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Heres a switch - speakers that change with you. In the past, you bought a specific speaker to do a Move from center aisle at the cinema, to third seat specific job. When your needs changed, typically so did flute section, as fast as you can turn your wrist. Because your speaker. NHT introduces the future: The VT-1A. A rev- we've taken home theater to a new level. Where the olutionary new speaker that goes from optimum surround choice is no longer between movies and music, it's sound to tight, focused audio at the flip of a switch. between NHT and everybody else. UoE TOUR HEAD. Now Hear This, Inc., 535 Getty Court, Bldg. A, Benicia, CA 94510 For the NHT dealer nearest you: (U.S.) call 1-800-NHT-9993; (Canada) Artech Electronics Ltd., (514) 631-6448 CIRCLE NO. 11 ON READER SERVICE CARD
VIDEONOVEMBER 1995 40 MAGAZINE 26 TALE OF THE TAPE 10 affordable Hi-Fi VCRs tested and compared 35 SURROUNDED Part III: Dipoles or monopoles for AC-3 surround? Power Play: AC-3 and power amplification 40 MAKING THE SCENE Reference scenes for home-theater evaluation TOSHIBA TP61E90 61-inch rear-projector 54 TECHNICS SA-TX1010 THX-certified A/v receiver 61 MAGNAVOX TP3272 32-inch direct-view TV set 78 DV NATION The DV format takes tape to the next level 82 NEW TECH Canon Hi8 camcorder with Eye Control 84 VIDEOTEST Sony DCR-VX1000 digital camcorder 86 VIDEOTEST Fast Video Machine Lite video editor 98 LOOK SHARP New MPEG-! options for MPCs 100 NEW TECH Gateway MPC with four-disc CD-ROM changer 100 SHORTWARE Nintendo Virtual Boy 3-D game system 102 SOFTWIRE J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb 8 CHANNEL ONE Tape counter, DVD news flash! 10 FEEDBACK DVD concerns, DSS notes 15 FAST FORWARD Runco’s mirror ball, THX and videotape 19 DIGITAL REALITY Toshiba’s powerful DVD family 65 NEW TECH RCA second-generation DSS package 71 SHORTWARE Denon AC-3-ready LD player, Panasonic no-frills S-VHS VCR, Rock Solid home-theater speaker set, Onkyo A/V integrated amplifier 91 SOFTWIRE Pulp Fiction, While You Were Sleeping, Casper OFF THE AIR Into the ring with “Amazonic” videos ON THE COVER Sony DCR-VX1000 (page 84) and GoldStar GVR-E468, Toshiba M-661, and Panasonic PV-4562 (page 26) COVER PHOTO Tony Cordoza
cHAN N CEC L oON CE VIDEO Tape BILL WOLFE | Counter Editor-in-Chief ; ® WHETHER YOUR ENCOUNTERS WITH VIDEOTAPE Executive Editor MARC HOROWITZ are limited to fruitful forays into the local rental shop Technical Editor LANCELOT BRAITHWAITE or you indulge in the considerable pleasures of capturing events—personal or otherwise—with a Senior Editors PETER BARRY camcorder, the latter half of this decade is going to be good to you. ROB SABIN @ Digital camcorders have arrived with the force of a comet (see “DV Nation,” page 78), and the DV format is a technical marvel. As our “VIDEO Test” of Sony’s Art Director LAURA SUTCLIFFE groundbreaking DCR-VX1000 shows (page 84), it takes videography well past Managing Editor MIKE METTLER the benchmarks of Hi8 and S-VHS. Anyone who currently enjoys the services of an S-VHS VCR is advised to invest in a bib until DV-format VCRs are released. Associate Editors JOSEF KREBS CHUCK TANNERT And the new format proves that, despite the vast sea of data involved, uncompromising digital video is a practical reality. EB’ The comparisons to Hi8 Associate Art Director MI KHOO and S-VHS are key, since both formats—despite their excellent performance— Assistant Art Director GARY FRENCH remain relatively exclusive. Along with the laserdisc, they’re the Ferrari and Project Coordinator BARBARA AIKEN Lamborghini of video. If you want to cruise with 500 lines of horizontal Database Manager JOSE L. GARCIA resolution, your DV chariot awaits, and you'll be in elite company. ™ For those Contributors Stewart Applegath, Michael Desmond, whose tastes and needs lean toward the Taurus or Camry, the standard VHS M, Faust, Pete Hisey, Ken Korman, Daniel Kumin, Timothy Liebe, Kevin Miller, Mel Neuhaus, format remains, as ever, your faithful servant. “Tale of the Tape” (page 26) Tom Nousaine, Ken C. Pohlmann, Cliff Roth, reaffirms its indispensability as a fixture in our homes, and we can’t help Andy Wickstrom, James K. Willcox but be impressed by the performance and convenience features that $300 or so can buy. The: THX division of Lucasfilm Ltd., which has done so much to focus TONY CATALANO attention on quality in both home-theater hardware and LDs, has