.000-07:00

To enjoy a good sound system at home all we needs is a good set of home theater speaker. It is not necessary to buy a very expensive home theater set at home with very quality and of famous name if the set is not complete. A full set of home theater is a combination of two front stereo speaker which is place in front of your television set, one right and one left and place a few inches away from your TV. A center channel speaker and is place on top of television. Two surround speakers which is place at the back of our room and behind the sitting position and of one at the right end corner and the other on the left end corner. Lastly a powered subwoofer, a subwoofer is needed to ensure that your home theater system delivers crucial low-frequency impact. A subwoofer is also a wonderful way to enrich music listening

The works of the full set at home is the front stereo speaker offer a wide sound stage which you find the exciting trilling sound of a movies coming out from the front stereo. The center channel deliver the soundtrack of a music and movies and to balance the sound from the pictures. For surrounding sound it give you the real and trilling sound like eruption of a volcano, walking footsteps or even a tiny drops of water or rain drops.

Placing your home theater system

2008-04-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

Buying the best and most expensive home theater speaker will not guarantte to produce the best sound effect. Of course most of us want our home theater speaker that will make the place organized and the sound that is pleasing to listen. Choosing to place your home theater, are some option that you must reconsider, away from small kids and pets. if you want to place it on the floor.

When placing your home theater system is best to place one at the right and one at the lift of the television and a speaker must be place in the middle of the television. Get another two speaker and place at the corner of each side of the couch and the subwoofer at a corner to get the right bass. Place all your home theater system a foot away from the wall to get a better sound.

purchasing a home theater system set

2008-03-06T22:50:00.000-08:00

Getting the right home theater system at home. Purchasing an expensive home theater speaker home if you do not how to used it, is a waste of money and time to find how the system works. My brother just brought a home theater system to installed at home which cause him a huge sum. The sales man came and fixed the sets and give a shorts explanation. The sound comes out was just like a radio sound. The sales man promised to check, till today after a month, complain to the company for three times the salesman still never arrived.

Till today had to enjoy the same sound, feel fastrated and cheated. When purchasing a home theater system set, see that the company is not very far away from your home. Able to reach the one in charge if their is a problem them pushing one person to one person.

A good home theatre system at home

2007-11-06T00:11:00.000-08:00

Many home today are having their own home theatre systems just to enjoy their favourite programme on a television or a listening to their favourite music or songs. Having a good home theatre system thats can give you the sound their you enjoy the same that you watching movies in a cinema. Would'nt it be lovely to stay at home watching the latest movies with your family and friends.

Before I install a home theatre system at home, I spend a lots of time and money travelling to a theatre. Now with the home theatre installed at home I feel more relaxing as I find I got many time to spare and besides I still enjoy the same movies and sound which I spend at a theatre. I spend about 40k and had one of my room change to a theatre style.

An Axion home theatre system

2007-08-30T02:02:00.000-07:00

Recently my friends moved in to a new bungalow, As a close friends and a ex class mates, we three of my friends and myself will invited to his house warming. The bangalow was very big with seven bedroom with bathroom attached. ON the ground floor there was two kitchen, one wet and one dry, a dinner hall and a living room with a bar counter attached. Futher down a study room and a theatre room. The theatre room was fantastic display, better then going to theatre movies. The 16 chairs like massage chairs where adjusted to your position.

Regarding the sounds is was very trilled like you are watching the real motion picture and when I enquired from him he said he install An Axion home theatre system where the surrounring sound will transform your music in the movie viewing that gives you the viewing experience that you won't fell the difference. Axion home theatre will revitalize your entire music collection that was most unheard in most stereo. The renovation of the home theatre that cost him about 100,000.00 Malaysian ringgit. That day I stay overnight with all our friends and wifes and we enjoy three great movies.

Home theatre speaker that already comes in a full set

2007-07-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

Most people would prefer to purchase their home theatre speaker that already comes in a full set which include surrounding speaker, subwoofers and a good A/V receiver and DVD player. Buying individual might be more expensive and something gives you more headache if the requires sound did not match the speakers.

Now you can get a nice full set home theatre speakers set with a very affortable price at most home theatre shops or you browse through internet online to get the best buys or the latest set on the markets. I just brought a full set of home theatre set for a few thousand Malaysian ringgit at my new home. The sound was fantastic with a subwoofers, two large home theatre speakers and two small one, A DVD set with all the requires receiver.

Buying home theatre speaker online

2007-06-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

With alots of online selling we can many items we needs through internet direct selling and the price that they are selling are much more cheaper then stores selling the same items besides you have more variety, design, colours and shape. Most online selling are given years of warranty of their products and some even give you a free trials and if you find the products not satisfy to you, you can return the goods free of such but you have to paid for the shipping.

I brought a home theatre sets with speakers, sub woofers and a few items throught internet selling online. The things I got are much speakers from many shop that I go through and even the service was excellent as they help me to fix all the equipment. I was given a two months trial and five years warranty.

Enjoying a great movies at home

2007-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Home theatres are becoming very popular in most big home where friends and family members can get together to enjoy a weekend movies or television programs. One of my father relatives son even the pain to decorated one of the study hall into a theatre style with all the modern home theatre speakers equipment install. With the set it cost him about malaysian ringgit fifty thousand but to him is worth while spending as he can spend more times with his friends.

The sitting and lighting of the hall also play some parts in viewing a nice picture at home. Home theatre speakers when purchased comes in a set of five separated speakers to create the surround sound effect to make the movies more exciting and drilled to watch. Having two set of home theatre speakers install in the room and some other home theatre device it makes us like watching a great movies in a paid theatre.

Install a home theater at home

2007-04-02T22:28:00.000-07:00

To install a home theater at home you needs to have a big hall or room to install all the modern imstruments insides. Some will have their speakers fixed in the wall of their room while some will place where their can get the best sound surrounding from the room. But to enjoy the music and shows is not a cheap hobby as the instrument will cost you a few thousands to fixed.

Most people will decorated the home theater sets where the television is mostly mounted on the wall. There will be two big floor placing between each side of the television and a smaller speaker will place above the television, at the edge of the room corners another two speakers will be place, one on the right and the other on the left side. To make the sound, sound better one or two speakers is place behind the seating and a subwoofer placed somewhere to the side of the seating area. During the action scenes times in the movies you can feel vibrations of that sound are felt in the seating area when the music swells.

Remmember to get the best home theatre speaker and picture the room of the home theatre must be of dark colours and the lights can be dim to very darks. The room must'nt be paint of bright colours and the sitting must be cosy and very relaxing.
Try to avoid thing that can be break exspecialy glass because of the sound systems.

DVD Home Theater Systems

2007-02-12T00:16:00.000-08:00

High-quality home theater speaker systems try to recreate these aspects of professional theaters. For instance, the DVD player in a home theater system can separate the audio track into two, three or even five channels. DVD films often have 2.0 Dolby stereo and 5.1 surround-sound options for home theaters. Two speakers can be set up for traditional stereo sound, while a smaller central speaker can provide surround sound. For even better results, one can add a subwoofer for bass sounds and a satellite speaker placed behind the audience for complete surround sound.

A home theater system should also have a big television screen, preferably with a 16:9 wide screen ratio as found in professional theaters. A flat-screen television may be the best option for a typical home theater speaker system.

DVD Home Theater Systems

2007-02-12T00:15:00.000-08:00

Home Theater Speaker Systems

2007-02-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

Home theater speaker systems comprise front stereo speakers, a center channel speaker, surround speakers, and a powered subwoofer.

Working together, these speakers create the surround sound experience of a professional movie theater in your living room. You will find several brands and models of good speakers; you have to ensure that they work as a cohesive unit. One very important aspect is voice matching. The best way to achieve this is choosing speakers from the same ‘family,’ by the same brand. Voice matching ensures a smooth flow of sound around you, creating a seamless surround effect.

The front left and right speakers offer a wide soundstage that combines with the video, creating a realistic movie experience. Apart from reproducing the musical score, front speakers also handle most of the special effects. You can find floor-standing speakers, bookshelf speakers, and satellite/subwoofer systems as front left and right speakers.

The center channel is a vital component of the home theater speaker system, delivering over 50% of the soundtrack, including almost all the dialogue of the film. Ideally, it should be located directly above or below your screen, because placing it elsewhere will disrupt the surround experience considerably. Choose its size in accordance with the sizes of the other speakers and the television set.

The surround speakers, apart from producing sounds like raindrops, or the rustling of leaves, also provides directional effects, such as a locomotive rushing by, a bullet whistling past, or the rumble of a spaceship. If the system includes a subwoofer, then most users prefer either bookshelf or satellite speakers requiring stand placement or wall mounting.

As most speakers can't deliver that level of bass on their own, you need a subwoofer so that your home theater system delivers crucial low-frequency impact. A subwoofer can also enrich music listening; it is capable of rounding out all types of music, from classical to jazz to rock.

Where to put? - Is Location Really That Important?

2007-01-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

With today's busy and hectic schedules, many consumers do not either know how to OR take the time to accurately place their speakers for the fullest enjoyment and quality - mind you, the speakers they have just paid a small fortune for. But truth be known, there are no "perfect or accurate" places to put them! There are many variables involved, such as our own personal preferences. But additionally, there is the room layout, furniture, aesthetics, children, pets, and the opinions of all involved in the home. One of the best things about a home theater is that we can create a very organized, well-planned system that provides sound to our home or room with the highest of qualities. We may be able to create such a high quality sound with our home theater speakers, so that we may feel like we are in a huge movie theater. We are not just talking about sound that is loud, but sound that is all around us, making us feel as if we are in the movie itself. With the proper placement of speakers in the room, we are going to experience the highest level of surround sound.

New Series of Sound System

2007-01-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

CP Series System Solutions: Seamless Operation, Enhanced Features and Unified Design

Harman Kardon’s CP 65, CP 60 and CP 55 System Solutions are complete home theater packages based around the company’s new 7.1-channel AVR 347 and AVR 247, and 5.1-channel AVR 146 audio/video receivers. Combining upgraded features with ease of operation and Harman Kardon’s distinctively elegant black-and-silver styling, the CP 65, CP 60 and CP 55 all include a receiver, DVD player, 5.1-channel loudspeaker system and universal remote control.

The CP 65 includes an AVR 347 receiver, DVD 48 universal DVD player and Harman Kardon’s HKTS 18 home theater speaker package. The CP 60 features an AVR 247 receiver, DVD 38 DVD-Audio/Video player and an HKTS 15 speaker system, and the CP 55 includes an AVR 146 receiver, DVD 38 DVD player and an HKTS 15 speaker package. In addition, a pair of optional HKS 9 and HKS 6 satellite speakers can be added to the CP 65 and CP 60, respectively, to create a 7.1-channel home theater system.

The audio/video components in the CP 65, CP 60 and CP 55 systems all work seamlessly with each other and deliver exceptional audio and video performance. All include HDMI connectivity and wide-bandwidth component video switching, making them ideal for use in HDTV-based home entertainment systems. The loudspeaker packages include satellite and center channel speakers that are wall-mountable for maximum installation flexibility (optional floor stands for the satellites are also available). The remote controls included with the systems operate the receivers and DVD players, and are capable of being programmed to operate other devices such as TVs, video displays or set-top boxes.

2006-12-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Klegg Electronics, mostly known for its diminutive MP3 players along with boutique, high-end media center systems, flat panel televisions, and home theater speaker systems announced today that it plans to introduce a new consumer-oriented Genesis line of media players, speakers, and flat-panel televisions beginning January 8, 2007. In addition to launching a separate online site for the Klegg Genesis line, the produts will be available via traditional retailers and online distributors.

"Over the past year Klegg has worked to lay the groundwork to support the GENESIS launch through strategic alliances, technological acquisitions and marketing initiatives," said Dennis Gentles, CEO of Klegg Electronics, in a statement. "The Company is confident that their entrance into the $21 billion consumer electronics industry with the new moderately priced Klegg Genesis line of products and the continued growth of Klegg's original product line, estimated to increase in sales by 27 percent in 2006, will dramatically impact Klegg's 2007 operating results and will produce long term sustained growth for the company."

2006-11-26T23:01:00.000-08:00

2006-11-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

budget to buy home theater

2006-11-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

Blowing more than 50 percent of your client's home theater budget on a big-screen TV.

Don't blow a home theater budget on a super-expensive HD projector, screen, and furniture, while leaving too little for home theater speakers and amplification. In other words, match your high-definition visual image with a similarly high-quality soundscape from a fine home theater surround sound system—otherwise your client will only be disappointed at the jarring disconnect of combining a brilliant picture with lousy sound. Infatuated with the "coolness" factor of flat-panel plasma or LCD displays, too many people spend thousands on their TV display, only to find they haven't left enough money to assemble a high-quality surround sound system. A $999 home-theater-in-a-box will sound pint-sized and out of scale with the impact of the big-screen high-quality video image. If you budget $3,000 or more for an HD front- or rear-projection system, then consider spending the same amount on a 5.1-channel home theater speaker setup in addition to an AV surround receiver or AV processor and amplifiers.

2006-11-06T17:46:00.000-08:00

When you think about home theater speaker, what do you think of first? Which aspects of home theater speaker are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

Home theater speaker systems comprise front stereo speakers, a center channel speaker, surround speakers, and a powered subwoofer.

Working together, these speakers create the surround sound experience of a professional movie theater in your living room. You will find several brands and models of good speakers; you have to ensure that they work as a cohesive unit. One very important aspect is voice matching. The best way to achieve this is choosing speakers from the same ‘family,’ by the same brand. Voice matching ensures a smooth flow of sound around you, creating a seamless surround effect.

If you don't have accurate details regarding home theater speaker, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen: keep reading.

The front left and right speakers offer a wide soundstage that combines with the video, creating a realistic movie experience. Apart from reproducing the musical score, front speakers also handle most of the special effects. You can find floor-standing speakers, bookshelf speakers, and satellite/subwoofer systems as front left and right speakers.

The center channel is a vital component of the home theater speaker system, delivering over 50% of the soundtrack, including almost all the dialogue of the film. Ideally, it should be located directly above or below your screen, because placing it elsewhere will disrupt the surround experience considerably. Choose its size in accordance with the sizes of the other speakers and the television set.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about home theater speaker will come in handy. If you learned anything new about &keyword% in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

new set of home theater speaker

2006-11-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

According from my mother, my parents last week just bought a new set of home theater speaker. It cost him around two thousand over ringgit malaysia. For our old set of home theater speaker, my father donate it out to methodist children home. Now the children home got a new set of theater speaker. So, that they can watch and enjoy watching movie. The methodist principle thanks a lot to my parents.

2006-10-29T23:38:00.000-08:00

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about home theater speaker in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.

There are some basic types of home theater speakers that are in all home theater packages. The front left and front right speakers, the center channel speaker, the surround speakers, and the subwoofers are the components of most home theater speaker systems. The most important thing to remember is that the home theater speakers must work well together to create the best sound experience. For this reason, it might be best to purchase a home theater speakers kit or at least stick to one manufacturer for all of your home theater speakers.

The information about home theater speaker presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about home theater speaker or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

The front left and front right home theater speakers provide a wide range of the sound effects and interact with the screen image to create a more realistic movie experience. The front left and front right home theater speakers are responsible for the movie score and reproducing off stage effects. There are a wide variety of styles available for front left and front right home theater speakers, including floor-standing speakers, bookshelf speakers and satellite speakers. Floor-standing tower speakers are the most efficient and provide the richest sound; however, they are space consuming. For small spaces, satellite home theater speakers combined with a sub-woofer may be your best option.

That's the latest from the home theater speaker authorities. Once you're familiar with these ideas, you'll be ready to move to the next level.

everyone can have their own home theater speaeker

2006-10-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

Designing and building a home theater system is one of the most enjoyable home improvement projects. Adding home theater elements to your living room, media room, or game room or building a formal home theater room in your house will undoubtedly increase your enjoyment of movies in the home. As technology for home theater use increases, your options for a home theater system do as well. The wide range of home theater options can make the task a bit daunting, but with a little research and a consideration of your needs, finding the right home theater equipment is a snap.

Home theater technology is always improving so you can find well-functioning home theater equipment at relatively low prices. Gone are the days of shelling out thousands of dollars for good home theater equipment, although it definitely is possible to spend that much. You can get a very good home theater set up for under $1,000, and even less if you bargain shop for your equipment. The basics of any home theater system are the television or viewing screen, the DVD player, and the sound system.

Many people choose to use a standard television for their home theater system. While there is nothing wrong with this, if you are going to create a movie-like home theater experience, you can get no closer than using a DVD projector and home theater projection screen. These screens come in various sizes, and allow you to see your favorite movies in grand scale. Most DVD projectors are relatively easy to set up and work just like a standard DVD player. The sound system for a home theater is also an important consideration. Even if you are just setting up a home theater area in your living room, you’ll want to re-create movie quality sound. Current technology has made home theater sound systems easy to use, and you can often find all of the speakers you’ll need in one easy home theater speaker system kit.

information about home theater speaker

2006-10-13T01:08:00.000-07:00

The only way to keep up with the latest about home theater speaker is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about home theater speaker, it won't take long for you to become an influential authority.

Home theater speaker systems comprise front stereo speakers, a center channel speaker, surround speakers, and a powered subwoofer.

The center channel is a vital component of the home theater speaker system, delivering over 50% of the soundtrack, including almost all the dialogue of the film. Ideally, it should be located directly above or below your screen, because placing it elsewhere will disrupt the surround experience considerably. Choose its size in accordance with the sizes of the other speakers and the television set.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about home theater speaker, keep reading.

The surround speakers, apart from producing sounds like raindrops, or the rustling of leaves, also provides directional effects, such as a locomotive rushing by, a bullet whistling past, or the rumble of a spaceship. If the system includes a subwoofer, then most users prefer either bookshelf or satellite speakers requiring stand placement or wall mounting.

As most speakers can't deliver that level of bass on their own, you need a subwoofer so that your home theater system delivers crucial low-frequency impact. A subwoofer can also enrich music listening; it is capable of rounding out all types of music, from classical to jazz to rock.

There's a lot to understand about home theater speaker. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

Home Theater Speaker Systems

2006-10-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

About KEF home theater speaker

2006-10-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about home theater speaker. When you start sharing the fascinating home theater speaker facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Blending a home theater speaker system into today’s custom interiors can be a daunting undertaking, frequently necessitating undesirable compromises among performance, installation flexibility and budget. KEF’s unique new Five-2 Series speakers provide an elegant solution to this dilemma.

“The new Five-2 Series speakers build on our award winning KEF Instant Theatre technology and bring it to new applications and levels of performance,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “The Five-2 Series Model 7 and Model 11 offer a unique patented acoustic solution to those who either cannot or would prefer not to accommodate five separate speakers and the associated wiring spread around their room, but would still like to enjoy the exciting experience of true 5.1 channel home theater sound.”

The Five-2 Series speakers’ name derives from their ability to produce true five channel sound from just 2 patented speaker enclosures. The completely new line is comprised of the Model 7 bookshelf speaker system (seven drivers) and the Model 11 floor standing speaker system (eleven drivers). Both models feature a slender and elegant “racetrack” shaped enclosure and are available in either a matt silver or high gloss black finish to match most of today’s popular flat panel displays. Optional matching floor stands and wall brackets are available for use with the Model 7s.

Think about what you've read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about home theater speaker? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

KEF achieves true five-channel, no compromise sound from two speaker enclosures by combining their patented Uni-Q® ‘point source’ drivers in a multi-driver array with a uniquely new application of NXT® flat panel technology. Although housed in only two enclosures, true, discrete left/center/right and left/right surround signals are fed to and reproduced by different drivers within the enclosures. The inherently broad dispersion pattern of KEF’s patented Uni-Q® drivers creates a rock-solid center-fill, while the wide, diffused soundfield from the dipole NXT® flat panels provides spacious surround and ambient effects.

KEF Audio, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.

Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q® and ACE®. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF's world-class reputation.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about home theater speaker.

Biggest challenges to home theater equipment buyers

2006-10-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with home theater speaker? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about home theater speaker.

One of the biggest challenges to home theater equipment buyers is in the installation of the the products that they buy, and the speaker system can be the most problematic of all since there are more wires that run farther distances than any other component in the surround sound setup. Happily, Athena makes the installation as painless as possible by providing the speaker wires in the box already, and a very clear wiring diagram that should be able to be used successfully by even the most technically challenged among us.

If you wish to mount your speaker setup to the wall or hang them from the ceiling they have already thought of that too and included handy swivel mounting brackets for that kind of job.

The information about home theater speaker presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about home theater speaker or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

The system itself consists of satellite speakers that are small and stylish enough to blend in with almost any surroundings and yet capable of great sound in an average size room. Of course, if your listening area is in a very large room you may have trouble filling it up with sound, but that is to be expected at this low price level.

