Introduction Convergence is a terminology and process that seems to have permeated every facet of our daily experiences. Convergence technologies will eventually be ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives. So what is “convergence technology”? It all depends on the type of application. It includes, but is not limited to, the popular act of taking pictures with a cell phone or surfing the Web on a television. More sophisticated uses include wireless and wired voice and data transmissions, various forms of security, voice over IP and data networking technologies, all converging to create a seamless integration and solution for our personal and professional needs. Nowhere is this more evident than the merging of consumer electronics and personal computers. There are a plethora of companies that are providing unimaginable functionality that was science fiction a mere decade ago. One exciting new entry into the arena of personal computer and home music convergence is the Sonos Digital Music ...

Introduction Snell Acoustics’ Series 7 is the first line created by Snell’s famed chief designer Joe D’Appolito. The reviewed system is comprised of three LCR7s (front left and right and center speaker), a pair of K7s for surrounds and an ICS300 subwoofer. This new Snell system is attractive, compact and is designed to pack a large, accurate punch for a retail price of $5,750. The main speaker in this system is the LCR7, which utilizes dual five-and-a-quarter-inch woofers flanking a one-inch tweeter. This array is better known as the D’Appolito array. All of the drivers are made by SEAS and help provide the LCR7s with a stated frequency range of 75Hz to 22kHz and output up to 100 dB per pair, with 90 dB sensitivity. The cabinet measures 19 inches high, seven inches wide and eight-and-three-quarters inches deep. My review samples were finished in a very attractive real cherry wood veneer, with satin black as ...

Introduction Sony is widely recognized as a true technology leader in the world of home electronics. In today’s marketplace, Sony boasts some of the most forward-thinking products available at any price, including Qualia SRXD video displays, Blu-ray discs and far beyond. While Sony has launched new lines in Qualia (ultra-high-end gear) and Bravia (LCD TVs), they are also out to breathe new life into their Elevated Standards (ES) line for an entirely new generation of buyers. This starts with a new 7.1-channel A/V receiver called the STR-DA3100ES. Seven channels are supported by 120 watts of crisp power, countless features and numerous input/outputs for a list price of $999.99. Features The front of the STR-DA3100ES is an attractive sight. The brushed aluminum face and the aluminum-colored chassis are pleasant changes from the traditional jet-black finishes that are synonymous with A/V components. The two-line dot matrix display is recessed from the front of the unit where the input ...

Introduction Have you ever imagined a television that made you really feel that the image is a window on your world of programming, achieving the sort of drop dead gorgeous quality that no one can look away from (unless the person just doesn’t care about TV or picture quality)? As someone who already owns two Sony QUALIA 004 front projectors, I naturally had high hopes and expectations when I decided to take the plunge and buy a QUALIA 006 rear projector for another room in my lab/home. The first of these expectations included an exceptionally sharp picture (even by comparison to 35mm film projected at the same size), as befits Sony’s new SXRD 1920 x 1080p three-chip reflective LCos technology. Another was outlandish light output (I measured 90 foot-lamberts with the bulb in the low mode and a contrast ratio of over 3000:1!). Finally, fantastic styling (like a Cartier Watch), as well as a ...

Introduction No sector of the home theater is hotter than HDTV and, with recent advances in video technologies, it is now possible for the mainstream consumer to buy a projector that is capable of beaming a gigantic picture onto a screen that is nearly twice the width of even the largest big screen sets. Historically, it cost tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish this feat in rooms that were dedicated for home theater use. Today, thanks to technologies like DLP, LCD and D-ILA, you can enjoy a bright, beautiful picture from a projector that weighs less than Paris Hilton’s dog and fits in a Jimmy Choo shoebox. The Sony Cineza HS-51 video projector is a three-chip LCD machine that is priced relatively affordably at $3,495.00. The HS-51 includes a number of unique features that contribute to its overall success as a terrific home theater projector. One of these features is the incredibly bright 135 ...