Introduction Sure bets are hard to find though you can always depend on Proceed (Madrigal) to produce a killer product. The HPA 2 (dual mono) and the HPA 3 (tri-mono) home theater amplifier combo is no exception. These 250 watts per channel (8-ohms) amps performed spectacularly on every source be it rock, jazz, new age or the most dynamic movie soundtracks. Cosmetically they match all other Proceed products such as the Proceed AVP digital processor and the PDMT DVD transport. A large silver Standby button is the only front panel adornment. The rear panel provides both single-ended and balanced inputs and a tiny toggle switch determines which type of input is active to prevent any unwanted pickup of stray noise from the unused connection. When switching from single-ended to balanced the signal level is adjusted for the 6dB variable between input types. High-quality, gold-plated binding posts allow the use of audiophile grade cables with spade ...

Introduction I was immediately impressed with the Pioneer Elite PDR-19RW as I removed it from its shipping container. This CD-R/CD-RW recorder weighs in at over 14 pounds, much more than the run of the mill CD player. In addition to its heft, indicating a serious power supply and a sturdy chassis, I enjoyed the fine aesthetics, including the well-finished face-plate framed by a likewise handsomely-finished wood side-plate. The PDR-19RW looks the part of Pioneer’s top of the line $1,200 CD recorder and evokes pride of ownership. The PDR-19RW is chock full of features that allow it to serve as a topnotch single box CD player, in addition to its obvious use as a recording device. Its recording features include synchronized copying by track or entire disc, a sampling frequency converter to allow copies from digital sources other than CD, coaxial and optical inputs, and many other indexing and editing features too numerous to list here. ...

Introduction Since their introduction at CES1999, the industry has anxiously awaited the release of Paradigm's Reference line of speakers. The Reference line first started shipments in mid 1999 and has received much recognition since then. The Studio 80's are the second largest in the Reference line, a line that represents Paradigms effort to bridge the gap between high performance and high price. Paradigm, a company that is headquarted in Toronto Canada, has been in existence for the better part of 20 years and has long been regarded as a company that manufactures high value Audio/Video products. Paradigm is equipped with a state of the art facility that has one of the larger anechoic chambers in the industry as well as in house transducer design and manufacturing. Since my initial introduction to the Reference Line, I have looked very much forward to the opportunity to audition these speakers and test Paradigm's claims of value. The Studio 80’s are ...

Introduction It is truly a wonderful time to be entering the home theater market. Prices on systems are at all-time lows and the cost-to-value ratios are at all-time highs. The RM6500 is no exception to this trend. This RM6500 is a space-saving six-speaker, five-channel home theater loudspeaker system offered at a modest $1,099. The nuts, bolts and polymer aggregate material: As I began to set up this system, I noticed that the mini-satellites were heavy for their size – six-and-three-quarters inches high by four inches wide by five inches deep. After reading up on the subject, I learned that the satellite enclosures are made up of a polymer aggregate material that contains the appearance and acoustic characteristics of stone. This stone-like substance helps limit the enclosure from resonating, which is a good thing since the RM6500 includes a neat little bracketing system that allows you to mount the satellites against surrounding walls. Without this resonating ...

What most captures my imagination in this new era of digital video is the flat-panel plasma display with its characteristic ultra thin chassis. Pioneer's PDP-501M is the biggest and best display in this category so far. It's also the most expensive at a recently reduced $22,000. The PDP-501M is a full 50" diagonal screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio, accommodating DVD and HDTV broadcasts. While other plasma displays deliver a 480p picture, meeting Standard Definition specifications, the PDP-501M is the only commercially available plasma display capable of displaying a high definition 720p picture. A wide array of inputs are provided for different types of sources. A standard NTSC composite and S-Video input allows hook-ups of analog VCR's and Laserdisc players. The RGB (component) inputs are essential for the best reproduction of DVD and Digital VCR material. For some eye-popping web ...