Introduction Behind HDTV, “convergence” is one of the most bandied-about buzzwords in the consumer electronics industry. Companies large and small have deluged the market with products designed to meld the PC and A/V environments, from tuner cards that turn your computer into a DVR to media players that let you play your MP3 collection through your A/V system to standalone Internet-video players that connect directly to your TV. If you’ve already got a computer that you’re quite fond of, buying all of these separate devices might be the way to go. However, if you’re starting from scratch or looking to upgrade, why not purchase one product that does it all? And trust me, Hewlett-Packard’s z556 Digital Entertainment Center is just such a product. The poster child for converged entertainment, $1,499 z556 incorporates HDTV tuning, a DVR, a DVD/CD recorder, an FM ...

How To Calibrate Your HDTV Using The Top Set-up Discs By Adrienne Maxwell May 2006 So you’ve waded through all of the confusion about HDTV vs. EDTV, DLP vs. plasma vs. LCD and digital vs. analog connections, and boldly dropped your hard-earned cash on a new digital television. You’ve ordered an HDTV package from your cable or satellite provider, you’ve hooked up your DVD player, and now all you want to do is sit back and enjoy the experience. But wait. You’ve come this far. Don’t you think you owe it to yourself and your new TV to finish the job by making sure the picture looks as good as possible? This may be hard to believe, but most manufacturers don’t set up TVs to look their best right out of the box. They set up TVs to catch your eye in a store. Seldom does a store’s viewing environment match the one ...

AV Education on RHT HDMI: One Cable to Replace Them All? Written by Bryan Dailey Staring at the back of a modern home theater receiver or AV preamp can be a scary thing for inexperienced AV enthusiasts. The number of connections on a higher-end piece can be overwhelming, with multiple video input and output types ranging from composite to component to S-Video and DVI/HDMI. The audio options can be just as daunting with toslink, AES-EBU, composite and digital RCA audio connections all filling up a great deal of real estate on the receiver or AV preamp. Assuming a user can figure out how to best configure the system and put the right cables in the right connections on the back of the gear, the process is only half over at this point.

Introduction If you’ve ever visited an audio/video store, chances are you’ve heard of Harman Kardon. HK is one of the oldest and most established brand names in the audio/video industry. Over the years parent company Harmon International has grown to include other brands such as JBL, Infinity, Mark Levinson, Lexicon and Revel, just to name a few. While their product lines run the gamut from entry level to ultra high end, the name Harman Kardon has remained somewhat entrenched in the entry-to-mid-fi markets. However, their new flagship AVR 7300 audio/video receiver is out to challenge that perception in a big way. Out of the box, the AVR 7300 is a sight to be seen. At a retail price of $1,299, the AVR 7300 makes a real splash with regards to looks, sporting a stylish black Plexiglas and brushed aluminum front. Its controls glow a pale blue and add a pleasing sense of sophistication to a ...

AV Education on RHT How to Hire and Manage an Interior Designer Written by Jerry Del Colliano If you are in the process of building a theater or maybe someday looking at adding to or remodeling your home to include a fantastic, purpose-built home theater, the likelihood is you are going to be working with an interior designer. Much like knowing lawyers and paying taxes, they are a necessary evil. The choice you make in picking an interior designer is essential in the success and budgeting of your project.