Going green is becoming a popular choice for consumers looking to lessen their ecological footprint on planet earth. Small changes made by many, over time, can make big differences. This is a wagon that needs no band: reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat. While the Green Revolution is still in its relative infancy, many consumers and companies are already changing their directives to reflect a commitment to greener living.  While researching new and recent audio gear, I came across Role's Web site (www.roleaudio.com ) and was drawn in by the company's alternative “green” speaker offerings. “Use the latest technology and the least amount of drivers, crossover parts, and materials to deliver big speaker performance in the smallest possible cabinet designs.” That's part of Role Audio's credo; it's other is a commitment to manufacturing eco-friendly audio gear. Role is using certified green ...

A friend of mine likes to tell the story of someone who has too much money. It seems he had an acquaintance who was planning on upgrading a home theater system and wanted to jettison his old gear quickly. Instead of trying to sell it – or even donate it – he was just going to push it all to the curb and let any interested party have dibs. The first to go was a Velodyne subwoofer that had nary a blemish. When my buddy heard the news, he soon paid a visit and came away with a sweet subwoofer and not a dollar lighter. That same speaker has been proudly pumping out the bass for more than three years in its new home. Oh, were it always that easy to “adopt” speakers. When I received Velodyne's Optimum-10 subwoofer, I ...

The Dynamo 1000 is the largest subwoofer in the Dynamo line, and is especially suited for those with larger viewing rooms.  As the name implies, MartinLogan’s massive sub has a peak output of a full 1,000 watts, double that of the 500 watt RMS.  Designed with efficiency in mind, the Dynamo 1000 uses variable audio tracking power supplies to drive its class AB output stage.  MartinLogan says that this not only provides lower distortion and less noise than a traditional class D amp, but that it delivers a true 500 watts of continuous power. MartinLogan uses what they call an advanced-technology driver in tandem with a 12 inch diaphragm to deliver sound with high clarity and a low amount of distortion.  The cone is a poly material that blends with MartinLogan’s electrostatic panel and Advanced Thin-Film technologies. MartinLogan’s Dynamo 1000 boasts a ...

It wasn’t too long ago that the only way to watch a movie was to journey to the local movie theater or drive-in. For many, “going out” meant “going to the movies.” Then VCRs were introduced, and soon folks were buying and renting their favorite flicks to enjoy in the convenience and comfort of home. Something was missing, though, and I’m not talking about $8 buckets of popcorn and chairs still sticky from soda spilled two matinees ago. The VCR tapes had a tendency to jam or suddenly self-destruct mid-movie, unfurling celluloid into a linguine-like tangle. You grabbed a #2 pencil, stuck the eraser in the tape roller and hoped it wind back for one more showing. TVs were big and boxy with limited audio and visual playback capabilities that often turned even the most stirring soundtracks and special effects ...

Polk’s DSW Pro 600, the spiritual successor to the much beloved PSW 505 sub, is a powered subwoofer capable of working in both front-firing and down firing modes. The DSW Pro 600 is the most powerful sub in Polk’s DSW Pro line.  It sports a 12” woofer comprised of Composite Polypropylene Cones, and rubber, rather than foam surrounds.  The MDF constructed cabinet is heavily braced to ensure a minimum of cabinet boom, and the slot loaded port helps to eliminate unwanted air noises. A 250 watt continuous (500 watt peak) amplifier powers the Pro 600.  The DSW series uses what Polk refers to as an Intelligent Digital Amplifier, which cuts down on the amount of power used while operating at low volumes or in standby mode. The DSW Pro 600 also utilizes Feed Forward anti-distortion technology to help cut down on unwanted ...