Movie Reviews

Energy CF-70 Floor-standing Speakers

I first encountered the Energy line of speakers in the late 90's when I helped a friend setup her new Take 5 system paired with a Denon receiver. My recollection of the event is of some skepticism as to the sound quality given the small size of the speakers but I ended up being grudgingly impressed with them. They certainly blew away any HTiB solution! It was perfect for her condo.

AV123 ELT 525 Surround Sound Speaker System

To say I was excited about the prospect of reviewing AV123's new entry-level surround sound system is an understatement. For those that don't know, AV123 is one of many companies that sell loudspeakers from their website only. The drawback is that one cannot audition the speakers before you purchase them. However, these companies usually offer an “audition period” where you can listen to them in the comfort of your own home without any pressure to buy as the company will refund 100% of your payment (these particular speakers carry a 3 year warranty with a 30 day trial period

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MartinLogan Announces the Summit X Loudspeaker

Lawrence, Kansas, January 29, 2009â€"MartinLogan is proud to announce the introduction of the Summit X hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerâ€"the next evolution in high-performance sound and high-end loudspeaker design.

THIEL CS3.7 Floor-Standing Speakers

THIEL is one of the most well known and long lived high end loudspeaker companies. Jim Thiel founded Thiel Audio in 1976, building his company's reputation on speakers that are time and phase coherent. All of THIEL's full range loudspeakers have followed this recipe, including the new CS3.7. Where the CS3.7 differs is in its level of execution. The CS3.7 is almost double the price of the older CS3.6 model, and approaches or exceeds the price points of the larger CS5 and CS7 speakers of the past. While the speaker follows the same recipe as past THIEL models, it is reinvented in almost every way. For some (at least those who haven't heard it), the increased price was a big disappointment. I call this sour grapes for people who thought they could afford the CS3.7 but then had to realize they couldn't. The CS3.7 is worth every cent, and is a strong contender versus pretty much any full-range loudspeaker in the under-$20k price category.

Holiday Music Reviews – December, 2008

Gloom is banished with this delightful collection of Leroy Anderson's holiday music. While some dismiss the American composer's achievements as second-rate, there's no question that classics such as “Sleigh Ride” and “Suite of Carols for Brass Choir” speak with irresistible color and sonority.

Jaton Operetta 2300a Class A/B Amplifier – First Look

The Jaton company has been around for over 25 years. They started with manufacturing PC video cards, and have since branched into home theater and hi-fi gear. Lyra's HD-661 DX speakers were recently reviewed at Secrets, and their interesting design and great sound made me want to try out their amplification. George from Jaton was kind enough to send me a rather large and heavy Class A/B Stereo amplifier capable of putting out 300 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms. Initial problems with the amplifier has required Jaton to redesign it, and the revised version will be sent to me for review In the meantime, here are some initial observations on the unrevised unit.

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RGPC HouseGuard Provides Whole-House Surge Protection

Surge Protection is the most commonly requested power management solution; RGPC's HouseGuard protects a home's most critical circuits from surges by connecting directly to the AC panel. New Orleans, LA â€" August 14, 2008 - Richard Gray's Power Company (RGPC) today announces the RGPC HouseGuard, a whole-house AC line surge suppression system for 120/240V single-phase electrical installations. HouseGuard is the second whole-house device launched by RGPC, as the company seeks to address increased consumer and dealer demand for power management equipment that can more comprehensively protect more electronics systems at once by connecting directly at the AC panel instead of at individual outlets.

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SE2 Labs Road Tour Rolls Across U.S.

Luxurious, all-in-one theater console will be discussed and demonstrated for A/V dealers and press in five major metropolitan hubs, beginning June 26 in Dallas.Draper, Utah â€" June 23, 2008 â€" SE2 Labs, manufacturer of the groundbreaking Integrated Theater Console (ITC One), is embarking on a five-city U.S. dealer education and recruitment tour, starting on June 26 in Dallas.

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Silicon Optix and Calibre UK Limited Form Design Partnership Agreement

San Jose, CAâ€"(May 2008)â€"Silicon Optix, the leader in advanced video processors, is pleased to announce that it has entered a third party design partnership agreement, with long-time customer, Calibre UK Limited. The design agreement will pertain to existing chip platforms Realta and Reon, currently in the marketplace.

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EPSON HOME ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTORS SHINE

Long Beach, Calif. â€" April 10, 2008 â€" Demonstrating its commitment to the independent filmmaker worldwide, Epson, manufacturer of the number-one selling global projector brand1, awarded winners in four categories at the 5th annual Vail Film Festival, sponsored by Best Life Magazine, with an Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 1080 UB projector. The film categories include:  Best Film, Audience Award, Best Documentary, and Reel Quick 48 Hour.