The best part of this whole system is it's cost which is under $400 on some online sites. And considering how easy it is to spend thousands on a home theater surround sound speaker system, that figure is very easy on the pocketbook. So if you want to step up to a surround sound experience for your home theater system, but just can't afford the big bucks right now, consider this home theater speaker review of the Athena Micra 6 and see if it doesn't fir the bill.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about home theater speaker will come in handy. If you learned anything new about keyword in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

2006-10-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

home theater speaker pros

2006-09-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Bowers & Wilkins home theater system is more than just watching a nice TV. The full movie experience can only be enjoyed with multiple speaker setups to experience the audio output from all audio channels.

Like an excellent home theater system Bowers & Wilkins Home Theater Speakers generally consist of five or more speakers known as 5.1 speaker system which includes 5 satellite speakers and one subwoofer. Other option is 7.1 speaker systems which includes 7 satellite speakers with one central subwoofer. The satellite speakers are positions all round the room to create full theater like experience. Sub woofer places on the ground to feel the low frequency notes.

Most of this information comes straight from the home theater speaker pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.

Normally Bowers & Wilkins Home Theater Speakers can be bought in a set called “home theater in a box” or HTiB. This HTiB sets consists of all the speakers needed to create theater like experience. These Htib systems are without amplification or control unit but all the speakers in Htib are pre matched to produced best sound and comes in single box which also saves on buying individual speakers.

Home theater technology is always improving so you can find well-functioning home theater equipment at relatively low prices. Gone are the days of shelling out thousands of dollars for good home theater equipment, although it definitely is possible to spend that much. You can get a very good home theater set up for under $1,000, and even less if you bargain shop for your equipment. The basics of any home theater system are the television or viewing screen, the DVD player, and the sound system.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

home theater speaker's fan

2006-09-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

No matter how advanced a home theater system you have, secretly hidden behind it is a jungle of wires that you don’t want to see. Wireless home theater system components can help to you to clear that jungle.

The most difficult part in setting up a new home theater system is the complicated cable hookups. The cable connections for many systems are wrongly configured, leading to sub-optimal sound or even damage to system components. In addition, wiring speakers is an extremely complex job that often requires the snaking of wires within walls and ceilings to hide ugly speaker cables. This is the case particularly for providing connections to the rear and center surround speakers in a system.

The more authentic information about home theater speaker you know, the more likely people are to consider you a home theater speaker expert. Read on for even more home theater speaker facts that you can share.

The best part of this whole system is it's cost which is under $400 on some online sites. And considering how easy it is to spend thousands on a home theater surround sound speaker system, that figure is very easy on the pocketbook. So if you want to step up to a surround sound experience for your home theater system, but just can't afford the big bucks right now, consider this home theater speaker review of the Athena Micra 6 and see if it doesn't fir the bill.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about home theater speaker.

Ideal to choose home theater system at home

2006-09-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if what you know about home theater speaker is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on home theater speaker.

A home theater system is ideal for those who hate to go to a theater but want to enjoy watching movies at home. A mix of audio and visual parts, the set-up may include a DVD player fed through a stereo system, a big television set or, if you have the inclination and money, an entire room wired with multiple speakers and a projection screen. Some systems may even have theater-style chairs and an elevated floor for optimal viewing.

With all the makes and models of home theater speaker systems on the market today finding one that will suit your needs can be a real chore. But there is an easy way to get the system you want at the best possible price.

First we'll take a look at home theater components, then I'll show how to get rock bottom prices on a quality home theater system.

While home theater systems can be bought all in one package, buying individual components, including speakers, lets you get the best of every element.

Like any good audio system, the best home theater speaker systems will have midrange speakers, a set of tweeters, and a sub woofer. It's the speakers that give you the full surround sound experience.

Home theater speaker systems come in wired and wireless designs. Compare them both for their sound quality and how easy or difficult they will be to install.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of home theater speaker is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about home theater speaker.

The best home theater speaker systems have good crossover design. While the speaker driver is important, good crossover can make any driver sound good, while bad crossover can make even a good driver sound bad.

Music playback is a good way to judge sound quality. Most DVDs do not produce great music signals, but if your speakers can handle a CD, then you know they are going to sound good playing a DVD.

Decide how many speakers you need. Many small speakers provide surround sound while large tower speakers are good for stereo effects. Small speakers also work better with a single sub woofer. The ideal home theater speaker system has five speakers for surround sound.

You may also prefer one surround sound system to another. The most popular surround sound systems today are Dolby Pro Logic, Virtual Dolby, and Q Surround.

High-quality home theater systems try to recreate these aspects of professional theaters. For instance, the DVD player in a home theater system can separate the audio track into two, three or even five channels. DVD films often have 2.0 Dolby stereo and 5.1 surround-sound options for home theaters. Two speakers can be set up for traditional stereo sound, while a smaller central speaker can provide surround sound. For even better results, one can add a subwoofer for bass sounds and a satellite speaker placed behind the audience for complete surround sound.

A home theater system should also have a big television screen, preferably with a 16:9 wide screen ratio as found in professional theaters. A flat-screen television may be the best option for a typical home theater system.

Knowing enough about home theater speaker to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you've just learned about home theater speaker, you should have nothing to worry about.

confident to expert on home theater speaker

2006-09-20T02:22:00.001-07:00

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about home theater speaker? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about home theater speaker.

Home theater systems have made dramatic improvements with the introduction of latest technologies. Fortunately for us, the price for a quality home theater system is also going down. Generally, the price of the system increases as you opt for more qualitative, powerful and more versatile features in addition to the Hi Fi brands. The key to successfully incorporating your new home theater system is to get creative with the ways you install your speakers. Home theater speakers come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes that make them easier to disguise within the decorations and furnishing of your home interiors.

Speakers are an integral part of any audio system, be it a simple radio or a home theatre system. Home audio speakers are generally multi-drive systems, i.e. they contain two or more drive units. These include woofers, midranges, tweeters, and sometimes horns or super tweeters. A home theatre system is complete only if all the above mentioned add-ons are attached with it to give a theatre-like sound experience. In home audio speaker specifications, the speakers are classified as “N-way” speakers. It indicates the number of bands of different frequency into which the system divides the sound. A 2-way system consists of woofers and tweeters, a 3-way system consists of mid-range speakers with a combination of woofers and tweeters. It depends upon person to person; rather there exists different perceptions towards the quality of sound and thus the drives in a speaker.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about home theater speaker. But don't be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

Let's know how successfully installation of the home theater system speakers in order to get maximum sound and attractive arrangement. To this it is most important to note that the placement of the speaker in the room. It is important to note that there are different types of speaker available, like Bookcase Speakers, Ceiling Mount Speakers, and Free Standing Speakers. Many home theater speakers will come with freestanding mounts that sit right behind your couch or recliner, improving your total sound enjoyment and feel like the perfect Dolby theatre effect.

If and when you decide upon purchasing a home audio speaker system, you will be spoilt for choice. They come in various ranges of quality and pricing, thus you need to decide carefully what caters to your specific set of requirements. Good audio companies make available a host of choices for speaker systems that can gel with your audio systems. They also provide different designs and creations of speakers that fit into your décor. You can place your systems in such a way that it gives you the optimum output.

Now you can be a confident expert on home theater speaker. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on home theater speaker.

2006-09-20T02:22:00.000-07:00

information about home theater speaker

2006-09-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding home theater speaker. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about home theater speaker.

The positioning of speakers is most important in creating home theater system. First look at the front speakers. Ideally all front speakers should be in horizontally line throughout in the middle of the image. But this is not possible in most of today’s home theater speakers system. To get most realistic sound experience speakers should be arrange in such a manner that they create the sound at par with source on the image. Placement should be above the ear level. In modern patented systems like Dolby Prologic or Dolby digital there are many other things, which needs to be done including software installation, tuning of the entire component. For better results manual should be referred to avoid any trouble and bad experience.

The quality of picture depends on the resolution. That’s why a large-screen TV may not have the picture quality of a small-screen TV with higher resolution. A screen between 35 and 50 inches will be good enough if you want to enjoy your favorite movie in your living room. High-definition televisions, or HDTVs, receive digital signals and are therefore essential for picture and sound clarity. Most televisions come with video components like Composite Video and S-Video inputs, and that should suffice for you.

The DVD player you are going to buy should have a six-channel decoder, video outputs, and additional disc formats. You will require a six-channel decoder as well as five surround speakers (center, two front, and two back) for surround sound.

If you don't have accurate details regarding home theater speaker, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen: keep reading.

Buying Bose home theater speakers are more than just normal home theater speakers. It is buying the most admired in quality entertainment system. Before buying it is always advisable to check out the latest price at directly on Bose site and if possible buy directly from Bose. But if it’s not possible even then make sure that it is from Bose authorized outlet and if there is no Bose outlet it needs to be imported by Bose authorized entity.

If different speakers are of different brands, the overall sound quality will suffer. So go for five identical speakers, as they will work better for your home theater.

DVD Home Theater Systems provides detailed information on DVD Home Theater Systems, Wireless Home Theater Systems, Buy Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Speaker Systems and more. DVD Home Theater Systems is affiliated with DVD Movie Rentals.

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in home theater speaker. When people start looking for more information about home theater speaker, you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

how you think about home theater speaker?

2006-09-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding home theater speaker. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about home theater speaker.

The first step is find out where it is coming from. Disconnect your source and display equipment from your receiver or surround sound processor. If the noise stops, connect them back to the receiver or processor on at a time until the noise returns. When the hum comes back, you found where the noise is entering your system. Note that if you are connecting remote equipment, such as running the signal from your theater room DVD player to the TV in the bedroom, your chances to pick up noise increase dramatically. With such long runs, noise can be induced into the long cable runs from adjacent electrical wiring. It is also easy to create a ground loop, because the equipment is plugged into two different, widely separated outlets, on different electrical circuits.

Working together, these speakers create the surround sound experience of a professional movie theater in your living room. You will find several brands and models of good speakers; you have to ensure that they work as a cohesive unit. One very important aspect is voice matching. The best way to achieve this is choosing speakers from the same ‘family,’ by the same brand. Voice matching ensures a smooth flow of sound around you, creating a seamless surround effect.

Sometimes power conditioners will stop noise problems by placing equipment on different, electrically isolated outlets. This is done using isolation transformers. Sometimes this is ineffective however, due to the differences in internal construction of different power conditioning equipment. Some safety regulations, such as UL 1950, specify that an isolation transformer is only allowed to isolate the hot and neutral wires; the grounding wire must be passed straight through. If this is the case, the ground loop problem may still exist because many communication circuits are connected to the grounding conductor and not the neutral. In this case, the isolation transformer, or any power conditioner or UPS with an isolation transformer will have absolutely no affect on the grounding problem.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and home theater speaker experts is time. If you'll invest a little more time in reading, you'll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to home theater speaker.

The surround speakers, apart from producing sounds like raindrops, or the rustling of leaves, also provides directional effects, such as a locomotive rushing by, a bullet whistling past, or the rumble of a spaceship. If the system includes a subwoofer, then most users prefer either bookshelf or satellite speakers requiring stand placement or wall mounting.

You can solve most noise problems in your home theater or multi room audio/video system by taking the systematic, step-by-step approach. Work your way up the signal chain, eliminating each piece of equipment as you go. If you have nothing connected to your speakers except the speaker wiring, and they still hum, the problem is noise induced into the speaker wiring from adjacent power cables. Other than that case, most problems are caused by ground problems, which you can find, and solve, if you take it one step at a time.

DVD Home Theater Systems provides detailed information on DVD Home Theater Systems, Wireless Home Theater Systems, Buy Home Theater Systems, Home Theater Speaker Systems and more. DVD Home Theater Systems is affiliated with DVD Movie Rentals.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

about home theater speaker

2006-09-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Neil Young was on NPR chatting about his new movie, Heart of Gold, when he uttered a line that stuck with me: "The art of singing is making a sound that comes from your heart." Thanks Neil, I'm co-opting the idea to describe what distinguishes great home theater systems—their sound touches your heart. Yeah, that's it. While components are getting better all the time, many lack that special something. There's nothing obviously out of whack, it's just that their sound doesn't connect on an emotional level. Sometimes the individual components are all top notch, but, if they're not well matched to each other, the sound suffers. When everything clicks, you know it. That was certainly the case when I hooked up Marantz's SR8500 A/V receiver with a set of PSB's VisionSound VS300 speakers and SubSeries 5i subwoofer. They're all charmers.

Portable DLP Front Projector (model DT-100) - Weighing just over eight and a half pounds, this portable DLP front projector can be moved easily from room to room, for an instant big-screen theater anywhere in the home. Using DLP technology from Texas Instruments, this stylish, feature-packed projector is ideal for consumers to watch TV, DVDs or play computer games on a full-size screen and then pack it all up and put it away, saving space and avoiding clutter. The DT-100 provides consumers with a compact, lightweight product that will easily fit on a shelf, cabinet or small side table. The projector is EDTV (enhanced definition television), with a resolution of 854 x 480 that is high-definition compatible. Upgraded features include an extremely high contrast ratio of 2500:1 as well as 1000 ANSI Lumen brightness for brilliant clarity and a superior image. The low fan noise of 30 dBA (in economy mode) ensures that a film's dialogue and special effects are the only sounds that movie-watching guests will hear.

So far, we've uncovered some interesting facts about home theater speaker. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The projector is outfitted with a 6 Segment 5 X Speed color wheel that minimizes "color breaking" and provides high quality images with accurate color reproduction.

The Widescreen LC-26DV20U and LC-20DV20U LCD TVs provide a slim, versatile, all-in-one television and video solution. Both units feature HDMI and HD component inputs for high-definition compatibility when connected to a separate set-top box. A built-in progressive-scan DVD Player loads discs into the TV from the side, keeping the sleek appearance of the unit and creating a complete home theater solution. The DV20U Series provides a high contrast ratio (800:1) and wide viewing angles (170 degrees). The 26-inch model is an HDTV and includes built-in NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners. The 20-inch model is an HDTV Monitor offering HD compatibility and PC connectivity. These televisions are silver and feature bottom-placed speakers that will complement any decor.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about home theater speaker.

home theater speaker: How to Find the Best Home Theater Speaker System at the Best Price

2006-09-13T02:31:00.000-07:00

Finding the best home theater speaker system

With all the makes and models of home theater speaker systems on the market today finding one that will suit your needs can be a real chore. But there is an easy way to get the system you want at the best possible price.

First we'll take a look at home theater components, then I'll show how to get rock bottom prices on a quality home theater system.

Home theater speaker system components

While home theater systems can be bought all in one package, buying individual components, including speakers, lets you get the best of every element.

Like any good audio system, the best home theater speaker systems will have midrange speakers, a set of tweeters, and a sub woofer. It's the speakers that give you the full surround sound experience.

Home theater speaker system features

Home theater speaker systems come in wired and wireless designs. Compare them both for their sound quality and how easy or difficult they will be to install.

The best home theater speaker systems have good crossover design. While the speaker driver is important, good crossover can make any driver sound good, while bad crossover can make even a good driver sound bad.

Music playback is a good way to judge sound quality. Most DVDs do not produce great music signals, but if your speakers can handle a CD, then you know they are going to sound good playing a DVD.

Decide how many speakers you need. Many small speakers provide surround sound while large tower speakers are good for stereo effects. Small speakers also work better with a single sub woofer. The ideal home theater speaker system has five speakers for surround sound.

You may also prefer one surround sound system to another. The most popular surround sound systems today are Dolby Pro Logic, Virtual Dolby, and Q Surround.

How to compare home theater speaker system prices

Start by visiting your local electronics stores to get an idea of system capabilities, features, and prices. Make sure you listen to each system so you know how they sound in person. Then go online to get product reviews and price comparisons.

The comparison shopping website I use provides independent comparisons of products as well as unbiased reviews of home speaker systems by consumers like yourself. You also get price comparisons for various home theater systems, pictures of each system, plus detailed product information. They even rate the various retailers so you'll know which ones are reputable.

Click on the links below to visit this online service and have fun comparison shopping.

The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on home theater speaker systems.

Visit the http://TheSatelliteTVGuide.com to get more information, to compare prices, and to get consumer ratings for home theater systems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Stevens

home theater speaker: Software turns cell phone into personal shopping guide

2006-09-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

By Kevin Hunt
Tribune Newspapers
Published September 10, 2006

I just got back from a mock shopping trip with a real expert -- a cell phone.

This Nokia S60 with Scanbuy Shopper software, a free download from Scanbuy of New York (www.scanbuy.com), gathers price comparisons, reviews and product information from the Web.

Whether you're pricing a jug of Tide detergent or an LCD television, Scanbuy Shopper consults PriceGrabber.com, Shopping.com and Amazon.com, among others, before displaying information on your cell phone's screen.

All you do is activate the Scanbuy Shopper program, then use the phone's touch pad to enter the product's eight-digit bar code found on the desired item's box. It works only with Java-enabled services from providers T-Mobile, Cingular and Sprint. (Depending on the plan, each call will cost about 25 cents. Consult Scanbuy's Web site for a list of compatible phones.)

Future Scanbuy versions will do it paparazzi style, entering the digits automatically after you take a picture of the bar code with the phone's built-in camera.

Fortunately, this was only an impulse-buying drill. It's scary how many of us wake up, decide we're going to buy a plasma TV and walk into a store, uninformed and unwitting, clutching a credit card.

On this trip to a local Best Buy, Scanbuy Shopper was only as good as the available bar codes. It could not save an impulse buyer from paying too much for that plasma set because most electronics stores like Best Buy do not leave boxed, big-screen televisions (and their bar codes) on the showroom floor. They'll display one of each TV model, then leave the remaining, ready-to-buy sets in an adjacent storeroom.

To use Scanbuy Shopper, the customer must have access to a boxed item with the manufacturer's eight-digit bar code, also known as a Universal Product Code. Don't confuse the 20-digit store bar code for the Universal Product Code.

So I took the Nokia phone around the store to various smaller items with boxed, bar-coded stock available on the shelves, from a $500 home-theater speaker system to a $100 HDMI cable. Most times, Best Buy prices were competitive with online prices.

- A Samsung virtual-surround sound system with two speakers and a subwoofer cost $499.99 at Best Buy, but Scanbuy Shopper found a better price, $474.99, at Sears via Yahoo! Shopping. There happened to be a Sears at the other end of the shopping plaza, so if I were actually buying the system, I could have saved $25 with a short walk.

- A Sony DVD player that cost $68.99 at Best Buy showed up on Yahoo! Shopping at $59.99 from J&R Electronics in New York. But the search did not show the cost of shipping. When I checked later, it would cost $10 to deliver it to my house, wiping out the savings (and then some).

- A Toshiba 15-inch LCD television with a built-in DVD player that cost $499.99 at Best Buy, though, was substantially less ($380) at Butterfly Photo, an online merchant with which I'm unfamiliar. Even after shipping, which I later found would cost $39, it was still a better deal than Best Buy. But I'd want to know more about Butterfly Photo's reputation before placing an online order.

- Scanbuy Shopper also found a 6-foot HDMI cable from Monster Cable, $96.99 at Best Buy, for $81.81 on Amazon. Too bad it could not alert the consumer to the absurdity of paying so much, from any merchant, for a digital audio-video cable that typically connects an upconverting DVD player to an HDTV. A comparable 6-foot HDMI cable costs as little as $5 elsewhere (monoprice.com).

Scanbuy Shopper was a lot more fun at Target where, out of curiosity, I punched in the code for an eight-piece set of pots and pans from Kitchen Essentials by Calphalon. The Target price ($149.99) matched the best online price from Amazon, but Scanbuy Shopper also offered enough user comments ("not durable," "don't bother" and "non-stick coating wears off") to convince any shopper that this wasn't such a hot deal.

Other free software, like NextCode's Connexto (www.connexto.com) and NeoMedia's PaperClick (www.paperclick.com) also offers comparison prices. GPShopper (www.gpshopper.com) and its Slifter (www.slifter.com) technology even maintains a shopping list on a cell phone, updating with local and online prices.

Any of these might help the impulse buyer, but there's no substitute for old-fashioned research when buying a big-ticket item. Know what you want, what it does and compare prices before going to the store. Use the Scanbuy Shopper as a consultant, not your guide.

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Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

home theater speaker: Klipsch speakers get iPod in the iGroove

2006-09-08T00:36:00.000-07:00

BY KEVIN HUNT
Hartford Courant

The Klipsch family has been making loudspeakers for 60 years, but they're just getting the hang of all this iPod business.

The basic get-rich-quick iPod plan goes like this:

Design a docking station/speaker system; call it iWhateveryouwant (the prefix, however, must be lowercase, just like the iPod); color it basic iPod white or black; and elevate the price to iPod territory, $250 to $350.

Late last year, Klipsch waded into the iPod market with the iGroove speaker system and got two parts of the formula right. It aced the lowercase-i part and hit the sweet spot in pricing, $280. But the silver iGroove, though a match for popular "lifestyle" home-theater speaker systems, clearly violated the iPod code.

Now, Klipsch returns with the new iGroove HG in shiny Darth Vader black — it's HG, as in high gloss — with a new price ($250) that puts it distinctly below Apple's own iPod Hi-Fi ($349) and the Bose SoundDock ($299).

