https://www.audioholics.com/search_rssProfessional reviews from the Audioholics staff -with no marketing fluff!Fri, 08 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-parts-listTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-parts-listhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-not-a-pcTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-not-a-pchttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-keyboard-mouse-conclusionTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-keyboard-mouse-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guideI have always had a fascination with computers - I think it started in second grade when we were allowed to design simple ASCII art programs on a Commodore Pet. With the advent of current technology, and the inevitable merging of the computer with the entertainment system, my fascination has recently manifested itself into a near-obsession with the Home Theater PC, or HTPC. The idea for this article came from talking with lots of people who weren't familiar HTPCs and what they meant in terms of entertainment devices.Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guidehttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-peripherals-and-conclusionTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-peripherals-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/Members/christine-tham/biography.htmlContributing WriterThu, 31 May 2007 11:25:00 -0000/Members/christine-tham/biography.htmlhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-p1I think it's pretty safe to say that the traditional Home Theater PC is dead... at least it's dead insofar as it has completely failed to reach the mass market in an accessible and easy-to-use way. There are many reasons for this, but let's just touch upon a few before we present some of the solutions for those wishing to get Internet content on their televisions without having to incur a ton of hassle or purchase a brand new set with integrated network features.Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 -0000/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-p1http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-adding-the-componentsTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-adding-the-componentshttp://www.audioholics.com/news/vidabox-introduces-product-upgrade-programVidaBox LLC, the innovator of Media Center and home theater PC systems, today announced the introduction of an upgrade program for existing VidaBox™ Media Center/HTPC systems. This upgrade program will allow VidaBox customers to upgrade their existing systems to technologies, such as CableCARD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, and Windows Vista, once available.Thu, 12 Oct 2006 05:00:00 -0000/news/vidabox-introduces-product-upgrade-programhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/hauppauge-hd-pvr-1Life just got better for DIY HTPC'ers. Hauppauge, the gold-standard in video capture cards for your PC, just released a new beta driver that provides 5.1 audio support for its HD-PVR.Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0000/news/hauppauge-hd-pvr-1http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003Not that long ago, having a full featured, cinema-quality home Theater in your home was a new concept. This hobby has expanded and become more popular over the last several years.Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003http://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-video-and-audioTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-video-and-audiohttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-design-goals-and-enclosureTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-design-goals-and-enclosurehttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/av-rant-45-power-conditioner-or-rip-offThis podcast is sure to anger someone... could it be you? You'll have to listen in to find out. Clint and Tom tackle lots of questions like soundcards, 7.1 vs. 5.1, wireless speakers, running wires, and power conditioners. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:04:46 -0000/editorials/av-rant-45-power-conditioner-or-rip-offhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/one-htpc-very-cheap-best-offerI tried... real hard. The idea of an HTPC is incredible. It's a stupendous idea. I mean, take an ATSC HDTV tuner, an HD-DVR, a DVD player, your entire DVD and CD collection, Internet music, your favorite HD-DVD player - and roll it into a single box. That's the Home Theater PC. Heck, you could even play games on it, but that's not the main point. Manufacturers all over the globe have contributed to this technological snickers bar of home theater devices by adding parts and accessories to make the experience more and more advanced and slick.Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:42:03 -0000/editorials/one-htpc-very-cheap-best-offerhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/vidabox-launches-new-media-center-product-lineVidaBox LLC, a premium media center HTPC systems integrator in Garden City, NY, is announcing the launch of a new line of four Media Centers, named ROOMMATE™, SLIM™, LUX™, and MAX™.Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:00:00 -0000/news/vidabox-launches-new-media-center-product-linehttp://www.audioholics.com/trade-shows/2007-electronic-house-expo-ehx/demo-alley-aix-records-itrax-intel-hdsma-b-wIn checking out the AIX Records demo we were greeted to Dr. Mark Waldrep's own 5.0 "full-range" B&W 800-series system which he uses to mix his high-resolution, dynamic tracks. Boulder provided the amplification and power was available in spades.Mark has been a friend of ours ever since I was able to spend some time with him and his wife Mona on the 2005 Home Theater Cruise.Tue, 13 Mar 2007 06:48:29 -0000/trade-shows/2007-electronic-house-expo-ehx/demo-alley-aix-records-itrax-intel-hdsma-b-whttp://www.audioholics.com/news/boxee-streaming-mediaAs the rest of the world is catching on to the wonder that is streaming media we’re seeing more options for the serious HTPC die-hards. Boxee is the latest, an open source platform, endlessly customizable but only for experienced Mac or Linux users. If you’re interested, it begins Alpha testing next week.Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:02:40 -0000/news/boxee-streaming-mediahttp://www.audioholics.com/news/niveus-media-ships-first-vista-htpc-with-digital-cable-support.htmlNiveus Media is now shipping the company’s high-performance, Digital Cable Compatible, 2007 media centers – the Summit Series’ Rainier and Denali Editions, and the Pro Series’ n9 and n7 which are CableCARD-ready. These are the first HTPCs to take advantage of the new Cable Labs agreement and Vista certification program.Thu, 22 Mar 2007 07:10:24 -0000/news/niveus-media-ships-first-vista-htpc-with-digital-cable-support.htmlhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/powerstrip-program-guide-a-user-manualPowerstrip is indeed "the killer app" of the HTPC world. It is possibly the most important program today in the "convergence" market between computers (PC only unfortunately!) and the high definition television (HDTV) or Projector marketplace. With it you can craft a custom resolution and sync timings to enable the best possible display of your computer Desktop, DVD's and other video sources from an HTPC to an HDTV or Projector.Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/powerstrip-program-guide-a-user-manualhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-agp-pci-cards-and-connectionsTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-home-theater-pc-a-targeted-guide/building-an-htpc-agp-pci-cards-and-connectionshttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-50-1080p-plasma-display-review/anasonic-th-50pf9uk-input-configurationWed, 07 Feb 2007 21:31:47 -0000/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-50-1080p-plasma-display-review/anasonic-th-50pf9uk-input-configurationhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/vidabox-announces-stealth-silent-media-centerVidaBox LLC announces a new silent media center / HTPC system, dubbed the VidaBox™ STEALTH™. Less than 3.6" tall, the STEALTH is a fully-featured, miniature form factor media center featuring a slot-loading DVD±RW dual-layer burner, dual analog tuners, and massive VidaSafe™-protected storage of up to 1,500GB.Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:00:00 -0000/news/vidabox-announces-stealth-silent-media-centerhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/meedio-essentials-htpc-software-only-20Meedio announced today that its developer community has submitted 200 plugins, themes, and extensions to the Meedio Add-In Directory (MAID). To celebrate, the company is discounting its Meedio Essentials digital media center application to $20.00 until April 30. Meedio Essentials, which recently won a 2005 CES Innovations and Design award, normally retails for $59.95 from the company's website at meedio.com . The application, built on top of Meedio's open platform, is favored by many developers for the ease with which it can be customized and extended.Thu, 14 Apr 2005 05:00:00 -0000/news/meedio-essentials-htpc-software-only-20http://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/iogear-hdmi-control-centerListen up control freaks! IOGEAR has your number. As long as that number is no more than four, because that’s the number of ports on IOGEAR’s HDMI Control Center - their latest effort to bring unity to your HDMI based A/V system. It’s an interesting product already dropping out of the CEDIA 2009 Expo: IOGEAR HDMI Control Center, and it looks like the complete solution if you find yourself in need of a few HDMI ports. But be warned, it ain’t your father’s 4-port-HDMI switch.Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:35:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/iogear-hdmi-control-centerhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/16-10-aspect-ratio-mainstream.htmlThe computer industry and the home theater industries have never really matched up well... Take, for examples, home theater PCs. Great concept - typically awful execution. Even the companies that claim to have very reliable products often fail to execute on there promised visions of seamless integration and ease of use within the home. Here at Audioholics we have yet to experience an HTPC system that has actually worked 100% out of the box and which didn't leave us wanting more when it came time to watch high definition television or discs...Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:43:51 -0000/news/16-10-aspect-ratio-mainstream.htmlhttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8uk Bragging rights. You want them, you know you do. We all do. Some small (or large as the case may be) part of our mind wants people to be impressed with our purchases, abilities, etc. Nothing is more depressing than showing someone something that they should be impressed by just to have them respond, “So, what is that again?” Case in point, reviewing home theater equipment is full of interesting items… to other Audioholics. What does Joe Average say when you tell him you are reviewing a new set of speakers, HTPC, media server, or receiver? “Oh, that’s nice.” What does he say when you tell him you are reviewing a 50” plasma display? “I hate you, man!” Now, THAT is respect!Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:00:00 -0000/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8ukhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-2In our last article The New Home Theater PC – Part 1, we explored the past failures of HTPC to attract consumers en masse, and also discussed the various deficiencies that lead to the decline of the HTPC as a viable consumer product in the CE marketplace. More importantly, however, we touched upon what consumers want and what the NEW Home Theater PC looks like in this day and age of downloadable content. In this final installment, we'll walk through several scenarios and configurations and talk about using the laptop as the New Home Theater PC to enable streaming content and fulfill the promises of the original HTPC – but without the hassle or configuration problems typically associated with the genre.Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:10:00 -0000/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-2http://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/connecting-home-office-theaterThousands of words have been written about, and thousands of hours of labor devoted to, marrying our computers with our home theater and audio installations. On the Audioholics site alone there are 78 results from a search for "HTPC" (home theater personal computer). The problem with the concept of the HTPC is that, at its core, it’s a dedicated computer for multimedia applications. What happens if your computer is in your home office and your theater is elsewhere? What if you don’t want an HTPC? How do you combine your home office with your audio/video installation? It’s a question that’s seldom discussed in this industry.Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:12:19 -0000/home-theater-connection/connecting-home-office-theaterhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/operation-stability-storage-and-configuration-comparisonSat, 09 Dec 2006 03:00:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/operation-stability-storage-and-configuration-comparisonhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/amazon-vod-hdThe options for HDTV movie viewing keep growing. Some might say it’s been a long time coming but finally Amazon’s Video on Demand service is offering some HD movie titles. The service goes out to several consumer devices including IPTV by Panasonic.Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:20:39 -0000/news/amazon-vod-hdhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/hdcp-compliant-video-cards-elude-the-marketPublished specifications of HDCP compliance in many popular video cards aren't exactly what they appear. Since 2003, about the time HDCP picked up…Fri, 24 Feb 2006 06:00:00 -0000/editorials/hdcp-compliant-video-cards-elude-the-markethttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-1This is Part 1 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.Thu, 03 Nov 2005 06:00:00 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-1http://www.audioholics.com/projector-reviews/mitsubishi-hd4000/viewing-evaluation-and-conclusionThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:41:49 -0000/projector-reviews/mitsubishi-hd4000/viewing-evaluation-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/2partsfusion-dms-701I'm not going to lie to you; the thing that excited me most about the reviewing the 2partsfusion DMS-701 was the ability to record TV. I know, I know, lots of stuff can do that for a lot less money but ever since I moved out of LA, I've been without the ability and I've missed it terribly. Plus, with a pregnant wife that is chronically tired and about to pop, I needed some way to reliably record 24 and Scrubs. Hey, you've got to have your priorities. 2partsfusion is really marketing their products to the more "hands on" and computer literate among us. While the Escient Fireball DVDM-300 retails for more than you can get a fully loaded DMS-701 with a 3-year warranty, 2partsfusion are really targeting different consumers. 2partsfusion is looking to help someone take the hassle out of building their own HTPC from scratch. And to that end, they are a great success. Tue, 28 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/2partsfusion-dms-701http://www.audioholics.com/projector-reviews/mitsubishi-hd4000Mitsubishi has built a solid reputation over the last decade manufacturing high quality, high performance display devices and is an industry leader in the implementation of DLP technology. Front projection systems are becoming popular in many typical home theaters, and it’s no surprise that Mitsubishi has several front projectors to choose from including the recently introduced HD4000. The HD4000 is the second 1280x768 dark chip 2 projector we have reviewed thus far. We were very impressed with the previous 1280x768 projector, the Optoma HD-72. Naturally one would assume that because the projectors share the same DMD technology that they would be similar in performance characteristics. We were very surprised to find out that that was NOT the case. Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:00:00 -0000/projector-reviews/mitsubishi-hd4000http://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/how-to-set-up-plex-server-rokuMedia Servers are all the rage lately, but few of them are versatile enough to handle your entire content library plus streaming services. Plex offers a little to no cost option for people who want to use one hub to access all of their media and a host of streaming services. In this article and YouTube video, we show you how to set up Plex on a Roku streaming stick and how to rip your Blu-rays and DVDs.Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:00:00 -0000/home-theater-connection/how-to-set-up-plex-server-rokuhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/2partsfusion-dms-701/dms-701-remotes-issues-and-conclusionThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:45:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/2partsfusion-dms-701/dms-701-remotes-issues-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-motherboard-processor-memoryTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/lets-build-a-home-theater-pc-2003/htpc-2003-motherboard-processor-memoryhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/rumors-of-cablecard-demiseTwo years ago CableCard was going to release Cable TV subscribers from the bondage of the set top box and provide freedom to digital Cable aware devices like HTPC. A recent story in the New York Times expressed that CableCard is dead.Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:00:00 -0000/editorials/rumors-of-cablecard-demisehttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/kaleidescape-cinema-oneKaleidescape just blew our minds. Yes the Kaleidescape Cinema One media server is $4000. Yes, we realize that many people will say, "But I could build an HTPC for less!" But that HTPC wouldn't have Kaleidescape's interface, access to Kaleidescape's Store (which features Blu-ray quality video and audio AND full downloads with special features), and Kaleidescape's features and build quality. When you look at Kaleidescape's previous offerings, the Cinema One is seriously discounted. When you look at how fanatical their users are about their products, you have to be intrigued. If you've always wanted a Kaleidescape system but couldn't afford it, you owe it to yourself to check out the Cinema One. It might be just what you've been looking for.Tue, 23 Jul 2013 18:10:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/kaleidescape-cinema-onehttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/vidon-box-media-playerAt first glance, the $49 VidOn Box appears to be little more than an inexpensive competitor to devices like the Apple TV and Roku Streaming Stick. However, if you dig a little deeper, you'll find a device that in many ways can compete with a full blown HTPC. The VidOn Box is built around a quad core ARM processor, octal core GPU, and 1GB of memory; on the software side of the equation, the Box boasts a custom build of XBMC, enabling a wide range of functionality including Blu-ray menu navigation. Want to know all the details? Click to keep reading!Mon, 01 Sep 2014 18:00:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/vidon-box-media-playerhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/hauppauge-hd-pvrIf an analogue HD PVR that lets you easily copy content in full HD to your PC will piss off the studios, Hauppauge Digital will have them seeing red. The PC peripheral manufacturer is now taking orders for its highly anticipated HD PVR. Hauppauge just brought personal video recording into the high definition age and probably pissed off a lot of studios in the process.Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:29:20 -0000/news/hauppauge-hd-pvrhttp://www.audioholics.com/how-to-shop/common-htpc-media-center-myths-2013-not-just-a-pcArguably, Media Centers are currently the most misunderstood home theater components available in the marketplace today. Yet, media centers are also one of the most revolutionary home theater products available. Why is there this huge discrepancy? Unfortunately, the term " Media Center " is used by many manufacturers for products that could arguably never possibly act as a home theater device.Mon, 25 Sep 2006 05:00:00 -0000/how-to-shop/common-htpc-media-center-myths-2013-not-just-a-pchttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-4This is Part 4 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.Mon, 13 Feb 2006 06:00:00 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-4http://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/miglia-tvmini-hdHello, I’m a Mac. And many of you are probably a PC. And while I am sure that some of you PCs have tinkered with a HTPC or even purchased a media center system based on Microsoft’s Windows Media Center operating system, there are still many Mac users who also happen to be TV enthusiasts who have not yet mixed HDTV with their personal computers. The TVMini HD system is a very simple and effective way to add high-def TV to your Macintosh. The system promises to allow you the ability to watch, pause, rewind and skip forward live HDTV, as well as the ability to schedule, record and edit your favorite shows. Miglia recently sent me the system to try out, and I am here to tell you it delivers. Within minutes of opening the box, I was watching full screen HDTV on my widescreen MacBook Pro laptop. Like most software and hardware developed for the Mac OS, it comes out of the box working.Wed, 01 Nov 2006 06:00:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/miglia-tvmini-hdhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/logitech-harmony-680-htpc-remote-controlLogitech today unveiled the first Harmony remote specifically designed to control a PC running on Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (Media Center PC) - and any devices that may be connected to it, such as a television, a home theater stereo receiver, or a DVD player. The Logitech Harmony 680 advanced universal remote control helps deliver the promise of the Media Center PC experience by allowing it to work seamlessly with all the other devices in the entertainment system, making it easy for people to navigate and enjoy television, music and movies, in their living room.Wed, 13 Oct 2004 05:00:00 -0000/news/logitech-harmony-680-htpc-remote-controlhttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-50-1080p-plasma-display-review/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-viewing-evaluationWed, 07 Feb 2007 21:31:47 -0000/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-50-1080p-plasma-display-review/panasonic-th-50pf9uk-viewing-evaluationhttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8uk/build-qualitySun, 17 Dec 2006 23:52:23 -0000/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8uk/build-qualityhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/atlona-technologies-hdair-usb-to-hdmi-wirelesslyThe Atlona Technologies HDAiR is a wireless USB to HDMI or VGA adapter designed to bring your computer content directly to your home theater without the hassle of wires. The HDAiR is capable of transmitting up to 720p resolutions 30 ft via a UWB signal. The downside? No audio. The most obvious application of this device is in a professional setting for presentation purposes. As both HDMI and VGA ports are active simultaneously, you could theoretically feed two different displays at the same time. In an HTPC setup where you are using either a laptop or an older PC (not too old with the system requirements) you could maybe use this if conditions were just right. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:55:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/atlona-technologies-hdair-usb-to-hdmi-wirelesslyhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/hands-on-boxee-review-published-in-israelOur friends over at HomeTheater.co.il published the first Hands-on review of the Boxee Box, the first media player from Boxee and D-Link. This is pretty much a world exclusive considering that the device isn't scheduled to ship until November of this year. Of course, it helps that Boxee is a startup company from Israel!For those of you unfamiliar with Boxee, their software can be downloaded already online for free. Boxee lets you watch movies, TV shows and clips from the Internet on your TV or computer.Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:48:04 -0000/news/hands-on-boxee-review-published-in-israelhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/roku-gets-into-baseballRoku has announced a new partnership with MLB.com. MLB.com has offered a streaming service for the baseball fanatic called the MLB.TV Premium subscription. This allows you to watch games that are out of market or just not being shown in your area. With the Roku partnership, you can watch live games delayed approximately 90 mintues from their air time. Cost of Roku + MLB - $135 (first year, $35 a year after) - for DirectTV - $159 a year, every year. You do the math.Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:00:00 -0000/news/roku-gets-into-baseballhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/zotac-zbox-media-pc-with-blu-rayMost HTPCs have the esthetic appeal of a Soviet-era sewing machine. With their painfully slow load times, boxy looks and noisy fans, HTPC is generally about as unobtrusive to your media system as a serious migraine. Zotac feels your pain. This computer hardware company has set up shop inside that wide gap between Home Theater PC and tasteful form factor.Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0000/news/zotac-zbox-media-pc-with-blu-rayhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/diablo-3Diablo 3 may be the most anticipated game of the decade, arriving 12 years after its predecessor - now it's finally here! The PC-only video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment continued its point-and-click, hack and slash fest last night at 12:01 AM PST. Die-hard fans either attended late night sale events or were downloading and installing the game at the stroke of midnight. Unfortunately for those of us on easterly time zones we had to wait considerably longer than midnight to actually play. Blizzard’s Battle.net servers hosting the online-only game were delivering an alarming Error 33, warning users that the game is not available yet. Considering Diablo 3 was first announced back in 2008 with no release date in site, a few more hours can’t hurt.Wed, 16 May 2012 15:10:00 -0000/news/diablo-3http://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/miglia-tvmini-hd/watching-recording-conclusionThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:45:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/miglia-tvmini-hd/watching-recording-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/escient-dvdm-300HTPCs have made some headway moving from the den into the living room in recent years. Many who have created their own movie management system understand the difficulties inherent in integrating a functional movie/music management system, much less a user friendly one. Oodles of wires, keyboards, hours organizing and managing the system are all common occurrences. Enter the Escient FireBall DVDM-300. An "all in one"movie and music management/storage solution designed to take the headaches out of the HTPC and create a functional, user friendly environment that EVERYONE in the family can enjoy.Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:00:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/escient-dvdm-300http://www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/dynamic-comparison-of-cd-dvd-a-sacd-part-1 Reprinted with the Permission of Christine Tham. Visit her very informative website at: http://users.bigpond.net.au/christie/ Diana Krall's The Look…Tue, 31 Aug 2004 05:00:00 -0000/audio-technologies/dynamic-comparison-of-cd-dvd-a-sacd-part-1http://www.audioholics.com/soundbar-and-satellite-speaker-reviews/5-1-speaker-shootoutIt had been a while since Audioholics did a speaker shootout, so we thought it was high time we gather up the clan and head off to the home theater room for some good old-fashioned listening tests. On the menu were some great contenders from the likes of RBH Sound, Aperion Audio, Mordaunt-Short and Velodyne. Since there are so many factors involved in creating an effective small bookshelf or satellite speaker system, we buckled up for the methodical task of listening to, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of, each system. Wed, 26 May 2004 05:00:00 -0000/soundbar-and-satellite-speaker-reviews/5-1-speaker-shootouthttp://www.audioholics.com/acoustic-reviews/dirac-live-room-correctionIf you use a computer as the main source in your home theater or stereo system, then listen up. Dirac has released a new room correction system called “Dirac Live” and it’s aimed at everyone seeking the best performance possible out of a computer. By actively monitoring and correcting audio it accounts for time domain and frequency response issues. But, with a cost of $849 plus a microphone we think it is going to be a niche product.Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:10:00 -0000/acoustic-reviews/dirac-live-room-correctionhttp://www.audioholics.com/news/netflix-ffxiii-xbox-360What's going on at E3 right now? Clean up from all the minds blown at yesterday's Microsoft press conference. If Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, and Resident Evil 5 weren't enough for you, a new Portal game, Final Fantasy XIII, and Netflix streaming surely were. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:03:18 -0000/news/netflix-ffxiii-xbox-360http://www.audioholics.com/news/macbook-air-apple-tv-itunesAt today’s Macworld Jobs demonstrated MacBook Air - the world’s thinnest notebook. But it’s actually more of a wireless device than a legit computer. iTunes movie downloads were also announced which was the perfect segue to Apple’s second shot at the troubled Apple TV dubbed – take two. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:25:00 -0000/news/macbook-air-apple-tv-ituneshttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/drive-up-movie-theaterI have always wanted to combine my love of movies with a neighborhood "get together", so when I first heard about the idea for a home-made outdoor movie theater (using the space within your garage), the proverbial light bulb went off in my head.Fri, 27 Oct 2006 05:00:00 -0000/editorials/drive-up-movie-theaterhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/samsung-drops-blu-ray-drives-nail-into-disc-media-coffinSamsung has announced that it will no longer produce and distribute Blu-ray players in the US. The announcement means that Samsung will also abandon the roll-out a new 4K ultra high definition Blu-ray player that had been slated for release later this year. It’s shocking news from a company that has been a major backer of Blu-ray since the very beginning. The news could be the writing on the wall for the future of disc-based media in general. And, how might it be possible to blame Apple? We'll find a way, as we lament the tragedy that will someday become - the day the disc-media dies.Fri, 08 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0000/editorials/samsung-drops-blu-ray-drives-nail-into-disc-media-coffinhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/powerstrip-program-guide-a-user-manual/powerstrip-tweaking-and-conclusionTue, 05 Dec 2006 22:09:33 -0000/diy-audio/powerstrip-program-guide-a-user-manual/powerstrip-tweaking-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/projector-reviews/marantz-vp-15s1-dlp-1/vp-15s1-setup-overview-and-menu-systemTue, 19 Feb 2008 20:28:04 -0000/projector-reviews/marantz-vp-15s1-dlp-1/vp-15s1-setup-overview-and-menu-systemhttp://www.audioholics.com/universal-remote-reviews/universal-remote-control-tx-1000-medius/setup-using-the-remote-and-conclusionSun, 17 Dec 2006 23:52:20 -0000/universal-remote-reviews/universal-remote-control-tx-1000-medius/setup-using-the-remote-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-3This is Part 3 of a set of articles summarizing my experience choosing the components and building a a custom-built Home theater PC running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (or "MCE2005" for short). Part 1 is an introduction, Part 2 shows a step by step pictorial guide to assembling the hardware, Part 3 details the software installation steps, and Part 4 contains some objective and subjective impressions of the result.Mon, 13 Feb 2006 06:00:00 -0000/diy-audio/building-a-windows-mce-2005-pc-part-3http://www.audioholics.com/how-to-shop/ask-dr-a-the-budget-danceIs there some kind of accepted price/performance ratio between home theater components? For example, if I am buying a $3000 set of home theater speakers is it pure heresy to hook them up to a $900 receiver? What price point amplifier would be appropriate? I know most of this is subjective, but would you buy a $900 Blu-ray player to connect to an HDTV that cost only $1000? This article helps define some guidelines for budgeting the components in your home theater system. Also check out our recently added YouTube Video discussion on this topic.Mon, 01 Jan 2007 06:00:00 -0000/how-to-shop/ask-dr-a-the-budget-dancehttp://www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/dynamic-comparison-of-lps-vs-cds-part-4Yes, you have heard all the arguments before, and you are probably sick and tired of it. LP vs digital is a "religious war" that has been played out by various audiophiles ever since the CD format was introduced in the early 1980s.Fri, 03 Sep 2004 05:00:00 -0000/audio-technologies/dynamic-comparison-of-lps-vs-cds-part-4http://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-formats/epsons-d7-panel-c2-fineEpson has developed a new type of high-temperature polysilicon TFT liquid crystal (HTPS) panel that will further enhance the performance of 3LCD-type front projectors. The new 0.7-inch (1.9 cm diagonal) HTPS panels, which conform to newly developed design rules, use a technology which boosts aperture ratios by 20% compared with the previous model. By enhancing aperture ratios, this technology improves luminance while using the same lamp as previous models. It also enables the use of a lower-watt lamp to achieve the same levels of luminance.Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:21:23 -0000/hdtv-formats/epsons-d7-panel-c2-finehttp://www.audioholics.com/projector-reviews/optoma-movietime-dv11/optoma-dv11-setup-and-installation.htmlFri, 13 Jul 2007 02:14:48 -0000/projector-reviews/optoma-movietime-dv11/optoma-dv11-setup-and-installation.htmlhttp://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-3805/denon-rc-969-electroluminescent-el-universal-remote-controlThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:50:00 -0000/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-3805/denon-rc-969-electroluminescent-el-universal-remote-controlhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/qsonix-q100/qsonix-q100-touchscreen-control-setupThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:46:19 -0000/gadget-reviews/qsonix-q100/qsonix-q100-touchscreen-control-setuphttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/westinghouse-tx-42f970z-lcd-first-lookThe Westinghouse TX-42F970Z LCD has a lot going for it, 120Hz processing, slimish size, and (most of all) a $750 asking price. Regardless of what you think of Westinghouse's previous offerings, the fact is that $750 for a 42" display is pretty outrageous. Add in dealer discounts and sales and you're looking at the display your parents and friends will be asking you about. At this price, you might even pick up a TX-42F970Z for the bedroom or office.Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0000/hdtv-reviews/westinghouse-tx-42f970z-lcd-first-lookhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/zaggbox-media-server-previewWhat is the ZAGGbox? While it hasn't been released yet and details are a little sketchy, it looks to be a recording device with universal remote and streaming capabilities. With a terabyte of storage, 4 USB ports for more, 3 HD and 2 SD inputs, and the ability to stream to your phone, it's got a lot of people talking. But will it have a lot a people buying? For us the real problem is the complete lack of HDMI inputs - likely due to the limitations of HDCP copy protection. Without them, the ZAGGbox can never receive HD audio and most Blu-ray players don't upconvert over component. If the ZAGGbox doesn't have a guide (and we don't think it will), then how interested is the public going to be in having both a DVR and a ZAGGbox? We're not sure.Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:35:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/zaggbox-media-server-previewhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/throwing-a-memorable-super-bowl-xxxix-partyPlanning a Super Bowl party for your friends is hard enough. There's plenty to worry about: food, drinks, food, seating, food - you…Fri, 04 Feb 2005 06:00:00 -0000/editorials/throwing-a-memorable-super-bowl-xxxix-partyhttp://www.audioholics.com/universal-remote-reviews/perfect-remote-soundbyteIt seems like remote controls are the one piece of any equipment that we’re never really happy with. Many manufacturers seem to have given up. They know their remotes are barely adequate and trust that you’ll just go find a better, universal remote to use. We take a quick look at remote control designs and search for the perfect remote, one that will control all of our devices easily and be simple to program. Does the holy grail of remote controls exist?Mon, 09 Nov 2015 12:00:00 -0000/universal-remote-reviews/perfect-remote-soundbytehttp://www.audioholics.com/audio-technologies/issues-with-0dbfs-levels-on-digital-audio-playback-systemsWhen you make a digital recording, an analog waveform (represented by an electrical signal with a continuously varying voltage) is sampled at regular intervals and converted to a set of numbers. Each number, or digital sample , correspond the voltage of the electrical signal at a specific point in time. These numbers are stored in binary form with a specific word size (typically 16-24 bits). The minimum and maximum numbers that can be stored depends on the word size, and corresponds to the voltage range of the electrical signal.Sun, 24 Oct 2004 05:00:00 -0000/audio-technologies/issues-with-0dbfs-levels-on-digital-audio-playback-systemshttp://www.audioholics.com/trade-shows/2006-consumer-electronics-show-ces/ces-2006-blunders-deceptions-and-other-goofsWhile we enjoyed ourselves at CES this year (in the way that people who get 2 hours of sleep and like to spend 20…Tue, 10 Jan 2006 05:00:00 -0000/trade-shows/2006-consumer-electronics-show-ces/ces-2006-blunders-deceptions-and-other-goofshttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/small-room-syndromeWith speakers, you can always tell if they have design flaws if you put them in large, well dampened room. You'll force them to play at their limits and, if they don't melt, smoke, or cause your amp to shut down, you can at least tell that they have no major design flaws. They may not perform well, but that's completely different. The question is whether there is a fundamental flaw in their design. When a manufacturer says they've "never heard of this problem from any of their customers" before, it simply means that we are pushing their products to their limits. Which, you have to admit, as reviewers we are expected to do. A review is supposed to be critical. And if it isn't, it really isn't worth much is it? But most consumers won't run into the problems we do because they have the proverbial "small rooms." They aren't pushing their gear to the limit. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:00:00 -0000/editorials/small-room-syndromehttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/cedia-2007-show-report-wrap-upLike the past times we've covered CEDIA, this one was another great show. It seems every year the show gets more popular with this years largest turnout with over 29,000 attendees. Incidentally this was also our largest presence at any trade show with 7 Audioholics members busting through the show driven with one objective in mind – in-depth, no holds barred coverage that only lunatics strive for and sane people question why anyone would subject themselves to such torture. Check out all of our great coverage on new loudspeakers, electronics, displays and more. Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:47:02 -0000/editorials/cedia-2007-show-report-wrap-uphttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/yamaha-musiccast-mcx-2000-digital-music-server/mcx-2000-listening-tests-tips-and-conclusionThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:45:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/yamaha-musiccast-mcx-2000-digital-music-server/mcx-2000-listening-tests-tips-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/movies-music-and-conclusionThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:45:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/movies-music-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/tower-speaker-reviews/axiom-m60-v2/m60-v2-vassallo-listening-tests-and-conclusionSound quality of Axiom M60v2 speakersTue, 30 Jan 2007 08:50:00 -0000/tower-speaker-reviews/axiom-m60-v2/m60-v2-vassallo-listening-tests-and-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/blu-ray-and-dvd-player-reviews/neodigits-helios-x5000/menu-system-and-using-the-networkThu, 07 Dec 2006 22:46:23 -0000/blu-ray-and-dvd-player-reviews/neodigits-helios-x5000/menu-system-and-using-the-networkhttp://www.audioholics.com/how-to-shop/best-audiophile-music-softwareChoosing the right audiophile playback software can be a daunting task. While audible differences can occur in going from an entry-level software like iTunes to one of the audiophile playback engines mentioned below, the transition between high-end software boils down to a preference between real cherry flavor and artificial cherry flavor. However, the differences in supported file formats, file management systems, user experience vary greatly. Read on for our hands on impression of 7 of the most popular playback software for hi-res music files.Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:00:00 -0000/how-to-shop/best-audiophile-music-softwarehttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/karaoke-control-tv-and-summary-of-test-resultsSat, 09 Dec 2006 04:05:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/vidabox-slim/karaoke-control-tv-and-summary-of-test-resultshttp://www.audioholics.com/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-2/software-conclusionTue, 29 Sep 2009 22:07:50 -0000/diy-audio/new-home-theater-pc-2/software-conclusionhttp://www.audioholics.com/editorials/bd-plus-cracked/slysoft-proves-bd-plus-hackableMon, 10 Dec 2007 19:49:51 -0000/editorials/bd-plus-cracked/slysoft-proves-bd-plus-hackablehttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/samsung-hl-t5087s/hl-t5087s-menu-and-remoteSat, 05 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0000/hdtv-reviews/samsung-hl-t5087s/hl-t5087s-menu-and-remotehttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/samsung-ln52a750/build-quality-setupThu, 26 Jun 2008 15:53:40 -0000/hdtv-reviews/samsung-ln52a750/build-quality-setuphttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/westinghouse-lvm-42w2/lvm-42w2-viewing-evaluationMon, 18 Dec 2006 01:34:17 -0000/hdtv-reviews/westinghouse-lvm-42w2/lvm-42w2-viewing-evaluationhttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/olevia-542i/calibrating-the-television-test-results-and-viewing-evaluationsSun, 17 Dec 2006 23:52:12 -0000/hdtv-reviews/olevia-542i/calibrating-the-television-test-results-and-viewing-evaluationshttp://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8uk/configuration-using-the-set-and-remoteSun, 17 Dec 2006 23:52:23 -0000/hdtv-reviews/panasonic-th-50phd8uk/configuration-using-the-set-and-remotehttp://www.audioholics.com/projector-reviews/hd81-projector-review-conclusions/hd81-overview-basic-setup.htmlWed, 22 Nov 2006 06:00:00 -0000/projector-reviews/hd81-projector-review-conclusions/hd81-overview-basic-setup.htmlhttp://www.audioholics.com/product-awards/fathers-day-2010-gift-guideThis Father's Day it's time to tech your Dad. That's right, you know your dad is still living in the dark ages. He probably asked you within the last year how to transfer his VHS tapes to DVD, or maybe this is the first year he discovered Facebook or how to text on his cell phone. In either case you owe it to your father to give him a gadget that will stretch his horizons and bring him just a little bit closer to 2010. It doesn't have to be a robot with laser beams or a voice activated 3-D holographic digital video recorder, but at least put something into his life that will keep him from embarrassing himself (or you!) at the next family picnic. Better yet, use him as a catalyst to upgrade your whole family!Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:20:00 -0000/product-awards/fathers-day-2010-gift-guidehttp://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/alternatives-for-av-home-networkingThe ongoing convergence of AV and computing is inevitable, rooted in the dawn of digital media with the advent of the CD, and nurtured by the Internet. Media servers, multimedia gaming consoles, HTPC, networked AV receivers, mp3 player docks, IPTV; digital entertainment is becoming as at home on computers as it is on traditional AV gear. However, all of this crosspollination between the two often leaves entertainment stored in disparate locations so a reliable connection is required to transfer the entertainment files between devices. For those who find the shortcomings of Wi-Fi make it less than an ideal solution, there are other methods available that are not as onerous as pulling Ethernet cable through walls and attics by making use of existing home wiring systems. These methods also provide connections that are more secure with better data throughput and reliability. There is a reason that mission critical business systems and servers are primarily hardwired and not connected by Wi-Fi.Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:05:00 -0000/audio-video-cables/alternatives-for-av-home-networkinghttp://www.audioholics.com/news/xbox-360-specs-pics-details-announcedWednesday, May 12, 2005 marked the day the details of the Xbox 360 were announced in a carefully promoted MTV 1/2 hour special hosted by Elijah Wood - possibly the world's most popular hobbit-gamer. While the 2005 release date for the Xbox 360 is set for around Christmas, everyone can whe their lips and gaze upon the specifications for the new game console.Thu, 12 May 2005 05:00:00 -0000/news/xbox-360-specs-pics-details-announcedhttp://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/onkyo-tx-sr608-flOnkyo has long been known as a feature leader in the receiver department. They certainly are looking to maintain that reputation with the TX-SR608. If you are looking for all the latest audio features including Burr-Brown DACs, Dolby ProLogic IIz, many of the latest Audyssey features including DSX, and dual subwoofer outputs plus 1080p video upconversion and THX Select2 Plus certification, the Onkyo TX-SR608 has what you need.Tue, 30 Mar 2010 13:00:00 -0000/av-receiver-reviews/onkyo-tx-sr608-flhttp://www.audioholics.com/gadget-reviews/plair-streaming-solution-previewThe PLAiR streaming stick can receive video and audio content from your PC, Mac, Android, or iOS device with a push of a button. It will allow you to view nearly any Internet video source (sans Netflix and Hulu) on your big screen. For those that watch network shows on the network websites but hate doing it on their PC, the PLAiR is a godsend. At $99 it won't break the bank, but you are taking a $99 gamble. If the networks find a way to block the PLAiR solution (and you can bet they are trying right now), you may have paid $99 for a device that will no longer do most of what you bought it for. Is it worth the risk? Only you can make that decision. Fri, 03 May 2013 13:25:00 -0000/gadget-reviews/plair-streaming-solution-preview