Higher Fidelity
A home theater is only as strong as its weakest component. Overhaul yours with these first-of-their-kind options
By JEFFERY LINDENMUTH; Photo by Greg Broom
1 RECEIVER
Sony STR-DA5300ES
If your entertainment system were a solar system, the receiver would be
the sun. This Sony controls up to six components via HDMI, the most
HDMI inputs we’ve ever seen on a receiver. It also pumps out
high-definition audio, and upscales analog video to 1080p. A slick
graphical interface makes selecting inputs, configuring speakers, and
tweaking system settings a breeze. $1,700. sony.com
Tech Rx: What are all the damn cables for?
Here’s all you need to remember: HDMI
is always best—for video and audio. Never buy a piece of electronic
gear without at least one HDMI input. But if you already did, here’s
what you need to know.
- DVI is almost as good as HDMI for video, but you’ll need a separate audio connection.
- COMPONENT VIDEO breaks color into two separate channels and uses a third for brightness. It’s your third-best video option.
- S-VIDEO separates color and brightness into two channels, but it doesn’t support HDTV, which makes it dead to us.
- COMPOSITE VIDEO, that ubiquitous three-pronged (red, yellow, white) connector, squeezes all color and brightness information into a yellow cable. It’s a smidge better than coaxial wire.
- OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO, often called Toslink, is your second-best option for audio, behind HDMI.
- COAXIAL DIGITAL AUDIO is almost as good as Toslink but is susceptible to electrical interference.
- RCA AUDIO uses those red-and-white cables. It’s the lowest-quality audio link.
2 SPEAKERS
Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000
"Consumers make the mistake of buying a crummy $300 home-theater-in-a-box after dropping thousands on a TV," says Scott Wasser, former editor of Digital TV & Sound. "TVs become outdated quickly, but good audio lasts 5 to 15 years." Most living room speakers are bright and scratchy, so they stand out compared with the subwoofer. Unpowered cones in these speakers extend the bass response half an octave lower, making for richer, fuller sound. $1500. definitivetech.com
Tech Rx: Are there big differences between an expensive HDMI cable and a cheap one?
Not really. At lengths less than 30 feet, low-cost HDMI cables are just as good. "Unlike analog, where the quality of the cable can determine the degree of siignal degradation, HDMI is a digital signal--so it's an all-or-nothing format," says CNET editor-at-large Brian Cooley. So buy this: XtremeMac XtremeHD HDMI ($20, apple.com); not that: Monster Cable Ultra Series 600 ($100, monstercable.com)
3 TELEVISION
Samsung 81 Series
Not all high-definition is created equal. “Contrast ratio, the
difference between the darkest black and the lightest white, is just as
important as the total number of pixels,” says Steve Kindig, a senior
audio/video editor at Crutchfield. The 81 Series has a contrast ratio
of 500,000:1—that’s 20 to 60 times those of other displays. $3,000.
samsung.com
Tech Rx: How do I calibrate an HDTV for the best picture?
Load a widescreen DVD and pause
a scene, adjusting the brightness until the letterbox bars look black
instead of dark gray. Next, find a predominantly white scene and turn
the contrast up as high as it will go without losing any detail. To
adjust color, freeze a close-up on a face and adjust accordingly. Sound
like a pain? Break out one of the kids’ Pixar DVDs—each includes a
calibration tutorial.
4 PLACE SHIFTING
Slingbox Solo
This little black box sends DVR or cable content to any Web-connected
device, anywhere in the world. The original Slingbox had four
high-definition inputs, making configuration a pain, but this
stripped-down version accepts just one high-def source. After all, do
you really need a live feed of your Xbox 360 on your smartphone? Fewer
components means fewer hassles. $180. slingmedia.com
Tech Rx: The Slingbox needs an Ethernet input, but my modem is upstairs. Do I really have to pipe a cord through the walls?
Nope. The Netgear Powerline HD
($140, netgear.com) transforms electrical outlets into secure Ethernet
ports, without losing power. You plug the base unit into the wall
socket and connect your router. Then plug in the receiver near your
Slingbox, and your network connection will be piped through the walls.
5 HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO
LG BH200
This is one of only two players that can handle both of the competing
high-definition formats (Blu-ray and HD DVD). The other player is from
Samsung, but we give the edge to the BH200 because it’s a revise of
LG’s first player, released in January 2007. The retooling means you’ll
spend more time enjoying movies and less holding for tech support.
$1,000. lge.com
Tech Rx: How can I boost my existing TV’s picture quality?
See the light. Watch a movie in
complete darkness and you actually degrade the experience. “The rods
and cones in your eyes just don’t have time to keep up with the drastic
scene changes,” says CNET editor-at-large Brian Cooley. Place a small,
dim fluorescent lamp (try bellacor.com) with a daylight-colored bulb
behind the TV, suggests Cooley, so it lightens the back wall. This will
make colors appear brighter and crisper by providing contrast. It will
also alleviate eyestrain, because your eyes won’t be adjusting to the
frantic pace of the action.
6 DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER
Alienware Hangar18
DVRs encourage hoarding, which means you’ll eventually have to purge. What to delete—season three of Entourage or last year’s Super Bowl? This media center allows you to burn your babies—in HD—to a Blu-ray disc. It can also wirelessly send content to any computer in the house, for playback or archiving. An integrated amplifier can power an entire 5.1 surround-sound system, so you can forgo a receiver if your setup is modest. Most impressive, perhaps, are its 2 terabytes of storage—good for 900 hours of high-def video—and four built-in tuners. $4,000. alienware.com
Tech Rx: My DVR is always hot. Am I burning it out?
You could be. Because they work when other devices rest, DVRs are prone to overheating. Never stack another component on your DVR, and leave at least 1½ inches between it and any walls or other devices. If your DVR is in a cabinet, drill a few holes in the back to promote airflow. As a last resort, try a PC fan like the Mechatronics UF12B12-BTL ($19, coolerguys.com).
Comments
27 Nov 2007, 23:34
23 Dec 2007, 01:06