However it's dressed, named or priced, the iGroove gets the business that matters most — sound — dead right. That should have been expected from the company that popularized horn-loaded speakers. The horn (an alternative to the conventional tweeter, which reproduces high-frequency signals in a loudspeaker) works much like a megaphone. You know how wide, and how loud, a voice sounds through a megaphone? That's the Klipsch horn principle.

For the iGroove, Klipsch (www. klipsch.com) uses a hybrid design it calls MicroTractrix, horn-loaded tweeters that position a traditional 1-inch dome tweeter at the short end of a megaphone-shaped horn. Klipsch mounted one of these tweeters above a 2.5-inch midbass driver on each side of the iGroove. In the middle, the iPod dock sits like a throne for your favorite digital music player.

The iGroove, only 16 inches wide, is gently arced and tilted back slightly, which angles sound up and outward into a room. Combined with the horns, which broaden the soundstage, the iGroove plays much bigger than its size. It also plays surprisingly loud. A small port on the back releases energy produced by the midbass drivers, allowing the iGroove to play lower notes louder and slightly deeper with less distortion.

Klipsch includes adapters for the iPod Nano and iPod Mini. A separate contraption called a J-Cup snaps into the iGroove dock, then becomes a dock itself for non-iPod music players or, with an extension cable, other devices like a DVD player, TV or computer. It worked perfectly, for example, as a home for the Pioneer Inno, which combines an XM Satellite Radio with an iPod-style music player.

The iGroove has two volume controls and an on/off button. Those functions and additional controls for play and forward/back are also accessible with a too-tiny remote control that didn't always obey my commands.

The iGroove and my black Nano made a very handsome couple. It sounded extremely good, tapered obviously at both extremes of the sonic spectrum so it might play louder with less listener fatigue. It handled the driving jazz of guitarist John Scofield's "Works for Me," the unlikely Afro-Celtic fusion of Baka Beyond's "East to West," the authentically Celtic duo Pipeline's self-titled debut and anything else stocked on the Nano.

The iGroove is a serious, if diminutive, sound system that deserves some iPod action.

In addition, if you're paying 99 cents a pop tune, the digital music library sitting on your computer's hard drive soon becomes more valuable than the iPod it's feeding.

Your library needs a safe house like an external hard drive. Western Digital's My Book external hard drives store all of your music — they're available from 160 to 500 gigabytes —with dignity. My Book, in fact, looks like one. Sure, it's a little mechanical-looking, but the 500-gigabyte Premium Edition ($349) holds 125,000 songs stored as MP3 files or 12,000 songs as uncompressed, CD-quality files.

It also could be used to store high-definition video (up to 60 hours), digital photos (up to 142,000) or anything else digital worth saving. Information: www.westerndigital.com.

home theater speaker: Onkyo Releases New 1080p HDMI-Capable Home Theater Receivers

2006-09-06T02:27:00.000-07:00

By GSPR Press Release

Onkyo has introduced two mid-priced home theater receivers with features previously available only in much more expensive models. The Onkyo TX-SR674 and TX-SR604 are capable of integrating with the most recent advances in display and source technology, including HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Disc formats.

Both models feature advanced HDMI switching with built-in repeaters to allow the receivers to switch digital video up to 1080p while still processing digital audio signals through the same HDMI connection. The TX-SR604 is believed to be the least expensive AV receiver with this feature. Additionally the TX-SR674 also converts analog video signals to HDMI, allowing use of a single cable for modern digital video displays. Each receiver provides a full suite of 7.1-channel surround processing as well as 7.1 multichannel inputs to ensure compatibility with newly emerging formats, such as the HD and lossless audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio) that are part of the new HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disc technologies.

These receivers also include the highly regarded Audyssey 2EQ system for automatic acoustic calibration, making it simple to tailor performance to individual listening rooms. Each is XM satellite radio ready, and they are designed to integrate with Onkyo's iPod docking stations. Extensive multi-zone, multi-room connection options make these receivers ideal tools for custom AV Systems installers. The receivers' amplifiers employ Onkyo's classic wide range amplifier technology (WRAT) to provide the high power needed for demanding home theater speaker sound tracks.

"Home audio and video entertainment is changing at a dramatic pace right now, and the job of making all these technologies work together falls on the A/V receiver," comments Onkyo Marketing Manager Paul Wasek. "By implementing high end features like HDMI switching, video transcoding, automatic speaker calibration, and XM satellite radio tuning into our mid-priced models, Onkyo is giving consumers the control and performance they need without the sticker shock that cutting edge products often inflict on them."

Onkyo TX-SR604
Onkyo's TX-SR604 A/V receiver has switching for two HDMI source components and Audyssey 2EQ automatic room calibration to the already impressive list of features from the best-selling TX-SR603X model it replaces. The new model features 7 x 90 watts of power, analog component video upconversion with time base correction (TBC), and is currently available in black or silver finishes at a suggested retail price of $599.

Onkyo TX-SR674
Onkyo's TX-SR674 is a new model in the company's A/V receiver line that delivers 7x95 watts of power, and a comprehensive suite of audio and video switching capabilities that includes transcoding of all video source material to HDMI for single-cable connection to properly equipped HDTV displays. It is currently available in black or silver finishes at a suggested retail price of $799.

Last Updated: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 - 14:45:34
© 2005-2006 Big Picture Big Sound. No use or reprinting of content without permission.

home theater speaker: Logitech Redefines PC Speakers with Z-10 2.0 Speaker System

2006-09-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

By Daniel Lim

FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 28, 2006 -- Logitech introduced the Logitech Z-10 Interactive 2.0 Speaker System, the newest member of Logitech´s line of Advanced Peripherals, featuring a groundbreaking design that will change how people think about and use PC speakers. With built-in touch-sensitive controls and a backlighted display that shows digital-music track information, a clock, volume and more, these trophy speakers are meant to be touched and seen — in addition to filling a room with studio-quality sound.

“Until now, PC speakers have simply delivered sound,” said Jef Holove, Logitech´s vice president of product marketing for audio. “The Z-10 speakers aim to incite more of the senses — sight, touch and sound — with their media display, touch-sensitive controls and premium audio. And beyond that, these speakers are simply stunning, adding a level of design sophistication to their breakthrough digital music capabilities.”

The past few years have witnessed the explosion of digital music. The use of Internet radio has also spiked noticeably. According to a recent worldwide survey by analyst firm Parks Associates, 40 percent of online households play music files on their PC and 33 percent listen to Internet radio streams. The Z-10 speakers reflect the growing importance of the PC as a hub for digital music, and the accompanying value of superior speakers to complete the experience. The speaker satellites´ polished acrylic faces offer clean, minimalist facades accented by the digital display and each speaker´s two metal mesh grills. Perfect for use with either a desktop PC or notebook PC, the powerful speakers deliver rich audio without using a separate space-consuming subwoofer.

By putting touch-sensitive controls on the face of the Z-10 speakers, Logitech has eliminated the need for people to toggle between applications to control their music on their computer monitor. People can continue to work or surf the Web, or even turn their monitor off and use the integrated speaker controls to adjust volume, treble and bass, and navigate music tracks with play, pause, skip forward and back buttons — just as they would with a portable music player or a traditional stereo system. Using USB technology and sophisticated software, the speakers can display track information from popular media players, including iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, and Musicmatch®. The digital display also reveals a clock, volume levels and other system information from the PC.

The Logitech Z-10 speakers also have four Internet radio preset buttons located on the speakers´ touch sensitive panel. When touched, the convenient preset buttons let users quickly save and recall their favorite Internet radio stations and playlists.

With integrated 1-inch tweeters and 3-inch woofers on each satellite, the Logitech Z-10 speakers offer a full range of clear, rich audio with amazing bass for their compact size. The built-in amplifier splits the high and low frequencies — called bi-amplification — directing the high-range signals to the tweeters and the low-range signals to the woofers — an approach that´s typically used only in performance home-theater speakers.
Taking up minimal space — each satellite is 9.7-inches tall, 4.5-inches wide and 4.7-inches deep — the Z-10 speakers make an elegant addition to a desk, tabletop, or any other place where people might use a PC. A single USB cable provides both a digital audio signal and the information for the LCD, making it very easy to set up. The speakers also include a convenient headphone jack that enables private listening, and a 3.5 mm auxiliary input that can connect to MP3 players or other audio devices.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Z-10 Interactive 2.0 Speaker System will be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September. Its suggested retail price in the U.S. is $149.99. More information about the Z-10 speakers is available at the Advanced Peripherals section of Logitech´s Web site, www.logitech.com/advanced.

home theater speaker: Top Bookshelf Speakers for Under $100

2006-08-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

By Scott Kessman
Aug 11 2006 09:19AM

We all want to hear good quality, crystal-clear audio from our stereo systems, but we don't want to have to purchase giant speakers or spend a large sum of money. The good news is, unless you are extremely particular about your audio to the point of being an audio fanatic, you don't have to worry about size or pricing. You can find a good set of bookshelf speakers that produce great sounding audio but are compact enough to sit comfortably on a shelf, out of the way.

There are a number of good sets of bookshelf speakers for under $100, capable of delivering astounding audio at a minimal cost, and superbly powerful despite their smaller size. Bookshelf speakers are not intended to be the equivalent of a top-of-the-line, full-on audio experience that will leave you breathless, but they are capable of producing excellent sound, even at a rather small size and moderate cost. Perfect for dorm rooms, small apartments, offices, or for anyone who simply doesn't want to clutter their home with large speakers, bookshelf speakers are an ideal option.

Be sure to visit the websites of the following manufacturers for more precise technical details regarding the bookshelf speakers. Prices may be better at online stores rather than traditional retailers.

The Sony SS-MB350H Bookshelf Speakers manages to achieve excellent audio with its 3-way acoustic suspension speakers, which pack 120 watts of power. Clean and crisp, the audio also manages to convey a proper bass without sounding too booming or distorted, and the high and low frequencies of sound are accurately represented. Offering a full range of sound, the Sony Bookshelf Speakers are a little larger than most bookshelf speakers, but not too large to be subtly placed in the corners of a room if desired and still be out of the way and unobtrusive.

They also work great as an inexpensive alternative to a full set of surround sound speakers, or most notably as the rear pair of surround sound speakers. The three-way format helps to spread the sound evenly throughout the room, providing a very enjoyable listening experience. An additional subwoofer is also available for purchase.

Another great set are the POLK AUDIO R15 Bookshelf Loudspeakers. Capable of delivering home theatre performance at a fraction of the cost of a home theater speaker system, the high-quality of the Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers are ideal when paired with a subwoofer for the complete surround sound package.

Offering impressive wide frequencies with low distortion, the Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers fill the room with high performance audio, with sharp details and clear vocals.
The Polk Audio Bookshelf Speakers can be set on the floor or a shelf, or they come with a variety of hook-up options for mounting or hanging. Use them separately or add them to an already existing speaker system as an accompaniment.

The JBL Northridge E20 2-Way 5-Inch Bookshelf Speakers are impressively small, and deliver outstanding audio performance. Loud, clear, and absent of distortion, the JBL Bookshelf Speakers are the ultimate in compact quality audio, and is available in a number of finishes to better match the decor of your room, such as Black Ash, Beech, or Cherry. The exquisite craftsmanship coupled with a vast assortment of high-technology features combine to form a harmonious pairing of sound and function.

With the JBL E20 Bookshelf Speakers, you can easily afford that stunning JBL quality and design. Paired with a subwoofer or existing speakers, they will enhance your audio to the extreme, filling the room with sharp, clear sound, but as a separate set, the JBL speakers still do a fine job of bringing out the subtle tones of audio that would otherwise be lost on lesser speakers.

home theater speaker: A Genius Act: KYE-Tirupati Tie-Up

2006-08-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

EFY News Network

(Friday, July 14, 2006 2:19:05 PM)

Tirupati to distribute KYE’s Genius brand of products in India.

Friday, July 14, 2006: New Delhi: KYE Systems, a Taiwan-based IT and consumer electronics company, has inked a distribution relationship with Kolkata-based Tirupati Enterprises to expand its Genius brand of product lines in India. This is the second distribution engagement by KYE in India, after the one with Transtek Infoways.

In India, Tirupati will distribute KYE’s Genius range of products, which include MP3 players, speakers and headphones for digital audio, remote controls and home theater speaker system for home entertainment, webcams for Internet video calling, headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice, and keyboards. But KYE has made it clear that Tirupati will offer different products than what is being offered by Transtek, KYE’s existing partner in India, to ensure that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up.

"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing a wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand; however, the geography of the country is so vast, so is our product basket, that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut-throat competition," said Sandeep Ramani, country manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp.

Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises, said, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us.” Genius being one of the top three brands in key boards, mice etc., we will definitely try to put focus and increase their market share in India.”

KYE is targeting, at least, a 100-per cent growth over the next 9-12 months.

home theater speaker: LTB Audio Systems Promotes Low Cost Home Theater Sound System People Wear on Their Heads

2006-08-08T23:25:00.000-07:00

LTB Audio systems is promoting the world’s only true 5.1 wireless sound system that sits comfortably on a person's head. The LTB-WR-5.1 Wireless Headphone system is the only one of it’s kind to offer true, non-compressed digital wireless 5.1 surround sound audio in a comfortable, lightweight headset.

Teterboro, NJ (PRWEB) August 3, 2006 -- LTB Audio Systems, the leading manufacturer of true digital 5.1 headphone technology, is promoting true 5.1 wireless headphones for home theater speaker enthusiasts who don’t want to shell out big bucks for surround sound. Since their introduction this year, the Cinema 1 wireless 5.1 headphones have become very popular with movie and console gaming enthusiasts. LTB has been promoting its true 5.1 headphone technology through retailers that sell HDTV products from 26–50 inches. The Cinema 1 headphone system offers customers with minimal budgets the ability to take full advantage of 5.1 audio offered in today’s HDTV broadcasts.

“With LTB true 5.1 headphones you don’t need to focus speakers to a central point in a room, because you wear them, you can move about or sit anywhere and you can have private control over the volume as well,” said Jon Miller VP of Marketing for LTB.

The latest addition to the LTB 5.1 lineup, the Cinema 1 True 5.1 2.4GHz RF wireless is a unique example of combined audio technologies that have been overlooked by other audio manufacturers. As in other LTB 5.1 Headphone products, the Cinema 1 series sports six independently chambered emitters that are pre-balanced to offer true Dolby 5.1 Center, Left, Right, Rear and Sub channel separation. LTB also believes in safe headphone usage: its safebass™ technology represents a true effort to limit problems from extensive headphone use by limited bass levels below 90db.

LTB Audio Systems technology is widely recognized as the true leader in 5.1 headphone technology. While other manufacturers may offer multiple speaker headphones, none can claim the true fidelity of LTB patented ISC (Independent Sound Chamber) technology or the safe functionality of Safebass. LTB Audio Systems has provided Vivendi Universal Games with true 5.1 headphones to be used exclusively to demonstrate the latest PC Gaming titles at this year’s 2006 E3 Expo in Los Angeles. LTB offers several wired 5.1 headphone systems that meet a variety of applications. LTB will release a new series for computer users based on their current Platinum pro series early this fall called Magnum 5.1. LTB True 5.1 Digital headphones are available from a variety of on-line vendors like
Radioshack.com, staples.com, techdepot.com, skymall.com, smarthome.com, buy.com, qvc.com, hsn.com and more.

About LTB Audio Systems
LTB, which stands for Listen To Believe, represents a product line focused on providing leading-edge audio and multimedia headphones designed to meet the optimal demands of the latest digital media in games and movies as well as music and hi-def audio. LTB controls various key technology patents that have made them an upcoming leading manufacturer of true surround sound technology products. For more information visit LTB at www.ltbaudio.com.

home theater speaker: Genius appoints Tirupati Enterprises as its second disty

2006-08-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

Genius spreads its wings to capture indian marketplace

New Delhi, New Delhi, India, 2006-07-14 (IndiaPRwire.com) -- Taiwan based Genius, one of the leading IT and Consumer Electronics brand across the globe, extends its distribution relationship with Kolkata based Tirupati Enterprises. This is their second distribution engagement in India as the first one is with Transtek Infoways.

"No doubt Transtek Infoways is doing wonderful job for Genius in India and we appreciate their efforts in building up the brand-GENIUS, however, the geography of country is so vast so is our Product Basket that it requires one more partner to tap the entire potential in the cut throat competition," says Mr. Sandeep Ramani, Country Manager, KYE Systems (India) Corp., and both the distributors would surely work in synergy with each other to achieve the company's objective.

Mr. Abhishek Kejriwal, GM, Tirupati Enterprises says, "We are excited about our tie-up with Genius as it is a new line of business for us". Genius being the top three brands in KeyBoards, Mice etc, we will definitely try to put focus and increase the market share in India.

Genius products basket comprises wide variety of products including MP3 players, Speakers and Headphones for digital audio, Remote Controls and Home Theater Speaker system for home entertainment, Webcams for Internet video calling, Headset for mobile phone, Internet talking, gaming and laser mice and keyboards to name a few.

Mr. Ramani further added, "Genius has a huge family of products with several variations, hence we require more partners to help us expand our reach with different products other than what is offered by Transtek. Tirupati will be offering different products than what is being offered by Transtek to the market thus ensuring that no conflict of product arises due to the new distribution tie-up, and we believe that multiple partners will only compliment each other and in turn, it would help everybody grow at a much faster pace. We are targeting to become a significant player in the Indian marketplace and we are looking for at least 100% growth in next 9-12 months period".

About Genius: Genius is the brand name of KYE Systems, a US$ 353 million Taiwan, Taipei based company. In 1985, KYE launched the brand Genius, which stands for technology and trust. Headquartered in Taiwan Taipei, KYE has three manufacturing units at Dongguan, China and the fourth plant is under construction, which emphasizes in the manufacturing of products with excellent Industrial & Mechanical design, Environmental Protection Application & Lead-Free Technology Selection, and with a light, slim, short and small look. KYE has been awarded with ISO 9001 Quality systems certification in 1994 and ISO 14001 in 1996. It has been traded in Taiwan Stock exchange since 1997. KYE has received many an accolades from various quarters i.e. National Golden Award of Excellence, Good Design Award in Japan etc.

About Tirupati Enterprises: Tirupati Enterprises is a leading importer and distributor of computer parts and peripherals with channels spreading throughout the territory of India. Based in Kolkata, its partners are located in all major cities across the country. Tirupati's major product lines include Genius, MSI, Ge-cube Graphic Cards, Corsair Memory Products, etc.

About Alliance PR
Alliance PR is a leading PR firm that specialises in communications and networking with a nationwide geographical spread to offer its services across India.

For more information, Please contact:
Sanjeev Kant
Manager, Alliance PR
011-416 4699
kant@proalliancepr.com

You can also visit www.proalliancepr.com for more information.

home theater speaker: Horizontally or Vertically, KEF’s HTB2 Sub Is A Powerful Winner

2006-08-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

MARLBORO, NJ – July 25, 2006 – KEF, the British manufacturer of world-class home theater speakers, has added another award to its roster of accolades with the 2006 Electronic House “Product of the Year” Award. KEF was recognized for its unique HTB2 high-powered subwoofer, part of the dynamic KHT3000 Series 5.1 home cinema speaker system.

“We are truly honored to have received this recognition from Electronic House magazine,” said Alec Chanin, president of KEF America. “The HTB2 is a tremendously exciting product and continues our tradition of offering innovative, sophisticated, and décor-friendly solutions that deliver the 3D sound and stunning bass realism that are our trademarks.”

The HTB2 sports a radical new design that complements modern décor, and uses a 10-inch bass driver along with a 10-inch Auxiliary Bass Radiator. The ultra long-throw design and all-new 250 watt amplifier produce deep, defined bass with a tight response, and SmartBass ‘connect and go’ functionality means that set-up is quick and simple. The subwoofer also features an acoustically inert ABS-molded enclosure and its two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.

The HTB2 gives home theater enthusiasts complete placement flexibility. After careful research with consumers, KEF designed the HTB2 for either vertical or horizontal placement. This is achieved by simply removing the factory fitted base-foot (for vertical) and fixing the additional three feet to the rim of the driver (for horizontal). No matter how the sub is positioned, the control panel and connections are easily accessible.

The KEF Home Theatre 3000 Series builds on the huge success of the popular KHT2005.2 system, resulting in a 5.1 system that delivers the dialogue and sound effects of today’s digital soundtracks, as well as the streamlined looks design-conscious consumers demand. Currently available, the system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and the HTB2 subwoofer, retails at an MSRP of $1,500. To match a variety of home interiors, KEF offers the 3000 series in high-gloss silver or in a stunningly new high-gloss black finish. A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.

Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value. The winning products will be featured in the September issue of Electronic House and on www.electronichouse.com.

