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Amplifiers

Optoma HD33 3D DLP Projector

Chris Eberle

In the two years since 3D displays first became commonplace, I've seen many demos; and only a few of them really impressed me. When you watch for a few minutes and you get that "gotta have it" feeling, you know you've seen something special. So far I've seen exactly zero flat panels that affected me that way. They just don't immerse the viewer the way a projector does. I've found for the 3D effect to be truly convincing, the edges of the screen have to be outside my peripheral vision. Front projection is, of course, the answer; but 3D capable models are only just now trickling down to the affordable level. The Optoma HD33 is a DLP projector with 3D capabilities and has full 1920x1080p native resolution. All for less than $1,500.

Projectors

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2011

Jim Clements

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2011 exceeded expectations......so many exhibitors and attendees.  Great Show!   Exhibitors filled the Denver Marriott Tech Center this past week, October 14-16.  Jim Clements, Senior Editor,  covered the show for SECRETS of Home Theater this year.  And was it busy...some very special sounds and spectacular products.  Jim's coverage includes many great names in Audio.....Linn, Legacy Audio, Harman Kardon family, Velodyne, Naim, NAD, Clarus, ClearAudio, OPPO,  Acoustic Signature, DynAudio, Emotiva, and so much more.

Wrap-up Commentary......All images are in......50 plus!!!!

The 2011 installment of the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest turned out to be the tale of two technologies.  I am personally something of a generational 'tweener'.  I was born at the tail end of the Baby Boom Generation - but I'm not really a Baby Boomer and I'm not really a GenXer.  I am young enough that there was a computer in my HS math class.  I am old enough that I completely grew up on analog audio. 

 

Read Jim's full report and enjoy the spectacular images...

Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts

Goo Systems

Secrets
Shortly after its inception, Goo Systems successfully launched Screen Goo into the market bringing a unique option for users to create their own projection screens.
AV Directory

Dream Vision

Secrets
Located in Paris and managed by Jean Claude YOUNES, this French company was born in 1982, being the First Company to import videoprojectors into the French Market.
AV Directory

Toshiba

Secrets
Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is the holding company for one of the nation's leading group of high technology companies...
AV Directory

ButtKicker

Secrets
Arcam first began building sound reproduction equipment in 1972, whilst its founders where still science and engineering students at Cambridge University.
AV Directory

MartinLogan Ethos Hybrid Electrostatic Speakers

Jim Clements

MartinLogan has recently expanded its line to include the Ethos, which is a hybrid electrostatic speaker, meaning that it has not only an electrostatic panel, but a cone woofer. Using woofers to handle the bass is necessary in smaller electrostatic speakers because the surface area of the panel is not large enough to move much air at the lowest frequencies. In the case of the Ethos, the woofer has a built-in amplifier to drive it.

Floor Standing Speakers

Meinl 20″ Byzance Jazz Club Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

The bell of a cymbal contributes much more to the sound than one migh realize. Nowhere is this more illustrated that in a cymbal that has no bell, such as this 20" Meinl Byzance Jazz Club Ride. It has a dry, light ping that is perfect for small club venues. It has four rivets that add a subtle note to the wash which is very intense compared to the ride ping.

Cymbals

A Home Theater Build Project – Part I

Mark Vignola

We all have a spare room. Well, many of us do. And those of us bitten by the A/V bug often dream about what we would do with that room. I have such a room, and six years ago embarked on a wild odyssey to build a dedicated A/V room from scratch. How could someone with limited construction skills, moderate budget, and even more limited tool selection, go about making a clean, professional looking dedicated home theater?

Custom Home Theaters

PSB Synchrony One Floor-Standing Speakers

Jim Milton

Paul Barton has been in the loudspeaker game for over 35 years and his latest iteration of speakers shows that his experience has been put to good use. The Synchrony Ones are his top of the line 3-way (5 drivers) towers that use some interesting design twists. At nearly 61 pounds apiece, they make an elegant statement of curved wood and aluminum surfaces that blend together in a flawless fashion.

Floor Standing Speakers

Affordable Systems Reviews: Mordaunt-Short Aviano and Cambridge Audio Azur 650R

Andrew Yang

Looking at a system is intrinsically more involved than looking at a single component. Evaluation of a single component typically holds the balance of the system constant so the performance of the test item can be determined. How then is a system evaluated? The test of a system examines several variables, not the least of which is the reviewer's component selections. Here, we review the Mordaunt-Short Aviano and Cambridge Audio Azur 650R.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

Anthony Gallo Acoustics Reference Strada Speakers and TR3 Subwoofer

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Anthony Gallo Acoustics has been known for many years to make very unique, high performance loudspeakers that can deliver world-class performance at reasonable prices and in everyday rooms. I was so impressed with their Reference 3.1 speakers when I reviewed them in 2007 that I bought the review pair. In the past several months, Gallo has significantly upgraded their reference line. The Reference 3.1 has just been replaced with the much more expensive Reference 3.5, but a new speaker system has taken up a new position in the Gallo line at a price point very close to the old Reference 3.1.

Bookshelf Speakers