With all the fuss about the great images on HDTVs, particularly from Blu-ray, it’s easy to forget that sound is half the experience—maybe even more. Blu-ray offers more than just great video. By making use of its generous data-storage capacity and new ways to encode audio, it offers an audio experience that’s a significant step beyond the digital movie sound formats we’ve lived... 

The Losers —Warner Bros. (Blu-ray) Go here to read the rest: The Losers—Warner Bros. (Blu-ray)  Read More →

Operation: Endgame —Anchor Bay (Blu-ray) Originally posted here: Operation: Endgame—Anchor Bay (Blu-ray)  Read More →

The use of 3D here is exceptional. There’s minimal use of the leaping- from-the-screen cliché, but it does appear once, to dramatic effect, in an early scene at an Antarctic observation station. Later, while Susan is trapped in the monster prison, there’s a startling sequence of the facility’s keeper, General W.R. Monger (who turns out to be much less of a cliché than... 

Read the rest here: Marantz Refreshes AVR and BD Lines  Read More →

One benefit that comes from the development of flagship products like Monitor Audio’s Platinum PL300-based speaker system (HT, October 2009) is that the technology often filters down into less expensive models in the manufacturer’s line. Of course, it won’t surprise you to hear that the ribbon tweeters, sculpted cabinets, and leather trim found in that $25,000-plus Platinum set haven’t... 

The Sherwood Newcastle R-972 A/V receiver is the first to include a new player in auto setup and room correction technology. Say hello to the Trinnov Optimizer. Nearly two years after it was first announced, the R-972 has arrived. After endless behind-the-scenes tweaking, this product will surely trigger debate and discussion among surround enthusiasts. Here is the original: Sherwood Newcastle R-972... 

Toy Story 1 and 2 —Walt Disney/Pixar (Blu-ray) Excerpt from: Toy Story 1 and 2—Walt Disney/Pixar (Blu-ray)  Read More →

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy —New Line (Blu-ray) Read the rest here: The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy—New Line (Blu-ray)  Read More →

We’ve reviewed Sony’s PlayStation 3 twice in Home Theater (March 2007 and May 2008). Since Sony has provided many updates to its software and hardware, it deserves another look. When it originally launched in November 2006, the Blu-ray format was on the ropes due to its lackluster titles and handicapped first-generation players. Even die-hard supporters were wobbly in the legs, and they...