Talking Points:

- KEF’s HTB2 high-powered subwoofer wins Electronic House Magazine’s 2006 Product of the Year Award.
- The HTB2 sports a radical, ultra long-throw design featuring a 10” bass driver along with a 10” Auxiliary Bass Radiator.
- All-new 250 watt amplifier produces deep, defined bass with a tight response.
- Acoustically inert enclosure is shaped to eliminate internal standing waves for extreme bass realism.
- SmartBass™ ‘connect and go’ functionality makes setup a breeze.
- Two-position phase switch and three-position bass boost switch lets users easily adjust sound at any time.
- Complete placement flexibility allows for vertical or horizontal subwoofer placement depending on space requirements or taste.
- Part of KEF’s KHT3000 Series 5.1 home cinema speaker system comprised of 4 satellites, 1 center channel and HTB2 subwoofer. The complete system retails at an MSRP of $1,500.
- A la carté, the HTB2 retails at $799.
- Winning products were selected by Electronic House editors based on reviews released throughout the year, product demos, installer feedback, innovative features and overall value.

About KEF Audio

KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, is a UK based company that has earned a reputation as the premier manufacturer of stunning, audiophile-quality speakers for modern home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. KEF products which are distributed around the globe, have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with style, quality and technical innovation.

Founded in 1961 by a British electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke on the banks of the River Medway, KEF is driven by a passionate belief in the power of new materials, new technologies and design ingenuity. Still occupying the same riverbank site, KEF passionately remains true to its patented, proven technologies such as Uni-Q® and ACE®. These characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality, secure KEF's world-class reputation.

About KEF, Inc.

KEF, a division of GP Acoustics, offers loyal North American audiophiles a stream of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America shares the same guiding principles as its British counterpart: ground-breaking design, exceptional sound and an unshakeable commitment to excellence.

For additional information about KEF America and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com.

home theater speaker: Top 12 User Rated Home Theater Surround Sound Systems

2006-08-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

By Guy Wright
There are three main components to consider when building a home theater – a big screen TV, some content to watch (from a DVD player, VCR, cable, satellite, or broadcast source), and a surround sound system.

Not too long ago ‘Home Theater in a Box’ surround sound systems were notoriously poor quality, but in recent years these systems have improved dramatically. We scouted around and found an even dozen of the highest user rated home theater surround sound systems – rated by users who actually own them.

At the heart of any surround sound system is the receiver – sometimes it is a separate, stand-alone unit and sometimes the receiver is built into a DVD player. The receiver ‘decodes’ the specially encoded surround signals (Dolby, DTS, THX, etc.) into different channels, amplifies each of these channels, and sends them to the multiple surround speakers. Early surround systems had three speakers (left, right, and center) but today most surround systems have at least six speakers (left, right, center, two surround speakers, and a sub-woofer). Since many surround encoding schemes don’t actually have a discreet sub-woofer signal the receiver has to ‘synthesize’ the sub-woofer channel based on the other five signals which is why a six speaker surround sound system will have the designation 5.1 (the ‘dot one’ refers to the sub-woofer). These days there are 6.1 systems, 7.1 systems, and some with even more speakers (although you’d be hard pressed to find any content that is encoded for anything above 7.1).

Now you could go out and buy a surround sound receiver and cobble together an assortment of home stereo speakers from different manufacturers but the odds are you’d be disappointed with the results. That’s because it’s important for all the speakers in a surround sound setup to be ‘matched’ – in other words they should all have the same acoustic profiles. That is why manufactures started offering complete systems with receivers and sets of matched speakers.

home theater speaker: iGroove, My Book Clearly Speak To iPodders

2006-07-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

July 28, 2006

The Klipsch family has been making loudspeakers for 60 years, but they're just getting the hang of all this iPod business.

The basic get-rich-quick iPod plan goes like this:

Design a docking station/speaker system; call it i-Whateveryouwant (the prefix, however, must be lowercase, just like the iPod); color it basic iPod white or black; and elevate the price to iPod territory, $250 to $350.

Late last year, Klipsch waded into the iPod market with the iGroove speaker system and got two parts of the formula right. It aced the lowercase-i part and hit the sweet spot in pricing, $280. But the silver iGroove, though a match for popular "lifestyle" home-theater speaker systems, clearly violated the iPod code.

Now Klipsch returns with the new iGroove HG in shiny Darth Vader black - it's HG, as in high gloss - with a new price ($250) that puts it distinctly below Apple's own iPod Hi-Fi ($349) and the Bose SoundDock ($299).

However it's dressed, named or priced, the iGroove gets the business that matters most - sound - dead right. That should have been expected from the company that popularized horn-loaded speakers. The horn (an alternative to the conventional tweeter, which reproduces high-frequency signals in a loudspeaker) works much like a megaphone. You know how wide, and how loud, a voice sounds through a megaphone? That's the Klipsch horn principle.

For the iGroove, Klipsch (www.klipsch.com) uses a hybrid design it calls MicroTractrix, horn-loaded tweeters that position a traditional 1-inch dome tweeter at the short end of a megaphone-shaped horn. Klipsch mounted one of these tweeters above a 2.5-inch midbass driver on each side of the iGroove. In the middle, the iPod dock sits like a throne for your favorite digital music player.

The iGroove, only 16 inches wide, is gently arced and tilted back slightly, which angles sound up, and outward, into a room. Combined with the horns, which broadens the soundstage, the iGroove plays much bigger than its size. It also plays surprisingly loud. A small port on the back side releases energy produced by the midbass drivers, allowing the iGroove to play lower notes louder and slightly deeper with less distortion.

Klipsch includes adapters for the iPod Nano and iPod Mini. A separate contraption called a J-Cup snaps into the iGroove dock, then becomes a dock itself for non-iPod music players or, with an extension cable, other devices like a DVD player, TV or computer. It worked perfectly, for example, as a home for the Pioneer Inno, which combines an XM Satellite Radio with an iPod-style music player.

The iGroove has two volume controls and an on/off button. Those functions and additional controls for play and forward/back are also accessible with a too-tiny remote control that didn't always obey my commands.

The iGroove and my black Nano made a very handsome couple, but I almost gagged at the thought that here sat almost $500 in electronic equipment. Shouldn't that buy something more substantial - like surround-sound for a home theater?

But it sounded extremely good, tapered obviously at both extremes of the sonic spectrum so that it might player louder, with less listener fatigue. It handled the driving jazz of guitarist John Scofield's "Works for Me," the unlikely Afro-Celtic fusion of Baka Beyond's "East to West," the authentically Celtic duo Pipeline's self-titled debut and anything else stocked on the Nano.

The iGroove is a serious, if diminutive, sound system that deserves some iPod action.

What's so wrong about silver, anyway?

Song Book

If you're paying 99 cents a pop tune, the digital music library sitting on your computer's hard drive soon becomes more valuable than the iPod it's feeding.

Your library needs a safe house like an external hard drive. Western Digital's My Book external hard drives not only store all of your music - they're available from 160 to 500 gigabytes - but do it with dignity. My Book, in fact, looks like one. If the Xbox 360 were a reader, this might be the type of volume on its shelf. Sure, it's a little mechanical- looking, but the 500-gigabyte Premium Edition ($349) holds 125,000 songs stored as MP3 files or 12,000 songs as uncompressed, CD-quality files.

It also could be used to store high-definition video (up to 60 hours), digital photos (up to 142,000) or anything else digital worth saving. Information: www.westerndigital.com.

Kevin Hunt, The Courant's consumer electronics columnist, wrote this for the Chicago Tribune. He can be reached at hunt@courant.com.

E-mail: hunt@courant.com

home theater speaker: Apple Mac mini with Intel Core Duo Processor

2006-07-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

Chris Chiarella, July, 2006

The fruit takes root in the living room.

A while back, we Home Theater drones were all on Macs, and life was good. Then, one day, the powers that be told us that the bulk of us were switching to PC, and that was that. I had a few annoying differences to work through, but I eventually forgot my first real computer. And then the Mac mini showed up for review in its pretty white cardboard box, and it reminded me of the experience of bumping into a friend from the old neighborhood: familiar, sure, but with a lot of catching up to do.

Although the Mac mini has been around for more than a year, the big recent news has been the switch from Apple's own internal processors to Intel CPUs, either the 1.5-gigahertz Core Solo or the 1.66-GHz Core Duo—new handles for Intel's multitasking marvel, the dual-core processor. These two preconfigured versions of the mini offer "good" and "better" specs. I reviewed the latter. Both share an identical form factor, which is breathtakingly compact and has a metal perimeter topped by a goes-with-everything white plastic roof adorned with the Apple logo. The front edge features a slot for the SuperDrive, which can do almost everything with optical media, including burning to dual-layer DVD. Not surprisingly, power comes by way of an external brick in the AC cord, which you won't have to see once you tuck it behind other gear.

BYODKM
The sparsely bundled Mac mini supports the Apple philosophy of "BYODKM," or "Bring your own display, keyboard, and mouse." Fortunately, Apple also loaned me their optional wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse. I highly recommend both if you intend to make this a living-room computer, as I did for the past month. The mini also offers digital optical audio output—sort of—via a novel dual-use audio port. It mates with a standard analog stereo minijack or an optional third-party Belkin adapter (see sidebar), which passes the raw digital optical signal. The computer supports Dolby Digital passthrough but not DTS. There is also a small built-in mono speaker. The single dedicated video output is DVI, although Apple includes a VGA adapter. An adapter for both composite and S-video is available separately. The Mac mini is intrinsically a desktop computer, but its many hardware and software refinements also make it a definite candidate for the home theater.

After the initial setup—only a couple of minutes and some easy questions—future boots took only about 20 seconds. The mini automatically detected my 802.11g LAN and asked if I wanted to connect to this nonsecure network. It also integrates Bluetooth 2.0 for further wireless interoperability. I confirmed that there is indeed a fan inside. It's all but silent beneath typical room noise, a feat that most HTPCs can't seem to accomplish. I tend to leave computers powered on for long stretches, and I noticed that a tremendous amount of heat spews out of the mini's back vents.

From the factory, the Mac mini defaults to the screen-gorging Overscan mode. If you deselect this mode via the Preferences menus (then Display, then Options), the image size will reduce. Some TV remotes can help you center the resulting desktop, which is surrounded by black borders. The effective onboard calibration tools for the computer image include color-temperature tweaking to best match your specific display. For an ideal presentation, you should also try adjusting your display's video menus. I found that the picture looked best with my TV's noise reduction turned off—your mileage may vary.

The preloaded Front Row entertainment interface and OS X 10.4 Tiger operating system work together seamlessly to provide an exquisite user experience that gently transitions between more diverting and more serious tasks. Front Row plays selected videos in their own angled windows while you sort through titles, for example, and can then return to the Tiger desktop with a subtle dissolve and zoom. The appropriately tiny IR remote is reminiscent in size and styling of the iPod shuffle. It brings up the Front Row main menu, selects and plays video or music, and also navigates other applications like QuickTime Player and the DVD player. One touch starts or pauses a movie or song. You can also view and manipulate digital photos. After a few-second setup, the mini located the hundreds of JPEGs on my networked PC and could download them via Ethernet. It similarly acquired my much larger music collection, and the latest version of iTunes promptly digested it.

What's On?
DVDs play at a maximum resolution of 480p via the DVI output. They tend to take on an unpleasant digital look, though, with visible decompression that doesn't appear to be big-screen ready. What else, then, are you to watch? One glaring omission amid all of this happy minimalism is a TV tuner, and therefore any sort of integrated DVR functionality. Elgato offers the Plextor ConvertX PVR add-on as a software solution, but this approach thwarts the Mac mini's austere aesthetic. In my opinion, nothing should be visibly connected that's more conspicuous than the occasional visiting iPod. The Internet is a limitless repository of content, and Apple makes available a growing collection of clips—mostly movie trailers—in true high definition, all the way up to 1080p resolution. Note that you cannot permanently download QuickTime HD videos (you can only stream them) without the $30 QuickTime Pro upgrade. Although the mini's versatility as a high-definition source is extremely limited, its quality is outstanding, as on the squeaky-clean coming attractions for Disney/Pixar's Cars or the hypnotically realistic CG hairs on Fox's Ice Age: The Meltdown critters. The music visualizer's constantly changing graphics also look spectacular in HD.

The QuickTime player also supports MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and H.264 video formats, among others, and you can download additional media players with further video codecs from third parties. Of course, which videos you acquire in these formats, and where (and how) you acquire them, are your own business. Home movies and public-domain curiosities are all well and good, but, for tried-and-true Hollywood entertainment, video downloads via iTunes are an interesting alternative to cable/satellite video on demand. Most of Apple's current TV-series selections are comprehensive, presenting every episode for sale, updated weekly. The half-hour or full-hour installments can become pricey at $1.99 each, or in the vicinity of $30 or more for some Season Passes. If Mac minis in the living room catch on, perhaps iTunes will work out some less expensive rental deal. Video files downloaded at slower-than-real-time via a shared DSL line. By comparison, my primary PC can download a song in a few seconds or a music video in about a minute using the same Internet access.

On my 50-inch Samsung DLP, the old-school ink and paint of Disney's short Ferdinand the Bull shows so much compression, the background appears to be throbbing at times. More modern animation like South Park fares a little better, still with some artifacting in the textures. Meanwhile, a live-action show like The Office shows some mild blockiness on the edges of objects. All the downloads were certainly watchable, but the DVI/HDTV display was not flattering, due to the iTunes videos' one-fourth of NTSC resolution (320 by 240). I do wish there were more content options, legally and easily, perhaps even high-def shows that you could set to download overnight due to the large file size. That might just be the killer home theater application that the Mac mini is missing.

Highlights
• The diminutive Mac mini rethought: DVI, digital audio output, Front Row interface
• Plays DVDs, CDs, and more, plus it displays digital photos, all via remote control
• Internet connectivity accesses a universe of audio/video content

Article Continues: Belkin Flip for Mac mini

home theater speaker: Urban Outfitters opens in a suburban setting

2006-07-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

GREGORY J. GILLIGAN
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Jul 24, 2006

Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or ggilligan @timesdispatch.com
Dick Hayne opened a small shop in 1970 selling funky and eclectic clothes and household products. That shop on the University of Pennsylvania campus, called Free People, focused on items for the urban hipster. Hayne took that concept, changed the name to Urban Outfittersand built it into a growing chain. The retailer now operates more than 94 stores in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including its latest store that opened recently in the Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County.

"Our stores offer a unique and eclectic mix of fashion merchandise in a lifestyle-sensitive store environment," spokesman Kevin Lyons said.

Urban Outfitters focuses on young women's and men's apparel, accessories and footwear. The brands include 7 for all Mankind, Lacoste, and Diesel.

Some of the chain's t-shirts poke fun at various social stereotypes or prejudices.

Urban Outfitters also sells items for the young person's apartment, such as housewares, some furniture, books and gifts.

"Unlike many retail chains, we are only interested in catering to 18- to 26-year-old males and females," Lyons said.

Urban Outfitters Inc. has since created two other brands: Anthropologie, which targets women ages 30 to 45; and Free People, for women in their late 20s.

New products
Circuit City will start carrying higher-end audio/video components and high-definition televisions.

The new brands, two of which are being carried for the first time by Circuit City, are part of the chain's effort to enhance its home entertainment section.

The brands are:

Boston Acoustics, which makes speakers and audio products. The chain will carry its home speakers, home-theater speaker packages and tabletop radios.

Denon Electronics, a maker of home entertainment components. Circuit City will sell its stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc., which makes high-definition televisions.

New Ukrop's planned
Ukrop's Super Markets Inc. plans to open three new stores in the next 12 months:

In Williamsburg, at the Williamsburg Marketcenter on Mooretown Road near state Route 199. It will open in October and be the chain's second location in Williamsburg.

In Roanoke, in the planned Ivy Market shopping center. The store, the chain's first in Roanoke, should open early next year. It was slated to open this year.

"It is taking longer," said Robert S. Ukrop, the chain's president and chief executive officer. "It's a complicated site."

In western Henrico County on Nuckols Road near the Twin Hickory development. That would open in summer 2007.

No bus trip
The bus trip that Nordstrom had planned from Charlottesville and Fredericksburg to the chain's store at Short Pump Town Center never happened.

The reason: lack of interest.

Only four people signed up for the trips, which were planned for July 15 and July 22, store manager Megan Becker said.

Customers told her they wanted to come on their own schedule and in their own car.

Contact staff writer Gregory J. Gilligan at ggilligan@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6379.

home theater speaker: Circuit City Grabs D&M Brands

2006-07-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 7/17/2006

New York — D&M's Denon and Boston Acoustics brands are big winners in plans by Circuit City to expand its home entertainment areas.

The two brands will appear nationwide in Circuit City stores and on www.circuitcity.com for the first time beginning in late September in conjunction with the rollout of the chain's revamped home entertainment format, which is planned for more than 500 of the chain's 630 stores. In all stores, D&M's brands will replace two Harman brands — Harman Kardon and Infinity — that have been long-time stalwarts in Circuit City's home audio lineup.

Paul Bente, president of Harman Consumer Group's speaker division, said the Harman-Circuit City parting was “very much mutual.” Harman Kardon has been in Circuit City since 1986, and Infinity has been in since the early 1990s. “Business changes,” he said.

For Boston Acoustics, the Circuit account will complement the brand's strength in the custom installation channel and boost visibility among consumers, said Boston senior sales and marketing VP Phil Cohn. By opening Circuit, Boston will also make up for lost ground when Tweeter stopped selling Boston's speakers, but not tabletop radios, about a year ago. Circuit will be Boston's largest account by store count and will carry the brand's home speakers, home theater speaker packages, custom-install speakers and tabletop radios. Tweeter stopped selling Boston's car audio products in April, but Circuit didn't announce plans to pick up the car line.

For Denon, Circuit's launch of a derivative series of components and systems not available to A/V specialty and custom install dealers “will create more exposure for the brand as a premium brand for people buying advanced flat-panel TVs,” said Denon president Steve Baker.

The distribution coup potentially could propel Denon into the top dollar-share position in audio components, consisting of receivers, amplifiers, and tuners. Denon consistently ranks No. 1 in dollar share in the specialty A/V channel, but among all distribution channels combined, Denon consistently trades places with Sony for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots behind top-ranked Yamaha, according to The NPD Group statistics.

Circuit will get Denon's derivative home theater series of components, consisting of five receivers from $299 to $1,099, three DVD players and changers from $169-$349, a stereo receiver and a carousel CD changer. Circuit will also get home theater in a box (HTiB) systems based on the derivative-series components.

The derivative-series components are also available to TV/appliance dealers and such chains as Fry's, Baker said. Denon's custom series, in contrast, is targeted to A/V specialty dealers, regional A/V chains including PRO Group members, and custom installers. A/V receivers in this series are priced from $329 to $7,000.

“Our intention is to support all of our dealers in the custom and specialty channel,” Baker added.

Interestingly enough, Denon and Boston Acoustics will continue to sell products through Circuit's rival Best Buy and through Best Buy's Magnolia Home Theater stores. Boston Acoustics sells its Recepter table radios through Best Buy stores and its speakers through Best Buy's Magnolia stores. Denon sells its derivative-series HTiBs through Best Buy and its installation-series components through Magnolia.

For its part, Circuit called the two brands “a perfect complement” to the chain's home entertainment expansion, described by senior executives as the largest store-remodeling effort in company history. The nationwide retrofits will feature plasma display walls, home theater vignettes and revamped audio demo rooms that are “fully integrated into the home theater experience” and allow for faster A-B comparisons of components. — Additional reporting by Alan Wolf

home theater speaker: Circuit City to Offer Denon and Boston Acoustics Products

2006-07-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

Monday July 10, 8:45 am ET

RICHMOND, Va., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Circuit City Stores, Inc., a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, today announced plans to introduce audio and video component product lines from Denon Electronics and Boston Acoustics, Inc. at http://www.circuitcity.com and Circuit City stores nationwide starting in late September 2006.

"As part of Circuit City's improved home entertainment offering, we are excited to add Denon and Boston Acoustics' premium brand products in our stores and on circuitcity.com," said Randy Wick, senior vice president, general merchandise manager of consumer electronics at Circuit City Stores, Inc. "We are always evaluating our product assortment to ensure we offer top- of-the-line merchandise to our customers. The premium position that Denon and Boston Acoustics occupy in the industry will be a perfect complement to our innovative home entertainment expansion, which we plan to rollout in 500-plus stores by the end of this year."

Denon is one of the world's premier manufacturers of high-quality home entertainment components. Known for their reliability and performance, Denon's audio/video products are innovative, with the latest technologies and fine craftsmanship. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City include A/V receivers, stereo receivers, DVD players and home theater systems.

Boston Acoustics is a premier manufacturer of high-performance speakers and audio solutions, and is a renowned value leader in the audio industry. Boston Acoustics designs, manufactures, and markets audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems and after-market and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive systems. Products planned to be offered at Circuit City consist of home audio speakers, including in-wall and outdoor speakers, table radios and home theater speaker solutions.

"We are very enthusiastic about Circuit City's commitment to home entertainment merchandising with their store enhancements, as well as their renewed commitment to the component audio category. We are pleased to make our products available to their customers," said Bob Weissburg, president of sales and marketing at D&M Holdings, Inc., owner of the Denon and Boston Acoustics brands.

