May 2005 - Posts

• Outlaw 990 brings affordability to high end performance

  Outlaw is one of the newest and highly regarded consumer electronics companies today. They’re one an online exclusive retailer, designer and manufacturer who makes high quality home theater audio at affordable prices. You won’t find Outlaw Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 31, 2005 8:59 AM by | 1 Comments Filed under: Previews/Rumors

• What sucks about HDTV: Macroblocking

  “What sucks about HDTV” is regular feature on the HomeTheaterFocus Blog that will illuminate common complaints, shortcomings and general misconceptions about HDTV. Of course, w e all love our HDTV, but many have shelled out thousands on an Read More... Posted Sunday, May 29, 2005 8:34 PM by | 1 Comments Filed under: What sucks about HDTV!

• Sennheiser HD650 vs Grado Labs SR325

  Flush with love for the new headphones I just reviewed in the last entry I wanted to pit the Grado SR60s against some other really nice headphones. I connected them to a special headphone amp component that runs on AC. A headphone amp will provide much Read More... Posted Saturday, May 28, 2005 10:49 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Product Reviews

• The best all around headphones for your iPod.

  What are the best all around headphones for the iPod? The winner is… Grado Labs SR 60 . I compared the sound quality to many popular but common headphones of every ilk found at the local superstore. Obviously the best of the best headphones are Read More... Posted Friday, May 27, 2005 10:20 PM by | 1 Comments Filed under: Product Reviews

• Sony unveils PS3

  Comparisons are going to be inevitable between the Xbox 360 and PS3. And to tell you the truth, there is no comparison. It seems the two companies are going to switch side in another year, it’ll be the Xbox 360 that offers less performance at a Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2005 9:56 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Previews/Rumors

• From orphan Annie to Darth Vader, Star Wars wraps up.

  Star Wars III; Revenge of the Sith. Warning: Spoilers. Star Wars episode III; Revenge of the Sith delivers the best Star Wars film since Empire Strikes Back. Lucas finally succeeds in shedding the overly cutesy and saccharine sweet romance scenes that Read More... Posted Monday, May 23, 2005 8:34 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• Ambient lighting on the cheap

  Never underestimate the visual enhancement of ambient lighting for your home theater. Watching movies in total darkness is a sure way to cause your audience eyestrain and fatigue viewers. As the video from your movies goes bright, dark then bright again, Read More... Posted Sunday, May 22, 2005 8:57 PM by | 2 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• Peter Green's Fleedwood Mac on DVD-Audio

  The story behind Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac is almost as interesting as the music found on this new DVD-Audio release by Silverline Records . It’s a famous idiom that what Americans invent the British perfect. At least that’s what the Read More... Posted Thursday, May 19, 2005 10:19 PM by | 11 Comments Filed under: DVD Review

• Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

  Tonight at midnight fans will get their first look at the final installment of George Lucas’s Star Wars epic, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The release of this final installment shows the public excitement for the franchise hasn’t Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 18, 2005 9:24 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• The death of VHS

  It's official. In my house at least, we have moved on from the VHS format. I no longer even own a VCR and all those tapes I've collected over the years taking up massive space is marked to be cleared. In clearing out the basement getting ready for some Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:00 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• Reference 3A, Royal Virtuoso

  It’s always a treat to go up to the local hi-fi shop ( Soundstage in Waterloo Ontario ) and listen to exotic hi-fi. On my latest visit however exotic fare wasn’t so exotic, I got to sample the sweet sounds of speakers made right here in Waterloo Read More... Posted Sunday, May 15, 2005 9:54 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Product Reviews

• Xbox 360

  Microsoft’s new Xbox has a name, and it is dubbed Xbox 360 . Earlier I gave a preview of the new Xbox , although the known hardware requirements haven’t changed since the announcements have become official, there were a few unknowns when I Read More... Posted Friday, May 13, 2005 10:05 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: News

• ipod, right out of the box

  The first thing that strikes you when you unpack an ipod for the first time isn’t the cellophane wrapped scent of fresh electronics, and it certainly isn’t any sort of overwhelming presence as if you’d just unsheathed a thing of great Read More... Posted Thursday, May 12, 2005 10:27 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Product Reviews

• Brothers in Arms, fitting tribute to VE day

  Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 by Gearbox Software. With the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe hearts and minds all over the world turn to a different time, the era of the so called “greatest generation”. A fitting tribute to the sacrifices Read More... Posted Monday, May 09, 2005 8:20 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Product Reviews

• Future Shop's Monster

  Monster Cable has been drawing negative attention to itself lately by aiming lawsuits and trademark infringement claims against dozens of companies that use the word "monster'' in their names . Monster’s campaign to secure their brand on the word Read More... Posted Saturday, May 07, 2005 5:09 PM by | 2 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• The Piracy Revolution

  Let me start by saying I do not condone piracy or any form of theft of intellectual property. However: there is an undeniable paradigm shift in the entertainment industry which is being prompted by on line file sharing and in part piracy. The future of Read More... Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:10 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Editorial

• Lost; the verdict

  After the first actual episode of Lost, I got to see to see what the show offered in a more subdued manner. Since this episode wasn't trying to cram a season into one hour it was actually quite watchable with character development and dialogue that didn't Read More... Posted Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:55 AM by | 15 Comments

• Steven Soderbergh in a digital deal

  Steven Soderbergh has inked a multi-film deal with the uniquely digital-centric 2929 Productions. 2929 is already making a name for itself in low cost digital film and unorthodox distribution methods. They plan to release the documentary “ Enron: Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 03, 2005 7:11 PM by | 0 Comments Filed under: News

• More 1080P

  With mass production of 1080P chips from various manufacture’s including Texas Instrument's DLP shipping in large numbers, the buzz seems to be in full swing in the HT community . On the thread linked to above I play devil's advocate, pointing up Read More... Posted Monday, May 02, 2005 8:59 AM by | 0 Comments Filed under: Editorial