About Circuit City Stores, Inc.

Circuit City Stores, Inc. (NYSE: CC - News) is a leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics. The domestic segment operates through 630 Superstores and five other locations in 158 U.S. markets. The international segment operates through more than 950 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Circuit City also operates Web sites at http://www.circuitcity.com and at http://www.thesource.ca.

About Denon Electronics

Denon is a world leader in the manufacture of the highest quality home theater, audio and software products. Denon is recognized internationally for innovative and groundbreaking products and has a long history of technical innovations, including the development and first commercialization of PCM digital audio. Denon Electronics is owned by D&M Holdings, Inc.

About Boston Acoustics

Founded in 1979, Boston Acoustics, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets high performance audio systems for use in home music and audio-video systems, after-market and OEM automotive systems, and customer built-in audio systems. Highly regarded for creating The Boston Sound(TM), the company is renowned for delivering superior, competitively priced products emphasizing performance, consistency and value. For further information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.bostonacoustics.com.

About D&M Holdings, Inc.

D&M Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo: 6735 - News) is based in Tokyo and owns the Denon, Marantz, McIntosh Laboratory, Boston Acoustics, Snell, D&M Professional, ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands. Denon, Marantz, McIntosh and D&M Professional are global industry leaders in the specialist home theater, audio/video consumer electronics or professional audio markets, with a strong and long-standing heritage of manufacturing and marketing high-performance audio and video components. Boston Acoustics, with its signature Boston Sound(TM), is a leader in premium loudspeakers for home and audio markets. Snell is a super premium speaker brand. The ReplayTV, Rio and Escient brands represent award-winning technologies in digital home entertainment. Additional information is available at http://www.dm-holdings.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010709/CCLOGO )

home theater speaker: How to Place Home Theater Speakers

2006-07-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

You have your television and home theater receiver; you just bought your new speakers and subwoofer and are ready to test things out. It's time to break out the measuring tape because precision is vital to achieving the full potential of your home theate...

by M.Bulot

You have your television and home theater receiver; you just bought your new speakers and subwoofer and are ready to test things out. It's time to break out the measuring tape because precision is vital to achieving the full potential of your home theater system. For this article, we are going to focus on a 5.1 surround sound system. The term "5.1" refers to the number of speakers and subwoofers in the system respectively. So for a 5.1 surround sound system, there are five speakers (the center channel, the two front speakers, and the two rear speakers) and one subwoofer.
When placing your home theater speakers, try to use the same amount of speaker wire for each type of speaker. For example, use the same length of wire for each of the front speakers. This will allow the signal to reach each speaker in about the same instant. I say "about" because there are variations in the wire which could cause the signal to reach one speaker slightly (fractions of a fraction of a second) before the other. By making the two lengths equal, you ensure that this delay remains tiny and unnoticeable.

Center Channel
The center channel should always be placed either immediately above or immediately below the viewing screen. Make sure the speaker is pointed directly at the audience.

Front Speakers
The two front speakers should be the same distance from the audience as the center channel. Doing this will ensure that the sound will travel from each speaker to the audience in the same amount of time and reduce the chances of their being a noticeable delay between what takes place on screen to when you hear it. Each of the front speakers should also be positioned an equal distance from the TV on either side. This distance is dependant on your specific tastes; just make sure that the distances are both equal.

Rear Speakers
The rear speakers should be mounted on the walls on either side of the audience. Their purpose is to provide a sense of atmosphere, not provide the main sound for your home theater system. Therefore, they should not be pointed directly at the audience's ears or you risk over powering the center channel and the two front speakers. Again, distance is important. Try to have the rear speakers the same distance from the TV in order to use the same amount of speaker wire and if possible have them placed equidistance from the audience.

Subwoofer
Bass tones by their nature are more difficult to localize than the midrange and high notes of the other five speakers. This will give you more freedom as to where to place the subwoofer. However, the location surrounding the subwoofer can greatly influence the bass tones you hear. Placing the subwoofer in a corner or under a table will create a deeper resonating tone as the sound waves reflect off of the surfaces. The placement of the subwoofer is up to you, depending on the type of bass you want. Experiment with different locations and find the one that best suits your taste.

Realizing the full potential of your home theater speakers is not a difficult task. By following these guidelines, you will be ready to enjoy your home theater the way it was meant to be heard.

About the Author

Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.

This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.

Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com

home theater speaker: Panasonic’s Blu-Ray Disc Player to Become Available in September.

2006-07-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

Panasonic Uncovers Blu-Ray Plans in the U.S.

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 06/25/2006 | 11:58 PM ]

Major consumer electronics (CE) maker Panasonic has announced plans to release its first Blu-ray disc player long with new audio receiver and home theater speaker system in September. While the company is behind Samsung and Sony with the Blu-ray player debut, it will still remain among the first companies to offer the new tech in the U.S.

“The debut of our first Blu-ray Disc High Definition Home Theater solution, combined with Panasonic’s Plasma TVs, allows us to offer consumers the most advanced and complete integrated home theater solution available,” said Reid Sullivan, Vice President of Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company's Entertainment Group.

Panasonic Blu-ray disc (BD) player (DMP-BD10) will be able to playback CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, supporting, when necessary, up-conversion to 1080p resolution. In order to take advantage of the player, users will have to own a TV-set with HDMI input as well as appropriate HDMI-supporting speaker system. Panasonic did not unveil many details about the Blu-ray disc player.

Panasonic DMP-BD10 will cost $1299.95 in the U.S., which is about $300 more expensive compared to players from Samsung and Sony, but still $200 more affordable compared to the Blu-ray disc player from Pioneer.

The Osaka, Japan-based maker of consumer electronics will sell the DMP-BD10 separately, however, in conjunction to it, it would also make available matching receiver (SA-XR700) for $999 and speaker system (SB-TP1000) for $2999.95. Additionally, the firm said it would release a new 65” plasma display (TH-65PX600) with 1080p resolution in fall 2006. Panasonic is the first CE producer, which is to offer Blu-ray disc player along with the other products necessary for watching movies on BDs.

home theater speaker: Ethereal Home Theater Speaker Cable Delivers All the Sound –

2006-06-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

Posted by Denise Salvaggio on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 01:59 pm:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Denise Salvaggio
EVOK Advertising
1025 Greenwood Blvd. Suite 175
Lake Mary, FL 32746

407-302-4416 (p)
407-302-4417 (f)
denise@evokadvertising.com

HOLLY HILL, FLA., JUNE 26, 2006: Ethereal Home Theater’s EM series speaker cables deliver high-end performance at reasonable prices. The series features 14ga. high purity (99.99%) oxygen-free copper and a low-loss polyethylene dielectric that presents the cleanest possible signal path between the receiver and speakers. Cable termination is completed with gold-plated heavy duty pins, with the tip at a 40-degree angle for a more secure connection.

The color-coded high gloss metal terminations are protected by non-conductive black plastic molded overlay. As with all EM series products, an elegant black braided sleeve covers and protects the main body of the cable.

Available in 2, 3 and 4-meter lengths. MSRP: $41.99, $51.99 and $56.99, respectively. Phone: 866-839-9187. www.etherealhometheater.com

Based in Holly Hill, FL, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Metra (www.metraonline.com) is a leader in the auto sound industry as parent company of such consumer and professional installation brands as Axxess, Install Bay/FishMan, Raptor, Silencer and Tsunami, as well as the Ethereal (www.etherealhometheater.com) brand of home audio/video interconnects.

Home Theaters Give You an Escape From Reality

2006-06-27T21:24:00.000-07:00

There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater ...

by Heather Peters

There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to immerse yourself in total darkness before seeing a crystal clear studio logo pop onto the big screen while a blast of 5.1 digital surround sound overtakes your senses and rumbles beneath you. You are experiencing the rush of watching a movie in a theater. But not just any theater, it's your home theater speaker.

That's right. No one kicking the seat behind you, throwing candy at your head or talking on the phone during the best scenes; if they do you can kick them out yourself!

In many ways the home theater experience far surpasses the big screens of movie theater chains. Not only the annoyances listed previously, but there's also the factors of cost and convenience.

With the price of a movie ticket running somewhere around $10, plus the cost of snacks, you could easily afford your own home theater just by skipping those evenings out for a year or two. Depending on how expensive your tastes are possibly even sooner than that. And there's no need to wait for the 7 o'clock showing or stand in line; you can start, stop and schedule your movie showings whenever it's convenient for you.

As true home theater enthusiasts we'd been designing our perfect escape since before we bought our house. We were just looking for the perfect house to fit our dreams. We found it a few years ago and proceeded to design our dream theater with gusto. We had most of our cinema equipment (just needing a few finishing touches like the 5.1 digital surround and more monster cables) so we dug into planning everything from seating arrangement and style, to carpet color and decor, to the large hinged wall with secret escape route (doesn't every kid want one?)

By doing most of it ourselves we saved thousands of dollars but it also took about a year to "finish." Well, it's finished enough for us to enjoy, we are always working on the little touches here and there. Many people hire professionals to design and build their theater's, which saves a lot of time (but not always money.)

After a long hard day at work, or an evening of frustrating parenting, the need to escape reality can become overwhelming. Being able to drop ourselves into complete darkness and seclusion and then immerse ourselves in a full senses banquet of sights and sounds from Hollywood we can quickly forget our own headaches and get wrapped up in the big screen. Those two hours are sanity savers without ever needing to leave the house (or get candy thrown at our heads).

Learn more about the world of home theaters at http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com You can have your own theater experience without the theater headaches.

Copyright Heather Peters - http://home-theaters.diyhomeremodeling.com

home theater speaker: THX Introduces Certification Program for Integrated Home Theater Systems

2006-06-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 2006--THX Ltd., the leading provider of technologies, certification programs and quality assurance standards for the entertainment industry, today introduced the first THX specification for Integrated Home Theater Systems. This newest THX Certification Program focuses on overall system design and performance, rather than individual component performance. It addresses the consumer electronics industry's largest market segment, consumers seeking mid-priced, easy-to-use home theater receiver/speaker packages.

Through a joint collaboration with Onkyo, the first system to meet the design and performance standards set by THX is the Onkyo HT-S990THX, a 7.1-channel speaker/receiver system that is now available to consumers at an SRP of $1,099.

THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems are geared to small home theater environments and residential living rooms, a space currently filled by home theater-in-a-box (HTiB) products. During the design and certification process for the HT-S990THX, THX worked closely with Onkyo to evaluate how each component performed as an integrated unit or system. Because the HT-S990THX was developed and successfully tested by THX as a system, its components -- receiver, speakers and amplifier -- are optimized to work together to deliver a THX quality audio experience in an affordable "all-in-one" package.

"The THX Certified Integrated Home Theater specification provides CE manufacturers a means to bring more affordable, high quality audio to the masses," said Robert Hewitt, vice president of sales at THX. "For years, THX has defined quality and performance in high-end home entertainment. Now, with the THX Integrated System specification and the Onkyo HT-S990THX, we are introducing a new category of home theater systems, one that bridges the gap between lower-priced HTiB products and premium home theater systems."

The HT-S990THX offers home theater enthusiasts full-blown THX performance and meets all THX requirements for output, noise, cross talk and distortion. In addition, the system meets all THX electrical and infrastructure parameters for playing at THX reference levels, features Boundary Gain Control (BGC) to help adjust bass response in smaller rooms, and includes all of the THX listening modes -- THX Cinema2 Mode, THX Music Mode and THX Games Mode.

"The HT-S990THX demonstrates a true breakthrough in system design and performance," said Paul Wasek, marketing and product planning manager from Onkyo. "We worked closely with the THX engineering team for several years to develop a home theater system that was worthy of THX certification. This collaboration has resulted in a system that combines the convenience of an 'all-in-one' speaker and receiver package with the performance of higher priced separate home theater components. With the HT-S990THX, home theater shoppers are afforded a THX Certified system that really cranks, at a price tag that won't break the bank."

THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems will appeal to a wide range of home entertainment enthusiasts, from movie and music buffs to video gamers. The systems' price tags and performance features will attract consumers who have recently purchased a high definition television (HDTV), users of MP3 players who want to take their tunes beyond their headsets, and gamers looking to take advantage of multi-channel soundtracks on next-generation consoles.

For more information about the THX Certified Integrated Home Theater Systems, visit www.thx.com.

ABOUT THX LTD.

THX Ltd. is dedicated to developing new ways to make the creation, delivery and presentation of entertainment content more efficient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios, car audio systems and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certified status. For more information, visit www.thx.com.

THX and the THX Logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

home theater speaker: Onkyo Delivers World's First THX Certified Integrated Home Theater System

2006-06-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Posted by Gordon Sell Public Relations on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 05:04 pm:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For photographs and high resolution JPEG image files, please visit http://www.gspr.com/onkyo/hts990thx.html

UPPER SADDLE RIVER (6/19/06) -- Onkyo has introduced the HT-S990THX, the world's first home theater speaker package system to carry THX certification. Consisting of an XM-Ready 7.1-channel A/V receiver and complete 7.1-channel speaker package, the HT-S990THX combines the performance of much higher priced separate components with the convenience and affordability of an all-in-one system.

The HT-S990THX A/V receiver features a precise 32-bit DSP and is capable of decoding Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, and DTS 96/24. Additionally, it includes processing for Dolby Digital ProLogic IIx, DTS Neo:6, THX Cinema2, THX Music, and THX Games which enable it to derive convincing surround sound from any two- or five-channel audio source. All audio channels feature 192kHz/24-bit digital to analog converters for clear, detailed reproduction, and the receiver's amplifier modules feature Onkyo’s exclusive WRAT (Wide Range Amplifier Technology) for outstanding reproduction of even the most demanding audio sources.

For ease of integration, the receiver has a wide range of connectivity options, including HD-capable component video switching for up to three high definition A/V source components such as HDTV tuner, DVD player, and gaming console. There are also three composite/S-Video inputs and two outputs, as well as four assignable digital audio inputs. Additionally, the HT-S990THX boasts Onkyo’s exclusive RI control system, enabling command of numerous components through a single remote and allowing for use with the company’s DS-A1 iPod dock.

In addition to a built-in AM/FM tuner, the receiver also features a rear panel XM Connect and Play port, allowing users to connect a portable XM Passport portable antenna and receive their XM Satellite Radio subscription directly through the home theater. The HT-S990THX even includes integrated Neural Surround processing, making it compatible with the service's XM HD Surround programming for 5.1-channel surround sound radio broadcasts.

The HT-S990THX’s powerful receiver is accompanied by an impressive speaker package that has been designed with ease of installation in mind. It features a set of seven two-way speakers that are perfectly tonally matched to each other. The front and center channel speakers each include a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter and dual 5-inch woofers constructed from Onkyo's acclaimed A-OMF (Onkyo Micro Fiber) cones. The front and center channels are also magnetically shielded to prevent interference with video reproduction when placed near a TV. Side and rear surround speakers all feature 5-1/8 inch a-OMF woofers and the same tweeter found in the front channels to deliver a seamless 360-degree soundstage. Deep bass reproduction is handled by a powerful 12-inch subwoofer with integrated 230-Watt power amplification module. The Onkyo HT-S990THX home theater system is currently available with a suggested retail price of $1099.

Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese "On" meaning 'sound' and "Kyo" meaning 'harmony,' has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit www.onkyousa.com or call 800-229-1687.

# # #

home theater speaker: Surround Your Head With Sound

2006-06-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

Mike Kobrin - PC Magazine

June 16

Stereo audio is nice, but 5.1-channel audio provides a much more immersive experience for movies and even certain kinds of music. So how can you get that surround-sound effect late at night while the kids are sleeping or when you're on a red-eye flight across the country? Why, 5.1-channel headphones of course!

"True" 5.1-channel headphones actually have multiple speakers in each earcup, with the intention of emulating the front, rear surround, center, and subwoofer channels of a home theater speaker setup. Surround sound with headphones is not as convincing as it is with actual speakers located in front and behind you, but it provide much better experience for movies than standard stereo headphones. Most of the difference is in how the headphones handle bass; movies generally require more "rumble," which occurs in a very low frequency range. To get this effect, many surround headphones wind up being bass-heavy, making them less suitable for listening to music.

I have tested three different solutions—the FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones, Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA, and LTB WR-51 Cinema 1—for getting the most out of your DVDs without driving your family or neighbors nuts whether you're at home or on the go.

The FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones have three speakers in each earcup. The headphones plug into your PC's USB port, and you can use the included software to adjust the level of each speaker independently. The build quality is pretty cheap, though, and they're not the most comfortable headphones on the market. Still, they do provide a low-cost entry into the surround headphones space.

The Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA has four speakers in each earcup, with the subwoofer driver overlaid over the other three speakers. Interestingly, the low-frequency driver vibrates a bit to give you a bit more rumble for explosions in movies and games. They require a 5.1-channel sound card with discrete outputs for each channel, though Voyetra also makes a 5.1-channel USB adapter called the Audio Advantage Roadie for systems without a 5.1-channel sound card (check back soon for my review of that product). An inline controller gives you separate volume wheels for each audio channel. The best thing about these headphones is that they sound excellent even for regular music listening, and they're quite comfortable.

The LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 have three speakers in each earcup, but they distinguish themselves by being the world's first wireless 5.1-channel headphones. The headphones receive audio signals over the 2.4-GHz frequency band from a base station which you can plug into your PC or standalone DVD player via coaxial or optical digital cables. The headphones are very comfortable, and with a little tweaking of the equalizer on your PC or stereo system, these sound pretty good for regular music listening. But the wireless signal isn't particularly robust, so you'll get some dropouts if you move around too much.

Want to know what else distinguishes these headphones from one another. Then check them out on our comparison table.

Depending on your needs (not to mention your budget), one of these headphones could give you the surround sound you've been craving. Read on to find your best fit.

Reviewed in this story:

FID irock! 1051 Theater Surround Headphones ($39.99 direct)
These entry-level surround headphones plug into your PC's USB port.

Voyetra Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA ($99.95 direct)
These headphones require a 5.1- or 7.1-channel sound card, and they sound excellent for both movies and music.

LTB WR-51 Cinema 1 ($345 street
These wireless 5.1-channel headphones let you enjoy movies without being tethered.

Copyright © 2006 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

home theater speaker: New technology adds to video game play

2006-06-09T05:33:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Takiff
Knight Ridder
1/83/8

The Gizmo: While spiffy new systems from the "Big 3" of the video-game industry (Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) dominated reports from last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, there were plenty of other newsworthy unveilings at the Los Angeles trade show.

Environmental excitement

High-definition graphics and novel controllers that you wield like a sword or baseball bat aren't the only new ways to pull users deeper into a game. At E3, Philips unveiled a breakthrough called amBX to expand the game field and the player's sense of participation with light-, climate- and vibration-producing peripherals.

Coming first for PC play this fall, then for new-gen game systems in 2007, amBX will work with all games. But it will function most effectively with new games packing a proprietary coded "script."

Here's one scenario: When a lightning storm strikes on screen, amBX LED lights will flicker, transforming the whole room. Or, as you move across a desert landscape, color-shifting lights turn a brownish hue.

Put pedal to the metal in an auto-racing game and you'll really feel the wind in your face, the breeze blowing from small amBX fans.

If your vehicle crashes, you'll feel it in your hands and across the desktop, the impact reverberating through a wired, rumble-enabled amBX wrist pad.

Eight to 12 amBX-enabled games from four publishers will be available around the system's launch, starting with the global-adventure/puzzle-solving "Broken Sword IV" from Revolution Software and THQ.

A starter kit of amBX peripherals, including pairs of fans and LED lights (the latter neatly built into the tops of small desktop speakers), will cost in the $100 to $150 range from Philips' Peripherals and Accessories division. The rumble maker adds $20 to $30.

As the system is modular and linkable, many more devices can be easily added. For use with game consoles in a living room setting, Philips will offer larger lights to position around the space like a home theater speaker system, creating an enveloping game chamber. The peripheral array also is likely to include fast-response heaters and "active" furniture.

Noted game peripheral maker SpectraVideo PLC has likewise signed on to make amBX products under its Logic3 brand.

More from the floor

GestureTek's video gesture recognition technology will be deployed in the Xbox Live Vision camera for Xbox 360, Microsoft's answer to (and elaboration on) the Sony EyeToy.

Sony demonstrated a novel way to use its PSP portable system in tandem with the new PS3 game console. On an auto racing game, hold the PSP out to your side and it becomes a rear view mirror, showing who's creeping up behind you.

Nokia wants to make game playing a lot easier on mobile phones. A single button push on new N Series and S60 devices will take users instantly to Nokia's next-generation mobile gaming platform and N-Gage virtual arena, coming in 2007. (Current N-Gage owners will have to trade up to to play on the new system.)

Microsoft chief Bill Gates was also touting increased compatibility between the Xbox 360, the soon-to-come Windows Vista PC operating system and mobile phones. With any of those devices and a cross-platform "Gamer tag" ID, users will be able to communicate through the Xbox Live game network to send e-mail, chat or share content.

BestBuy.com used E3 to launch a line of pricey, custom gaming PCs from Velocity MicroPC.

Alienware and PCRides.com introduced a goofy line of PCs built into cases resembling a Dodge Magnum, Charger or Viper, plus limited-edition desktop and notebook PCs decorated with a big "Superman" logo, tied to the upcoming "Superman Returns" film.

Toshiba Satellite notebook computers (and soon, many other brands of PCs) will add a virtual gaming console, developed and managed by online game publisher WildTangent.

Five top-selling casual games will be built into the notebooks. Plus, the computer will link to a portal for fast and seamless download and installation of 3-D-quality games.

WildTangent also announced a new "currency" to pay for games on a per-session basis. "Wild Coins" are virtual tokens with a 25-cent retail value that consumer can earn, win or purchase to play downloadable games.

Ziff Davis Game Group has just launched the beta version of Gazerk.com, a search site to locate comprehensive game news, reviews, cheats, screenshots and more.

The broadband entertainment network GameTap hopes to keep subscribers coming back with its new "Sam & Max" game series, played in episodic, cliffhanger fashion like an old movie serial. Will this dynamic, dog and rabbit duo survive to fight crime again? Tune in and play next week!

home theater speaker: Transmit Clean Digital Audio with Digital Coaxial Cables

2006-06-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

In the world of digital audio, there are two types of cable to choose from; optical cables which use light to transmit signal and digital coaxial cable. These audio cables will enable your home theater system to transmit digital data between components. T...

by M.Bulot

In the world of digital audio, there are two types of cable to choose from; optical cables which use light to transmit signal and digital coaxial cable. These audio cables will enable your home theater system to transmit digital data between components. This will provide you with superior sound quality over typical RCA audio cables.

How Digital Coaxial Cable Works

Digital coaxial cables employ the same principles as other coaxial cables. The inner conducting layer is surrounded by an outer conductor as well as the rubbery insulating layer outside the cable. The digital signal is sent through the inner conductor as it travels between components. During the course of its transmission, the signal routinely comes in contact with the outer conductor. The outer conductive layer is created with materials that act as a reflector for the signal, thereby bouncing it back off of its surface. The signal will continue to reflect within the confines of inner conductor until it reaches the receiving component.

Dedicated to Digital Audio

Digital coaxial cable has only one purpose; to deliver digital audio between components. This is in complete contrast to RF coaxial cable which transmits both video and audio along the same path. As you may suspect, dedicating the entire bandwidth of the cable to sending only digital audio has excellent ramifications for your home theater's sound quality. This practice results in greater signal fidelity between the transmitting device and the receiving component. Greater signal fidelity means that the sound you hear from your home theater speakers will be truer to the way the sound was originally recorded.

Benefits of Digital Coaxial Cables

Digital coaxial cable also has another benefit related to its dedication to digital audio. In the manner that signal transmission usually takes place, the digital signal from the source, a DVD for example, is sent to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The signal is converted to analog and sent through the given cable where it reaches the receiving component on the other side. This component uses an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to reconstruct the digital signal as closely as possible. During this process, errors and variations can be introduced to the signal resulting in audible artifacts and distortions that diminish your home theater's sound quality.

Unlike with other audio cables, digital coaxial cable can transmit digital signals along its length without the need to convert to analog. Digital coaxial cable is capable of by-passing this process and delivers a cleaner signal to your home theater receiver.

Applications of Digital Coaxial Cables

Connections for digital coaxial cables can be found on everything from DVD players to home theater receivers. If it uses digital audio, then chances are there is a manufacturer who has made that component with digital coaxial cables in mind.

About the Author

Jon Martin is the Webmaster of the Home Theater Accessories Resource. The Home Theater Accessories Resource is your guide to home theater accessories.

This article came from the Connecting Home Theater Components section of the site.

Copyright M.Bulot - http://www.home-theater-accessories-resource.com

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home theater speaker: Speaker systems let iPod sound off

2006-05-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

By Justin Bachman
Associated Press

NEW YORK – In subways, at the gym and on sidewalks worldwide, millions of people seal themselves in an iPod cocoon.

No longer. Several recently released audio systems, including one from Apple Computer Inc., are now lifting the cloud of iPod isolation, making it easy to fill a room with sound that was once mostly limited to earbuds or headphones.

As a longtime audio geek, I auditioned the iPod Hi-Fi, Apple’s own entry for its market-leading portable music player, and two of its more competent rivals, the SoundDock from Bose Corp. and a new two-speaker system, the Audioengine 5.

A Bose versus Apple comparison was probably inevitable in this field, as the SoundDock has been around since October 2004, and Apple has just recently offered its own product. Audioengine, a California company with a history in the studio-monitor business, began shipping its system in January, less than two months before the Hi-Fi’s debut.

All three systems amplify the sound from their own power sources – and recharge iPod batteries. But the similarities fade there.

This is a fully competent trio, and each is priced reasonably for what it delivers. But all three are unique in what they aim to achieve and how they go about it.

Apple iPod Hi-Fi ($349)

Apple’s design team turned its sights to sound with a trim, compact box that packs a truly competent punch. The sealed, injected-plastic case has a sturdy finish, with two handles and an internal power supply that avoids the need for a clunky power adapter.

At 17 inches wide and just under 7 inches deep, the Hi-Fi won’t consume much space on a table, dresser or entertainment center.

It emits an almost exquisite sound – Apple executives say they sought to avoid processing it with digital signal circuitry. Don’t let its modest size fool you, this is a “boom” box that is sturdy and up to serious business.

The Hi-Fi houses three drivers – a woofer and two wide-range cones – along with two bass ports that help boost the system’s bass reproduction. There’s also a combo audio-optical digital input jack in the back, which allows for connections to other devices.

The only buttons are a volume touchpad on the top, near the dock.

The Hi-Fi dock doesn’t offer video output, so you won’t be able to port photos or video to a TV display – a decision sure to raise eyebrows for many spending nearly $700 for the box and latest, video-capable iPod.

The unit comes with a petite remote control that works well for volume, pause and skip functions, even at extreme angles from the box’s front. But you can’t switch playlists with it.

What truly sets the Hi-Fi apart is its ability to operate on six D batteries, making it a fine choice to haul to a family picnic, party or pool-side grill. That alone will make it the choice for many.

Apple says the batteries will run for five hours at regular to loud volumes, but I got more than six at regular listening levels.

The Hi-Fi sports a frequency response of 53 hertz to 16 kilohertz, compared to the Audioengine’s 60Hz-22kHz. (Bose won’t discuss its speaker performance stats, contending that mere numbers can’t describe its products.)

Ignore the lower numbers here – both do bass well. The critical differences in these very fine systems come at the highest end of the sound range. Apple clearly chose to nail the bass response, which most of us tend to emphasize on first listen. One suspects that in future iterations of the Hi-Fi – just as with the iPod itself – we’ll see modest revisions to the high frequencies.

Audioengine 5 ($349)

The Audioengine 5, which doesn’t have a dock or a remote control, is clearly the leader of the pack when it comes to producing a rich, full sound.

With dual speakers and the commensurate speaker wire, this is a home-based iPod system for discerning listeners, not the more portable docks offered by Apple and Bose.

Close your eyes and the Audioengine – an all-analog beast internally – will make you think those cymbals are right in your living room. The company has been building professional studio monitors for several years, and that lineage is immediately apparent.

Audioengine’s speakers come in a high-gloss white finish; the company plans a black version this summer. At 10 inches high and less than 8 inches deep, the square cubes provide a useful addition to the home-entertainment gear. I also paired them with a DVD player and was pleased with how they handled movie soundtracks.

Now to the Audioengine’s sole deficiency: The left speaker, peculiarly, has the charging port and audio jack on the top. Both seemingly could have gone in the back with the speaker cable mounts, auxiliary AC plug and second audio jack, which would have offered the system a cleaner look.

As it is now, you’ll have the audio and USB cables sprouting from the top.

Bose SoundDock ($299)

And then there was Amar Bose, the Massachusetts acoustical engineering wizard. I’ve listened to Bose home theater systems in showrooms for years, marveling at their enormous sound from such small speakers.

But make no mistake, it’s also a highly processed sound.

Bose deftly sidesteps this issue with the SoundDock. It’s a neutral, balanced and clean sound with none of the processed qualities you find in some other products.

The Bose SoundDock is the smallest of the three systems I tested, and it delivered a large sound with competent bass and tight high-end response with the tiniest footprint – no larger than a toaster. It’s an iPod player for a specific setting: an office, a bedroom or living quarters where space is at a premium. It does not work with first-generation iPods, however.

The SoundDock will not fill your house with soaring sound or rattle the neighbors’ poodle, if that’s what you’re after. But it will make a fine choice if you’re looking to liberate the audio on your iPod for the enjoyment of everyone in a room.

home theater speaker: Speakers placement suggestions

2006-05-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

One of my custumer want to renovate his TV room. He want to install a home theater speaker.

I already installed ceilling speaker in the kitchen, dinning room and the living room. He want in ceilling speaker in that room too. Look for the green circle near the foyer.

My question about rear surround speakers placement:

The room is about 10 by 18. On the room drowing, speakers are in light blue. Should I install on the wall speakers and at what height? Or in ceilling rear surround speakers?

My question about center speakers placement:

We will install an 40" LCD TV over the fireplace. At first i was planning to install the center speaker just over the fireplace, under the LCD. But my client want an LCD wall mount that can pan, tilt, swivel and have some Height adjustment. He want to be able to lower the LCD Panel when not using the fireplace to have a more natural Height.

I don't know if there are wall mount system that can do this? And if yes, when he will lower the panel, the front speaker will get behind the screen. I think that the speaker should be install with the LCD on the wall mount so that both the LCD and the center speaker move the same way.

Any products idea?

This post has been edited by Stef on May 29 2006, 10:03 AM

home theater speaker: Expert creates theater systems for the family

2006-05-25T00:48:00.000-07:00

By ABBY G. BRUNKS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 05/11/06

Home theater. Everybody has their own definition. It can be as simple as a big-screen television with a couple of recliners, or a 50-inch plasma television accompanied by a 5-foot-by-8-foot projection screen surrounded by stadium seating.

Doug Van Arsdale, owner of Custom Home Theater out of Sharpsburg, creates the latter.

Van Arsdale has a background in construction and a knack for electronics.

"I've always been into connecting things and fixing things," Van Arsdale said. "I figured why not integrate my love for electronics and stereo with construction, into a full-time gig."

Since starting the business in 2000, Van Arsdale and his team have created more than 1,000 home theater systems in the Atlanta area.

Some rooms are dedicated private cinemas, where most of the electronics — including the television, video, stereo, lights and even heating and air-conditioning — are controlled by one remote.

Besides installing home theater equipment, Van Arsdale's business also offers interior design, where a decorator helps clients select the best color for the room, seating, whether it be stadium style or a sectional sofa, lighting and construction.

Of course, this all comes at a price. Dedicated theater rooms can range from $12,000 to $100,000.

Peachtree City resident John Hautala hired Van Arsdale to create a combination media and theater room.

The installation included a 50-inch plasma television, drop down 5-foot-by-8-foot screen, plus a closet full of electronics with game equipment such as XBox and PlayStation.

Before work started, Hautala had a particular request.

"One of the earlier requirements was to have one remote that controls everything, from the television to the audio to the video to the lights in the room," Hautala said. "That way I knew my wife would be able to use it, too."

Hautala admits the system wasn't cheap but would rather not divulge the amount.

"Some might say I'm half-foolish for spending that kind of money and I'd agree with them," Hautala said. "But you just do it because you want to."

home theater speaker: InterVideo Home Theater Bundled with BenQ Joybooks for a Complete Mobile Digital Entertainment Experience

2006-05-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2006--InterVideo(R), Inc. (NASDAQ:IVII) announced today that BenQ, the leader in affordable notebook computers, is bundling InterVideo Home Theater(TM) with the new BenQ Joybooks as a part of the Q Media software suite. With InterVideo Home Theater, users can easily enjoy digital content, including video, photos and music, from anywhere.

"The BenQ Joybook provides users with the utmost in visual enjoyment," said Steve Ro, CEO and president of InterVideo. "InterVideo Home Theater software is the natural partner to deliver a complete mobile entertainment solution on the laptop."

InterVideo Home Theater is a multimedia software application that provides the full gamut of TV-watching tools, including support for DVB-T, DVB-S and ATSC digital signals. Users can also take advantage of time-shifting features with the ability to pause/rewind live TV and can enjoy support for EPG (electronic program guides).

On the radio side, users can listen to FM and digital audio broadcasts, and record in real time or according to a published schedule. They can also rip and categorize music, watch video files and photo slideshows, and playback DVDs. In addition, users can burn data, music or video to disc.

"InterVideo Home Theater software is the perfect choice for users who want to join the ever-growing group of people who like to enjoy their multimedia on the go," said Hank Horng, BenQ Associate Vice President. "Not so long ago, it was unthinkable to receive premium TV on a notebook computer, much less to record it and timeshift it as well. Our Joybook and InterVideo Home Theater make this as easy as switching on your TV."

The BenQ S73, 14" Joybooks, and S61, 12" Joybooks feature Intel(R) Centrino(R) Duo mobile technology and embedded European standard (DVB-T) digital TV reception, allowing users to watch TV programs anytime and anywhere. Aimed at mobile users who require premium-quality graphic display cards, widescreen displays and exceptional multimedia features, these two notebooks also have enhanced speaker placement and noise suppression to provide users with the best in mobile visual and audio performance.

InterVideo markets Home Theater to consumers and hardware OEMs. For more information, visit www.intervideo.com.

About BenQ Group

The BenQ Group is currently comprised of ten companies that operate independently while sharing resources and leveraging synergies among them. The BenQ Group companies include AU Optronics Corporation, the world's third largest manufacturer of LCD panels; Darfon Electronics Corporation; Daxon Technology Inc; Airoha Technology Corporation; Darly Venture Inc; BenQ Guru Software Co., Ltd; Philips BenQ Digital Storage; Cando Corporation, and BenQ Mobile. 2004 revenues for BenQ Group exceeded US$10.8 billion dollars.

BenQ Corporation consists of three main business groups -- Computing Products, Digital Media and Mobile Business. Although these business groups encompass a broad range of products, each retains a focus on providing consumer-oriented solutions designed especially for the digital lifestyle. 2004 revenues exceeded US$5.1 billion dollars. For more information, please visit our website at BenQ.com.

About InterVideo, Inc.

InterVideo is a leading provider of integrated digital and high-definition multimedia and audio/video content solutions in the PC, CE and wireless industries. The company's broad suite of integrated multimedia software products are designed to enhance the consumer's entertainment experience, whether the content is delivered to a home system, HDTV set, wireless system, mobile or personal multimedia device. InterVideo's unique iMobi(TM) multimedia codec technologies are widely used by Smartphones, GPS units and portable entertainment device OEMs and ODMs to enhance music and video enjoyment...anyplace, anytime. The firm's worldwide headquarters is at 46430 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA, 510-651-0888, InterVideo also has major offices in Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China and around the globe. For more information, visit www.intervideo.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the historical statements contained herein, the foregoing release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding InterVideo's Home Theater product. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially due to several factors, including but not limited to the ability to forecast customer behavior and recognize or respond to emerging trends, changing preferences or competitive factors, the market acceptance of our new products and product enhancements, the resolution of any notices of claims regarding alleged infringement of third parties' intellectual property rights, the ability to maintain or expand our relationship with PC OEMS and other risks and uncertainties. Please consult the various reports and documents filed by InterVideo with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to InterVideo's Form 10-Q for other risk factors that could cause actual results to differ. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and InterVideo disclaims any responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statement provided in this news release.

InterVideo is a registered trademark and InterVideo Home Theater is a trademark of InterVideo, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

home theater speaker : CHOPIN SA Super Audio Home Theater Speaker

2006-05-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

" A win-win solution for decorators & audiophiles. Delicate, uncolored sound, quick transient response ......
1. Superior craftsmanship. 2. Easy adaptable speakers placement to reproduce good audio. 3. Satisfying performance in both cinema & music audio reproduction. 4. Deep, firm bass even without a subwoofer........

Coherent continuity in soundstage, great wrap around effects.... " ( Prime AV 11/2001, issue 79 )

Chopin SA super audio home theater speakers ( stereo speakers) is specially designed for today's high fidelity multi channel requirement. The whole series is closely developed for the ultimate Super Audio CD (SACD) surround sound listening experience that can literally transport you into the performance itself!

All the Chopin speakers use identical drivers, providing flexible mix and match possibilities. Thus, they deliver each full range channel with equal quality, allowing the natural acoustics of the original recording environment to come through, creating a truly immersive audio experience for the listener.

Copyright (c) 2003-04 HOME THEATER 2U. COM., E Direct International, LLC. All rights reserved.

Home Theater Speaker: POLAR LIGHT Home Theater Speaker

2006-05-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

An Exquisite Slim Design with Big System Sounds

All drivers utilize a Neodymium Magnet, which can create a magnetic field that's 10 times stronger. The end result is a highly efficient but much more compact driver which greatly narrows the front panel size.
The Transmission Line speaker design can also provides a slim & tall appearance w/ extended base response.

Woofers are introduced in tower, bookshelf, and center channel speakers. Due to the non-directional nature of its low frequency, the side or top firing configuration will fit in the side panels of the slim cabinet perfectly. Since there is no lower frequency duty, our midrange driver has become even smaller.

The center channel reproduces 50% of an entire movie sound track and over 90% of the dialogue, but has often been purposely ignored by Satellite Speakers to make way for its mini-sized design. Polar Light center speakers use not only the same high-efficiency tweeters & midranges to ensure articulate & agile performance, but also includes a woofer to perform the extended bass response. All the Polar Light speakers use the exact same drivers in order to have a close timbrel match for the highest degree of sonic realism.

A space saving Band Pass Powered Subwoofer is added to ensure a true cinema experience, with extended frequency response and greater dynamic range. ( The woofer is fully encased within the cabinet; the air load is in the coupling cavity, not in the open air, so a much smaller cone is used to produce an even higher efficiency.)
Contemporary Looks with Classic Touches

Due to the use of a rigid titanium dome (tweeter) & a non-dust-cap cone (midrange) , the grill is no longer needed. This not only eliminates the possible diffraction cause by the frame, but also gives the speaker a more Hi-Tech look.

The champagne silver powder mirror-finish makes the speakers a perfect match to modern hometheater's metallic looks. It does so without yielding to "cold" metal or "cheap" plastic feels. The lavish dark red piano mirror-finish on the side attains a highly refined appearance that can only be found in the best classic wood furniture.

The piano mirror-finish reflects the color & environment of its surrounding, artfully blending the speakers into the your home decor. The elegantly tall, slim design is carefully balanced to enhance & compliment your home theater without distracting your attention from the screen.
Each speaker in the system is uniquely designed, timbre matched and seamlessly coordinated. The result is a smooth, powerful and spacious sound that belies the speakers' size. Thus, the Polar Light Home Theater Speakerss are only available in sets to ensure the most impressive sonic attribute.

Copyright (c) 2003-04 HOME THEATER 2U. COM., E Direct International, LLC. All rights reserved

Home theater Speaker: NATURE Home Theater Speaker

2006-05-18T22:45:00.000-07:00

" The entire range of speaker is surprisingly balanced & weighty, consisting of a deep, taut bass with open, silky, and richly detailed high- & mid-ranges. The resulting sound is smooth and provides the easy listening that can only be found in home theater speaker that cost at least twice as much .......
Great speaker adaptability to perform with various grades of equipment. Other attributes include: 1. Solid construction... 2. High end materials... 3. Diverse speaker upgrade options.......

It provides a natural timbre with adequate definition & transparency, as well as fearless beyond -the- speaker imaging that make it a thrilling experience to listen to an orchestral reproduction. The price for the Nature home theater speaker series is definitely unreasonably low ......." ( Audio Art 05/2001, issue 152 )

The Nature series home theater speaker ( stereo speaker) is our flagship high end home speaker system: reliable and versatile, it has been setting a new standard of performance in its price range. Whether it is being used for easy music listening or a true cinema experience, Nature home theater speaker can not only provide you sonic sensations but can also blend into your home decor and lifestyle 'naturally'.

Copyright (c) 2003-04 HOME THEATER 2U. COM., E Direct International, LLC. All rights reserved.

Home Theater Speaker: Ethereal Home Theater’s Frog Speaker Adds Great Sound and Whimsy to Outdoor Settings

2006-05-18T02:19:00.000-07:00

Posted by Denise Salvaggio on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 - 03:07 pm:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Denise Salvaggio
The EVOK Agency
407-302-4416 x 401 (phone)
407-302-4417 (fax)
denise@evokadvertising.com

HOLLY HILL, FLA., APRIL 17, 2006: Here’s a frog that can make more interesting sounds that just “ribbit.” In the garden or by the pool, Ethereal Home Theater’s frog speaker adds a touch of whimsy while delivering 75 watts of outstanding audio performance. Its 6.5" two-way speaker is built to withstand the elements to provide season after season of enjoyment. Sold individually. MSRP: $ 149.99. Phone: 866-839-9187. www.etherealhometheater.com

Based in Holly Hill, FL, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Metra (www.metraonline.com) is a leader in the auto sound industry as parent company of such consumer and professional installation brands as Axxess, Install Bay/FishMan, Raptor, Silencer and Tsunami, as well as the Ethereal (www.etherealhometheater.com) brand of home audio/video interconnects.

Home Theater Speaker: Rotel introduces two new Class D power amplifiers (11/5/2006)

2006-05-18T02:15:00.000-07:00

Rotel, well-known throughout the world as a manufacturer of affordable high-end components for music and home-theater audiovideo systems, has launched two new Class D power amplifiers, the RB-1091 and RB- 1092 both featuring ICEpower(R).

With the recently introduced RMB-1077, these two new switching-mode power-supply amplifier designs augment the Rotel Class D lineup to provide multiple power-amplifier options for the widest array of Home Theater and Hi Fi applications.

According to Mike Bartlett, Vice President and General Manager of Rotel of America, "Consumers today are looking for ways to put a large number of electronics into small spaces, especially in custom installations. When that occurs, heat becomes a problem. That's the beauty of Class D power amplifiers-you can achieve very high efficiency with lots of output power and very little heat."

Not all Class D amplifiers are alike. There are two categories: namely digitally controlled Class D and analog-controlled Class D. The former features a digitally generated control that switches a power stage. The latter amplifier design utilizes an analog input signal with a switching power supply. Rotel has taken this analog-controlled Class D design a step further with the implementation of two important technologies from ICEpower(R).

The first is Controlled Oscillation Modulation (COM). The COM circuit is analog throughout. A saw-tooth waveform modulates the analog input to generate the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal that drives the switching output stage. This architecture yields lower noise and distortion than would an otherwise equivalent design based on a digital modulator.

The second improvement is Multivariable Enhanced Cascade Control (MECC). This circuit encloses the output filter within a feedback path, resulting in very low output impedance (high damping factor) across the entire audio band. Not only is the amplifier clean and quiet, it also has flat frequency response no matter what sort of speaker impedance is hung across its output.

Rotel's new RB-1091 and RB-1092 switching Class D amplifiers incorporate both COM and MECC. A 500-watt mono amplifier is found in the RB-1091, and the RB-1092 is a 2 x 500 watt stereo amplifier. They can be configured in various ways to provide from one to seven channels, or more, of extremely high power with very little heat.

These intelligent designs feature high-power output capability with a minimum of chassis height and represent one of the very few real advances in power amplifiers since the invention of the solid-state transistor. Both the RB-1091 and RB-1092 have also been designed with custom installation in mind, and include 12-volt triggers, detachable IEC power cords, five-way binding posts, and Neutrik Speakon(R) connectors, a quik-lock connector used in professional audio systems.

Home Theater Speaker: Jonathan Takiff | New technology adds to game play

2006-05-18T02:13:00.000-07:00

THE GIZMO: While spiffy new systems from the "Big 3" of the video-game industry (Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) dominated reports from last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, there were plenty of other newsworthy unveilings at the Los Angeles trade show.

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCITEMENT: High-definition graphics and novel controllers that you wield like a sword or baseball bat aren't the only new ways to pull users deeper into a game. At E3, Philips unveiled a breakthrough called amBX - short for ambient experience technology - to expand the game field and the player's sense of participation with light-, climate- and vibration-producing peripherals.

Coming first for PC play this fall, then for new-gen game systems in 2007, amBX will work with all games, thanks to special, intuitive software. But it will function most effectively with new games packing a proprietary coded "script." Here's one scenario: When a lightning storm strikes on screen, amBX LED lights will flicker, transforming the whole room. Or, as you move across a game's desert landscape, color-shifting lights will turn a brownish hue.

Put pedal to the metal in an auto-racing game and you'll really feel the wind in your face, the breeze blowing from small amBX fans mounted on your desk.

If your vehicle crashes, you'll feel it in your hands and across the desktop, the impact reverberating through a wired, rumble-enabled amBX wrist pad.

Eight to 12 amBX-enabled games from four publishers will be available around the system's launch, starting with the global-adventure/puzzle-solving "Broken Sword IV" from Revolution Software and THQ.

A starter kit of amBX peripherals, including pairs of fans and LED lights (the latter neatly built into the tops of small desktop speakers), will cost in the $100 to $150 range from Philips' Peripherals and Accessories division. The rumble maker will add $20 to $30 to the tab.

As the system is modular and linkable, many more devices can be easily added. For use with game consoles in a living room setting, Philips will offer larger lights to position around the space like a home theater speaker system, creating an enveloping game chamber. The peripheral array also is likely to include fast-response heaters and "active" furniture.

Noted game peripheral maker SpectraVideo PLC has likewise signed on to make amBX products under its Logic3 brand.

MORE FROM THE FLOOR: GestureTek's video gesture recognition technology will be deployed in the Xbox Live Vision camera for Xbox 360, Microsoft's answer to (and elaboration on) the Sony EyeToy.

• Sony demonstrated a novel way to use its PSP portable system in tandem with the new PS3 game console. On an auto racing game, hold the PSP out to your side and it becomes a rear view mirror, showing who's creeping up behind you.

• Nokia wants to make game playing a lot easier on mobile phones. A single button push on new N Series and S60 devices will take users instantly to Nokia's next-generation mobile gaming platform and N-Gage virtual arena, coming in 2007. (Current N-Gage owners will have to trade up to a new device to play on the new system.)

• Microsoft chief Bill Gates was also touting increased compatibility between the Xbox 360, the soon-to-come Windows Vista PC operating system and mobile phones. With any of those devices and a cross-platform "Gamer tag" ID, users will be able to communicate through the Xbox Live game network to send e-mail, chat or share content.

• BestBuy.com used E3 to launch a line of pricey, custom gaming PCs from Velocity MicroPC.

• Alienware and PC Rides.com introduced a goofy line of PCs built into cases resembling a Dodge Magnum, Charger or Viper, plus limited-edition desktop and notebook PCs decorated with a big "Superman" logo, tied to the upcoming "Superman Returns" film.

• Toshiba Satellite notebook computers (and soon, many other brands of PCs) will add a virtual gaming console, developed and managed by online game publisher WildTangent.

Five top-selling casual games will be built into the notebooks. Plus, the computer will link (through any kind of connection) to a portal for fast and seamless download and installation of 3-D-quality games.

WildTangent also announced a new "currency" to pay for games on a per-session basis. "Wild Coins" are virtual tokens with a 25-cent retail value that consumer can earn, win or purchase (in increments of $4.99) to play downloadable games. No subscriptions necessary.

• Ziff Davis Game Group has just launched the beta version of Gazerk.com, a search site to locate comprehensive game news, reviews, cheats, screenshots and more.

• The broadband entertainment network GameTap hopes to keep subscribers coming back with its new and exclusive "Sam & Max" game series, played in episodic, cliffhanger fashion like an old movie serial. Will this dynamic, dog and rabbit duo survive to fight crime again? Tune in and play next week!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send e-mail to takiffj@phillynews.com.

Kangaroo Tail Soup with Potato Dumplings

2006-05-18T01:21:00.000-07:00

Non-marsupial nations, do not despair. David Bruguera-McLaren, chef de cuisine at The Melbourne Soup Kitchen in Australia, says we can substitute oxtails--and as far as I'm concerned, he's right. Oxtails are wonderful in this rich, deeply flavored and deeply satisfying cold-weather soup. Serve hot as a meal to 8-10 people, with crusty bread, salad, and red wine, while the cold wind beats against the door.
6 pounds of kangaroo tail (or oxtails), browned
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks with leaves, diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2½ cups dry red wine
½ cup port
½ bunch fresh thyme (or 2 Tablespoons dried, wrapped in silver foil and pierced with a fork))
2 parsley storks (roots)--or 1 medium parsnip
1½ cups tomato paste
5½ quarts beef stock
4 cups tomato puree
2 Tablespoons salt
2 Tablespoons pepper
Garnish: potato dumplings (Rice 3 potatoes, then stir in 1 egg, ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup flour--beat with a fork til fluffly. Roll into 1-inch balls. Drop in gently boiling salted water and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain and hold until ready to serve.)

Brown the meat in a 450-degree oven, turning over once.

Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, saute the onion, carrrot, celery, and garlic in the oil. Deglaze the pot with the port, add red wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomato paste and the parsley roots (or parsnip) tied together with the thyme. Reduce to a simmer and cook down to half.

Add the browned kangaroo tail (or oxtails) and coat thoroughly. Add the stock, tomato puree, salt, and pepper--bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 90 minutes. Strain completely, reserving the meat to add to the soup later, and refrigerate until you can scoop all the fat off the top easily and discard.

When getting ready to serve, prepare and cook the dumplings. Then discard the congealed fat on top of the soup, bring the soup to a boil, and add the meat to it (discarding the bones).

Ladle into bowls and spoon the dumplings into each. Serve out back with crusty bread, a big salad, and lots of red wine.

by David Bruguera-McLaren

Short Take: Motorola DC800

2006-05-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter may be the perfect accessory to bring the Bluetooth wireless world to your stereo system. The DC800 allows the streaming of music using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) bi-directionally. A compliant Bluetooth enabled music player can stream music through the stereo system and the stereo system can stream music to a set of compliant Bluetooth enabled headphones. But in the real world, how does it perform? Let's do a Short Take and see how well it works!

RCA JACKS
The Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter is designed to extend a stereo system's functionality by providing inbound and outbound wireless audio capability using the Bluetooth standard. The unit can be placed vertically (Figure 1) or horizontally. The front panel contains a small power switch and a large "M" button used to initiate pairing with Bluetooth A2DP compliant devices.

THE WEAKNESS
Unfortunately the inbound audio functionality has a major weakness. The pairing sequence requires a pass key. Therefore, it appears that in order to pair any audio device with the DC800, the device has to include a keyboard or other mechanism to enter this pass key. Without this ability, it seems impossible to pair an inbound device. Motorola seems to have designed this for Bluetooth enabled PCs, cell phones and PDAs which are A2DP compliant. The GlobalSat iWAG (BTA-809), attached to the iPod, we reviewed here did not pair successfully with the DC800
OVERALL IMPRESSION
At first glance the Motorola DC800 seems like the perfect device to Bluetooth enable your stereo system. However with today's skyrocketing sales of Apple iPod's, it is inconceivable that Motorola would have designed such a perfect device without taking into account the ability to pair with iPod accessories.

I contacted Motorola support and they explained the pairing process. Unfortunately they were unable to help any further since they had no experience with the iPod together with a GlobalSat BTA-809. The DC800 has two pairing modes: the first, when the Motorola DC800 powers up, allows compatible devices to initiate pairing with it. This discoverable mode requires the entry of a pass key on the device requesting the pairing. This is fine for cell phones, PDAs and PCs, but the iPod does not have a means of entering the pass key. The second mode allows the DC800 to initiate the pairing sequence via discovery. This mode does not require a pass key. I placed the Motorola DC800 in discovery mode and the GlobalSat BTA-809 in pairing mode (there is only one mode). They failed to pair.

The Motorola HT820 and GlobalSat BTA-809 pairing was successful. This leads me to believe that there is an issue with pairing inbound devices with the DC800. The inability to use this function diminishes the value of the DC800 greatly. Despite the excellent quality of the outbound audio with the HT820 headphones, I can only recommend a slightly above average rating for this product. Should Motorola resolve the inbound device pairing issue it would receive a 5 out 5.

Review by: Stephen Skarlatos,

10 Home Theatre Gifts for Mom

2006-05-11T00:59:00.000-07:00

This will serve as a personal reminder to me and the rest of the readers that Mother’s Day is merely two weeks away. It’s probably time to start thinking about gifts. Robert Silva with About Home Theatre has compiled a list of 10 good home theatre gifts that will make that momma jump with joy on May 14. Topping the list is a 32-inch LCD TV, but also included are DVD player/VCR combos, DVR’s and speakers. This list also caters to the weak pocketbook with a 13-inch Sony TV and basic Pioneer DVD player. Show your mom just how much you love her by giving her an excuse to spend time in the home theatre and not with the family.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/10-home-theatre-gifts-for-mom-170734.php

the women behind the book New Asian Cuisine

2006-05-08T01:55:00.000-07:00

New Asian Cuisine is the latest release to join the ever-growing list of cookbooks. However, what sets this book apart is that it is a compliation of recipes from over 100 celebrity chefs and "introduces the Asian version of the new USDA food pyramid." It's not only a cookbook, but also a handy reference guide to have in the kitchen.

Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa are the two forces behind this great book.

How did you come up with the concept for the book?
We are strong advocates for Asian cuisine, professionally and personally, and wanted to create a book to spark more interest in Asian food and beverages on all levels. Wendy and I have worked with chefs and the food and beverage industry through experience with our clients from our independent businesses.

When the new USDA Food Pyramid was introduced we discussed how it would be interesting to do an Asian version of this and that thought quickly snowballed into bringing on well known Asian Chefs as well as non-Asian chefs who have a love of Asian Food to participate in this effort by providing recipes of what we call "New Asian Cuisine". These recipes allow home cooks to prepare wonderful Asian food in the comforts of their own home when not dining out.

What was the most difficult/easiest part in putting it together?

We had the passion but we had never created a cookbook before. This was really a grassroots effort with the help of so many chefs and enthusiastic individuals that also shared our vision. The challenge was editing over 300 recipes and making sure that all content and measurements were consistent in style. Since most chefs cook in larger portions and we were trying to stay within the Asian Food Pyramid guidelines for most of our recipes, we had to modify the recipe and contacting chefs is no easy task! We had to contact and verify recipes with over 100 chefs both nationally and internationally! We also had to test these recipes at home to make sure the recipes worked.

Another huge undertaking was raising funds to produce the book. There were many challenges and barriers along the way and we continue to face these every day. The best part was the team effort that went into our book and how fast and efficiently we were able to work together. We were able to conceptualize,produce, raise funds, design, get the book printed and in major bookstores all within the year.

What do you hope readers get out of your book?

New Asian Cuisine is a book you can bring along when food shopping and traveling. It's not just meant for the kitchen. We want our readers to be inspired by our chefs and use their curiousity in trying new Asian ingredients.

New Asian Cuisine is also not a dieter's cookbook. The recipes adhere to the principles of the Eastern eating philosophy of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and moderation. We want to let our readers know that they also can create these wonderful Asian dishes in their own home and purchase Asian ingredients in their neighborhood. For this purpose, we have provided over 1400 Asian supermarkets, malls and online stores across the US on our website at www.newasiancuisine.com.

To differentiate ourselves from other cookbooks, we included a culinary passport to fabulous dining around the world to capture the readers' fine dining experiences at our chefs' restaurants. Also included is a restaurant directory of all of our participating chefs from around the globe.

Finally, we hope that our readers will be excited by the culinary contribution of the chefs that define a new way of thinking about Asian Cuisine.

What was the most interesting thing you learned?

The most interesting thing we learned during the creation of this book were from the personal stories from the chefs about the recipes they submitted. Many chose to send in their favorite home-style dishes that were from their childhood that reach deep into their cultural background. They also refashioned many traditional Asian dishes using Western culinary techniques and ingredients and always adding a heavy dose of creativity to turn out refined, innovative, contemporary plates.

Are either of you experts in the kitchen when it comes to Asian cooking?

We are both Asian food enthusiasts and absolutely passionate about this industry!

by Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa

Home Theater Speaker: Zoran Digital Audio Processor Now Shipping in Altec Lansing Speaker System; TV Set-Top Home Theater Speaker System Brings Dolby

2006-05-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq:ZRAN), a world leading provider of integrated circuits (ICs) and software for digital audio and video compression, today announced that Altec Lansing's new TV set-top Home Theater Surround System is now shipping with Zoran digital audio IC.

Enabled by Zoran's ZR38600 IC, Altec Lansing's new ADA105 is the first Dolby Digital Surround, TV set-top Home Theater speaker system, using Altec Lansing's patented side firing speaker technology. Through this technology, and the ZR38600, Zoran's third generation digital audio processor, the ADA105 streams true Dolby Digital and Pro-Logic(R) sound from DVD players, satellite receivers and VCRs to the listener.

The ADA 105 provides the movie theater sound experience from a single piece, setop speaker unit and a 40 watt subwoofer, at a mass market price. The additional speakers and connective wiring found in most home theaters systems are not necessary.

"The ADA-105 delivers unprecedented capabilities to consumers in a compact, affordable and easily installed package," said Tommy Freadman, Vice President of Engineering at Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. "We chose the Zoran ZR38600 IC for its top quality Dolby Digital decoding and its flexibility, enabling us to implement our patented side-firing technology and unique algorithms in a very cost effective manner. This has allowed us to deliver breakthrough performance to consumers at a truly compelling price."

"Zoran is pleased to have helped Altec Lansing bring consumers high quality Dolby Digital surround sound and state of the art features," said Paul Goldberg, Vice President of Audio Products at Zoran Corporation. "This is an excellent example of how the ZR38600 not only offers the performance and flexibility which allows our customers to differentiate their products, but also enables systems to reach mass markets at compelling price points."

About the ZR38600

The Zoran ZR38600 is a true third generation Digital Audio Processor. Developed by Zoran in conjunction with Dolby Laboratories, it is the ideal solution for a wide array of digital audio processing tasks. In addition to Dolby Digital, Pro Logic, and audio data stream identification, these include, Virtual Surround processing, sophisticated Sample Rate System[tm] music modes, THX(R) processing, and bass management.

Home Theater Speaker: Cambridge, Klipsch Vie for Top 5.1 Honors

2006-05-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

The home theater/PC collision is inevitable. For some, it has already happened, with serious home-brewed home theater PCs adorning entertainment centers. For others, it could be the addition of a 5.1 set of speakers to their PCs. As with two-channel offerings, PC-focused 5.1 speakers have been steadily improving, and less expensive home theater speaker setups can also do a lot to make PCs sound better. But whatever your motivation, you may have found yourself looking longingly at 5.1 wares from both Klipsch and Cambridge, and pondered, "They both look good, but which set will rock my world, and not just my wallet?" Well friends, we're here to answer that and other vexing questions.

We put Cambridge and Klipsch in a faceoff for 5.1 supremacy. Loyd and Dave gave both sets of speakers some serious ear time, and while both sets sang beautifully at times, there were some sour notes heard as well.

Even priced at $400 and $350 respectively, Klipsch and Cambridge both had to make some design compromises to fit speakers with this many drivers and the requisite power into these price-points. That said, both arrive with plenty of amplification as well as a solid overall fit and finish. And either one of these sets of speakers should come bundled with a "creative responses to eviction notices" pamphlet, since the subwoofers on both units can torture downstairs neighbors. So who will prevail in this war of watts? Is one set clearly superior to the other? Read on, and all will be revealed.

Our test system was equipped with a Sound Blaster Audigy. With the Cambridge speakers, we used Audigy's S/PDIF output and connected to the speakers' digital input. For the Klipsches, we used Audigy's six-channel analog output mode since the Klipsch speakers lack a digital input. We ran under Windows XP Pro, and used the full version of PowerDVD 4.0 XP, which can internally decode either Dolby Digital or DTS.

We tested the speakers connected to typical tower PCs, with the listener sitting in the near field. While it may have been more useful to have a quieter environment (particularly for music), the fact is that these speakers will mostly live around a PC system, with its associated fan and other noises.

by Loyd Case

Home Theater Speaker: Orb Audio is your source for the small speakers ranked #1 for big, full sound and great web direct value.

2006-05-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Orb Audio is your source for the small speakers ranked #1 for big, full sound and great web direct value.

Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are an award-winning combination of superb sound and small, attractive design. Our innovative direct business model allows us to manufacture our speakers with the highest quality audio components and expensive, handmade materials while keeping prices very reasonable. Toss aside any notions you may have previously formed equating price and quality -- they don't apply here. Orb speakers are every bit as good or better than competing systems that sell for more than double our prices. There is no doubt that it takes audiophile quality parts and design to achieve big sound from a compact package. What it doesn't take, though, is markups. So we spend your money on parts and labor, instead of multiple layers of sales channels. That means not only are our prices lower than competing systems, but our quality is higher as well. That's right, we spend more on your speakers and charge less than most of the other brands out there. It's as simple as that. By investing substantially more on the things that matter, our speaker systems deliver an unsurpassed full, rich sound and brilliant imaging that you normally expect from much larger speakers. If you want to shrink the size of your speakers without sacrificing sound quality, these are the speakers that will end your audio search. Great sound. Compact size. Good looks. An elusive combination of features finally captured in one great, expandable system.

Our home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are designed with our exclusive Mod1 and Mod2 satellites and our high-performance audiophile Super Eight custom subwoofer. The Mod1 features a single steel spherical enclosure, while the Mod2 consists of two such enclosures. Both the Mod1 and Mod2 are constructed with top of the line components, such as high-power neodymium magnets, gold-plated binding posts and oxygen-free internal wire, and are assembled in the United States by skilled craftspeople. Our high performance Super Eight subwoofer is designed with a high quality amplifier and a custom, long-throw driver to produce the deep, tight bass normally reserved for much larger subwoofers.

For those that are looking for a complete home theater solution, you can add your choice of highly regarded Pioneer home theater receivers and DVD players to any of our speaker systems. Everyone is curious when they see our speakers. Most are astonished when they hear them. Don't be fooled into paying $2,500 or more for those famous home theater systems when an Orb Audio system will sound and look better. Also beware of those $500 Home Theater In A Box (HTIB) systems that will be sure to disappoint you. Instead, invest in Orb Audio, the Small Speakers For Smart People.

We guarantee you will like them with our 30 Day Satisfaction Return Guarantee.* More importantly, we are a small company and you can enjoy the benefits of doing business directly with an employee-owned speaker manufacturer -- personalized quality service, honesty and a very well-made product. We are very happy to help you figure out which Orb system is best for you and can also help you construct a custom combination of Mod1 and Mod2 speakers to meet almost any need. Call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) or send us an email at support@orbaudio.com if you would like additional information or would like to discuss your specific requirements. We answer most emails within one hour. You can also see why we think our Direct Service Advantage means we have the best customer service and support in the industry by clicking here.

Read the recent press reviews and customer reviews of our systems and see why we were recently rated #1 over systems from B & W, Mission and Infinity by Wired Magazine and awarded the Editor's Choice Award by designtechnica.com, a leading technology website.

Many small speaker systems sound small, or are not up to the task of playing music as well as they play home theater soundtracks. Through our innovative business model and use of top-tier components, these are issues that you will not be concerned with. You can say goodbye to giant, ugly speaker cabinets for good, because you will not miss them. Orb Audio speaker systems sound as loud and full as much bigger speakers, and feature the superior imaging and soundstaging of our custom speaker drivers. So, set your expectations aside and let us blow your mind, not your budget. We like to think that we build our speakers the same way you would if you were a speaker designer. We do not compromise on design or quality, and you will hear and see the difference. Whether you are looking for entry-level home theater or are a high-end enthusiast, there is an Orb Audio speaker system that is right for you.

From the technical innovations of our speakers, to the high level of craftsmanship and labor devoted to our HOSS floor stands, and our Direct Service Advantage, the Orb Audio difference is clear. Each Orb Audio speaker system redefines the price/performance expectations in our industry, providing top quality audio performance with leading edge design. We think that you will find that Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems outperform many domestic and European designer systems that cost several thousand dollars or more. By selling our speaker systems directly to our clients, we are setting a new value standard as well as a new performance standard, so do not be fooled by our price. We design and sell only premium, high-performance speaker systems. The only thing not high-end about Orb is the price. On top of that, our speaker systems are also truly upgradeable, which is a feature that is unique to Orb Audio. This means that you cannot go wrong with Orb, since you can start small now (from $219) and grow into a system as your audio requirements or budget evolve in the future. We encourage you to follow the informational links throughout our website to learn how Orb Audio are delivering more performance and value than anyone else home theater speakers in the market. You may also call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) for more information, or reach us via email at support@orbaudio.com.

If you are interested in receiving news and offers from Orb Audio, please join our email list on the left. We will not overflow your inbox with nonsense -- expect no more than one or two emails per year, on average.

Home Theater Speaker: Ratoc Systems' REX-Link1 - The Pulse 2

2006-05-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

right arrow] Japan's clearly gone a bit wireless-mad recently. The REX-Link1 is a 2.4GHz digital wireless USB audio transmitter, working with almost all the new Windows operating systems and newer Macs. It transmits across a space of up to 10 meters. All you have to do is whack the little USB transmitter thingy into the slot in your computer, and it'll zing over the music goodness from said computer to the color-matched (ideal if your name is Santa Claus) receiver unit. The receiver unit, in turn, connects to whatever kit you want to use to output the audio: 5.1 home theater speaker setups (it's compatible with Dolby Digital 5.1), a combi system, whatever you set your sounds on.

More info: www.ratocsystems.com/info/news/2003/1107_2.html

COPYRIGHT 2004 Japan Inc. Communications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

home theater speaker: Sharp Introduces 45-inch, 1080p LCD Panel

2006-05-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS--Forget about 1080i (interlace) or even 720p (progressive). Sharp's LC-45G1U 45-inch LCD panel will offer an amazing 1920x1080p flat TV, scheduled to launch around the middle of 2004. Part of Sharp's Aquos line of LCD TVs, the LC-45G1U contains more than 2 million pixels in a package that can hang on a wall or mount on a highly compact stand.

The new Aquos unit will sport a digital cable-ready TV tuner, with HDTV decoding capabilities. 1080i and 720p images are scaled up to the native 1080p resolution with an internal scaler. The LCD panel will have a large array of inputs of all flavors, including DVI and HDMI connectors. Also built into the unit is a PC Card reader, which can be used as a memory card adapter for viewing digital photos or even play back video clips, if the PC Card contains enough memory (or rotating media). The Aquos supports MPEG-4 playback for video clips stored on the PC Card.

The Sharp HDTV uses 1-bit amplifier technology to drive a pair of flat speakers included with the package. The speakers can be mounted vertically, on either side, or underneath the frame. The speakers will be easily detachable for users who want to use an existing home theater speaker package.

Pricing has not yet been set, but the LC-45G1U will be the flagship of Sharp's liquid crystal TV product line. Additional G-series LCD TVs will be available in 26-, 32-, and 37-inch form factors, supporting lower resolutions, but are fully HDTV ready, widescreen products. All will have the built-in PC Card readers, HDMI support and contain digital cable-ready HDTV tuners.

For more, check out PCMag.com's 2004 CES Special Report

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.

Home Theater Speaker: Ultimate Electronics Makes It an 'Ultimate Christmas' for the Denver Boys & Girls Clubs; Consumer Electronics Retailer Donates $

2006-05-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

THORNTON, Colo. -- Ultimate Electronics, the leader in home and car entertainment, announces that a $20,000 donation of product has been made to the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver on behalf of the company. The donation, which was delivered on Wednesday, December 21st, includes DVD players, digital video cameras, headphones, front projectors, a surround sound home audio system, LCD projectors, digital cameras, 5-channel home theater speaker systems, a VCR, and a plasma screen TV. These products will be used at the six Metro Club locations as well as its Training Center. In addition, Ultimate Electronics employees donated 100 gifts to the children of the Boys and Girls Club.

"Ultimate Electronics has been a part of the Colorado community for nearly four decades," said Randall Baumberger, president and COO of Ultimate Electronics. "The work that the Boys & Girls Club does here in Denver is absolutely indispensable and we hope that this donation helps them to keep on inspiring the community's young people."

"At the Boys & Girls Club, we do our best to give young people options and inspire them to pursue their dreams," said Kathy Luna, VP of Development for the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver. "Ultimate Electronics' donations give us valuable resources to continue that work and to make this Christmas a little brighter for the children at our clubs."

About Ultimate Electronics

Ultimate Electronics, a private consumer electronics company, is the leader in home and car entertainment. Based in Colorado for 37 years, the company has 32 superstores in nine states, including Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Ultimate Electronics provides the industry's most comprehensive selection of name brand consumer electronics with an emphasis on limited distribution, mid-to-upscale brands. With the industry's leading 60-day price and service guarantee, consumers take home peace of mind with every new purchase -- absolute satisfaction and assurance that customers never pay more is guaranteed. Superstores are complete with multiple home theater and audio demonstration rooms as well as service-driven sales consultants that are knowledgeable and passionate about consumer electronics. To learn more visit www.ultimateelectronics.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

Home Theater Speakers

2006-05-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

Home theaters are getting to be extremely popular in American homes. This modern technology is slowly giving movie theaters a run for their money. Basic knowledge of home theater system and its basic components may be best for people who want to stay home for relaxation and entertainment.

The most important consideration in the design and complete set up of your home theater is the size of the room. The home theater speakers and the other components of your home theater may need to consider the size of the room. Too small rooms for your home theater may not require so many speakers. Only three speakers may be good if the room is quite small. Do not overload your small room; you may not be able to get the entertainment and relation you want if you feel overloaded with so many home theater speakers. Because you only need three home theater speakers in your small room, you may need to acquire the high-end brand of home theater speakers to compliment the size of the room and the other equipments for your home theater.

If you have a bigger room however, the basic three home theater speakers may not be enough. You may need to put up to six speakers around the room, you may also consider complimenting your home theater speakers with subwoofer to complete the surround sound like in movie theaters. In addition to the speakers, you may also need to purchase a high-end television set which should not be smaller than 27 inches. It may not be reasonable if you buy a smaller television set because it may drown in the fineness of your home theater speakers. Additionally, the DVD player needs to be of high quality, having progressive scan your DVD Player may help provide sharp images and flicker-free pictures for your home theater system. The home theater speakers, television and DVD player are the basic components of a home theater system especially if the room is quite small. However, for bigger room, adding home theater furniture and home theater projectors may be necessary to complete the package. Again, it may be worth it, if your home theater speakers are of high quality. This is because of the need to provide a surround sound for the home theater set up. The DVD player and the television set may answer for the requirement of sight in a movie theater setup. Your home theater speaker needs to answer for the sound requirement, and if your home theater speaker is not of high quality brand, it may not be able to do the job for you.

In order for you to avoid making mistakes in your choice of home theater equipment including home theater speakers, and home theater furniture, you may require the services of a home theater designer. They will be able to provide the best recommendation that will ensure you will get the most out of your home theater system including topnotch home theater speakers. Additional home theater furniture may be necessary to complete the package and to dress up the whole room. Since they are the designers, they will be able to recommend the best for your home theater system set up. If you have a properly designed home theater, you will be the best entertainment possible.

Your home theater designer may take on the huge responsibility of choosing the most suitable home theater speaker to attain the best design for your home theater.

Bring home relaxation and entertainment right in your own living room. A home theater system can provide this to you and your family.

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A Low Cost Home Theater Speaker Review

2006-05-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

Since the surround sound speaker systems needed for a true home theater experience are made up of 6 speakers including the subwoofer, they can be a substantial part of the cost all by themselves. However, price is not always the governing factor in whether a speaker system is high quality or not. In fact, sometimes the best surprises come in inexpensive packages. Here is a home theater speaker review on the Athena technologies Micra 6 home theater speaker system:

One of the biggest challenges to home theater equipment buyers is in the installation of the the products that they buy, and the speaker system can be the most problematic of all since there are more wires that run farther distances than any other component in the surround sound setup. Happily, Athena makes the installation as painless as possible by providing the speaker wires in the box already, and a very clear wiring diagram that should be able to be used successfully by even the most technically challenged among us.

If you wish to mount your speaker setup to the wall or hang them from the ceiling they have already thought of that too and included handy swivel mounting brackets for that kind of job.

The system itself consists of satellite speakers that are small and stylish enough to blend in with almost any surroundings and yet capable of great sound in an average size room. Of course, if your listening area is in a very large room you may have trouble filling it up with sound, but that is to be expected at this low price level.

The 8 inch subwoofer is adequate and blends well with the other speakers in the system without overpowering them. All in all, the sound is very impressive from a speaker system that is so inexpensive.

The best part of this whole system is it's cost which is under $400 on some online sites. And considering how easy it is to spend thousands on a home theater surround sound speaker system, that figure is very easy on the pocketbook. So if you want to step up to a surround sound experience for your home theater system, but just can't afford the big bucks right now, consider this home theater speaker review of the Athena Micra 6 and see if it doesn't fir the bill.

Find out more about surround sound setup and surround sound installation by visiting our Home Theater website.

A Unique Movie Experience In Your Own Home Theater

2006-05-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

If you think you have nothing left to ask for, think again. Who cares if you just happen to have a top of the line CD player? Or what if you have a state of the art DVD player or a dvr. Even if you have a television with a screen that is made of plasma, these features basically mean very little unless you own a system that brings the magic of the theater right in your own home.

So how do you create, or at least re-create having a home theater in the comfort of your own houses?

Work with what you have

First things first, if you already have components in your home, try to see and check how best they could work with the other systems or instruments you may have. An effective home theater system must be able to connect various sources of video - such as VCR, DVD, DVR, cable - a television monitor, speakers (the best is about five to six sets of speakers) through a receiver.

There are also those that plug components relating to audio in the home theater system. Examples of this are the MP3s and CD players.

Check any and all your available space

Usually, a home theater system is best utilized if there is a room solely dedicated to the home theater experience. Try to check and see if there are any open spaces available in your house where a home theater would best fit and would best be had by all.

If you are considering of using your bedroom for the home theater, it is highly advisable that forty watts be used. Or try anywhere in between forty watts to eighty watts for a living room that is average in size. However, if you happen to have a much larger room, a receiver with eighty watts of capacity is best especially for rooms that have ceilings that are very high.

DTS or DDS that is the question

When you are considering purchasing a receiver, it is best that a DTS or DDS system be at a minimum. Usually, Digital Theater System and Dolby Digital are audio system formats that are not very compatible for a home theater system. Try to take a look at the DVDs you have in your collection; chances are most of these carry the DDS format.

The best audio format and clearly the number one choice for a totally home movie experience is THX. Simply, there is no need to say a lot more.

Do touch that remote

As much as possible, study the remote that comes with the home theater system receiver. Usually, this remote is a universal one. You may want to utilize all components of the system as much as you can and so familiarizing yourself with the remote control is an effective way to make your use of the home theater system fun and convenient in the long run.

Stop, look and listen

When shopping for a home theater speaker, listen very carefully to the speakers you are intent on purchasing. The ideal number of speakers for a home theater system is basically six. These make up the speakers at the center, on the left, on the right, and more importantly the subwoofer.

Usually the speaker in the center is vital because this is the speaker wherein most dialogues from a movie comes out of.

However, if the space you are considering of placing the speakers is of average size or small, there are systems in which a theater in a box is a lot perfect. This works well especially if you are a bit challenged in the technical side.

All in one

There is actually a type of system wherein the receiver, cable and speaker - and sometimes a DVD player - is all combined and is more easily set up than the other types of stand alone home theater equipments. Plus, such a system is also found to be quite inexpensive.

All in all, a home theater system is a great way to experience the magic of the movies as well as bond the family, have a unique time with friends, or make movie watching a special experience with children - even to those adults who still feel a child at heart.

Blake is the webmaster at http://www.hometheatorguide.com/ he has spent many years in the home entertainment business.

Dispatches from the fern frontier

2006-05-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

Just as Lewis and Clark are celebrated in the United States, so too, in Australia, are Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, leaders of the first European expedition to cross that island continent. In 1860, Burke and Wills, along with two other expedition members, John King and Charles Gray, made the entire journey from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria on the north coast. On the way back, however, through a combination of bad planning and bad luck, they ran out of food. Gray died, but the others turned to a wild resource that they had learned about from some Aborigines: the sporocarps--the hard, bean-like reproductive bodies of a small fern. The fern, Marsilea drummondii, called nardoo by the Aborigines, is more commonly known elsewhere as water clover because of its four leaflets. In a time of need, here, it seemed, was a fern friend indeed.

Burke and Wills prepared the sporocarps the most sensible way they knew how: they ground them into a powder, added a little water, and molded the mixture into small cakes. These they dried and baked in the hot ashes from their campfire. The food satisfied their hunger, but, mysteriously, they still became weaker with each passing day. In the end, Burke and Wills both died of malnutrition; King was rescued, but he suffered permanent nerve damage in both legs.

For many years, it was assumed that the sporocarps simply lacked food value. But about ten years ago, nutritionists provided a new explanation. The sporocarps, they discovered, are loaded with thiaminase, an enzyme that destroys thiamine, or vitamin [B.sub.1]. When they examined the explorers' journals, they found recorded a classic progression of the symptoms of thiamine deficiency, or the disease known as beriberi.

So much, it would seem, for Aborginal knowledge! But why didn't the Aborigines die from eating the sporocarps of nardoo? The secret lies in the preparation. Unlike Burke and Wills, they mixed the ground-up sporocarps with enough water to make a kind of drink or paste, which they spooned into their mouths with a mussel shell. Diluting the thiaminase, it turns out, decreases its harmful effects to the point that the plant is safe to eat. The mussel shell was also a smart move. If, for example, they had rolled up a eucalyptus leaf to make a spoon (a common Aboriginal technique), the enzyme could have latched onto organic molecules in the leaf that would have increased its potency.

by Robbin C. Moran

"The Secret of "Doing Without Doing" or, "How to Get Results Without Struggle"

2006-04-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

"The Secret of "Doing Without Doing" or, "How
to Get Results Without Struggle"
by Dr. Robert Anthony
http://www.beyondpositivethinking.com

One of the misconceptions most people operate under is
you get what you want in life by what you DO, or
through the actions you take. Most people believe the
DOING or action part is what makes things happen.
Actually, "doing" causes you to create in reverse.

Let me explain.

The reason we put a lot of emphasis on action is
because we do not understand the power of our thought.
If you analyze it, 90% of most people's actions are
spent trying to compensate for inappropriate thought.

The Chinese philosopher Lao-tsu said, "In the
practice of the Way, every day something is dropped.
Less and less do you need to force things until finally
you arrive at *non action.* When nothing is done,
nothing is left undone." What he is talking about is
*doing without doing.*

The problem is most of us are preoccupied with
"doing". Unfortunately most of our doing usually
involves struggle. In the western world we are
conditioned to be action-oriented, so we place a
tremendous value on doing. We are so busy doing we
do not realize that all this "doingness" causes us to
create in a reverse fashion.

Most of our actions are out of fear, worry or doubt
because we believe nothing will get done unless we DO
something. In other words, we are trying to force our
desire into manifestation through action.

If your decision to DO is dominant, then you will not
focus on what you want to BE in the present moment.
This causes you to miscreate because BEING is the first
and most important step in the creative process.

Here is the secret to getting results with ease:

It is not your action that makes things happen, it is
your intent. You can reduce the need for action to a
very minimum by allowing yourself to focus on what you
desire until you feel the positive energy begin to move
within you. This energy is not based on doubt, fear,
anxiety, worry or need. If you focus on what you want
instead of what you don't want, you will know when it
is time to take action. And when you do, it will be
effortless. Doors open and the entire universe will
conspire to assist you in your desire.

Put simply, you should take no action on anything until
you have visualized your desire and made it real enough
in your mind that your next action (step), whatever it
is, seems like the most logical step.

How can you know the next logical step? Here is the
test that you can give to yourself before taking any
action: If you focus on what you desire and still feel
overwhelmed or anxious, then you are not ready for any
action. You know you are ready when it feels like the
next logical step is effortless. There is no effort, no
strain, and no pain.

What we want to do is to use the leverage of energy,
the same leverage of energy that creates everything in
the universe. However, we are so caught up in the
reality of WHAT IS, that we feel we must create
everything through physical activity.

Have you ever seen people who seem to have all the
wonderful things in their life without much effort? It
almost seems like they have an advantage over everyone
else. Then you see the people who work the hardest
usually have the least. That doesn't seem fair, does
it? But that's the way the universe works.

Unfortunately, those who work the hardest usually have
the least because they haven't learned the leverage of
aligning their energy. They are going about creating
their lives the hard way. They are trying to use their
actions to create what they want.

We have also been programmed that in order to have what
we desire we must work hard. How many times have you
heard - "No pain, no gain." The implication is that if
you want to make something of yourself, you must work
hard. The message is clear - if you are not hurting or
struggling, you are not moving forward.

But here is the truth - anytime you are struggling you
are miscreating. Anytime you feel pain or struggle,
your magnetic point of attraction is directed to that
which you do not want, rather than to that which you
desire. (Read that again.)

Actions are necessary, but they are the last component
of the creation processes. Actions cannot be used
effectively to initiate results, because initiation is
the function of BEING, then thought, then action.

Remember, the creation of anything is through your
vibration. Everything vibrates, and it is by that
vibration that we harmonize and attract experiences to
ourselves. So before you act or do anything, first ask
yourself, how am I vibrating? How do you tell? You tell
by how you FEEL. Your feelings show you your vibration.
How you feel determines what you attract.

When you use the process of creating by only focusing
on what you want instead of what you don't want, you
will see that the universe will provide a different set
of circumstances for you that requires much less
action. This puts you in a state of "doing without
doing" or action without effort.

So if you want more results in your life -- and with
far less effort, struggle and pain -- try this "not
doing" way to success.

*********

Dr. Robert Anthony is the author of fifteen books,
including his million copy best sellers: "The Ultimate
Secrets of Total Self Confidence", "Advanced Formula
For Total Success" and "Doing What You Love - Loving
What You Do." His new CD set "Beyond Positive
Thinking," recorded by best-selling author Joe Vitale,
reveals a no-nonsense approach to getting results with
a 100% guarantee. You can hear audio excerpts at -
http://www.beyondpositivethinking.com

motivation