embarked on Vice President and Group Publisher the first of what may be many tape transfers (page 15). And VHS is rivaled only by C-band satellite systems in the diversity of its programming—in addition to CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GROUP thousands of movies, art, education, and yes, even “Amazonic” videos (page 140) ADVERTISING are abundant. @ Is videotape ready for The Big Rewind? Not by a long shot. Publisher, VIDEO: Jay Rosenfield a 212.767.6062 @ Just as we go to press, reports from Tokyo say that Philips, Sony, and Toshiba have agreed on a single digital videodisc standard. As Ken Pohlmann surmises in VP and Associate Publisher: “Digital Reality” (page 19), it appears that the new format—which has not yet Scott Constantine 212.767.6346 been named-—will be closer to Toshiba’s proposal than Philips and Sony’s. Regional VP/Ad Director, East Coast: @ The issue of the new format’s name is crucial for the three manufacturers Charles L.P. Watson 212.767.6038 in terms of royalties. Philips and Sony are pressing for Multimedia CD; the Regional Account Manager, East Coast: name implies that the new format is related to the CD, for which Philips and Sony Christine B. Forhez 212.767.6025 hold the key patents. Toshiba, naturally, prefers their Super Density moniker. Account Executive: @ Due to the complexity of the negotiations, the first DVD players and Penry Price 212.767.6077 software are now expected to hit A/V shops in September or October of 1996. Midwest Advertising Manager: Jerry Stoeckigt 312.923.4804 Bill OopDVD players are still expected to cost between $500 and $600. & Regional VP/Ad Director, West Coast: Bob Meth 213.954.4831 West Coast Advertising Manager: Paula Mayeri 213.954.4830 West Coast Sales Assistant: Nikki Parker Assistant to the Publisher: Aline J. Pulley Operations Manager: Sylvia Correa Advertising Coordinator: Adele Ferraioli-Kalter Sales Assistant: Yvonne Telesford National Record-Label Sales Representatives: The Mitchell Advertising Group (MAG Inc.) Mitch Herskowitz 212.490.1715 Steve Gross 212.490.1895 Production Director: Patti Burns Production Manager: Gary M. Krystofiak General Manager: Greg Roperti Business Manager: Christine Z. Maillet Newsstand Sales Director: Margaret Hamilton HEM VIDEO Magazine (TM) HemetteHISACPHUEBTLTIESHEFDILIBPYACCHI /jS\"5uu Magazines MAGAZINES, INC. Member Chairman: Daniel Filipacchi President, CEO, & COO: David J. Pecker Executive VP, Editorial Director: Jean-Louis Ginibre Senior VP, Global Advertising: Paul DuCharme President, Hachette Filipacchi New Media: Paul De Benedictis Senior VP, Director of Corporate Sales: Nicholas Matarazzo Senior VP, CFO, & Treasurer: John T. O’Connor VP, Marketing Director, Corporate Creative Service Director: Lynn Chaiken VP, General Counsel: Catherine Flickinger VP, Manufacturing & Distribution: Anthony Romano VP, Circulation: David W. Leckey VP, Research & Marketing Services: Susan Smollens VP, Communications & Special Projects: Keith Estabrook VP, Magazine Development: Marcia Sachar Creative Production Director, Global Marketing: Jean Pierre Labatut Senior VP, Corporate Sales, Detroit: H.E. (Bud) Allen
We'll make this quick. USSB™ brings channel after channel oftop movies and a collection ofthe best entertainment networks right to your TV. All via a simple-to-install, 18-inch satellite dish called the Digital Satellite System (DSS®). So you receive a crystal-clear picture and CD-quality sound. Add DIRECTV® to our unique lineup and over 175 channels are at your fingertips. But enough talk already. Visit your local RCA or SONY retailer to find out about receiving the ultimate TV entertainment from USSB, through DSS technology. Be sure to ask about getting the first month of all our great channels free. USSB 3 Changing the way you look at TV. Lifetime
FEEDBACK 400 BLOWS As a devoted Beta VCR owner, | can Special,” September 1995]. We have As a dedicated, 15-year laserdisc only switch to the upcoming digital an RCA DSS system, a 12-foot c- supporter with over 400 titles in my videodisc format if a) DVDs can band dish, a 7-foot screen, anda collection, | find it very disappointing record as well as play back, and b) if Runco projector. Until recently, all Di- that the video industry is about to in- DVD makes both the VHS and Beta recTV pictures except for those in troduce not one but two incompatible videotape formats obsolete. Colorado-originated “Direct View” pay- disc formats [“Fast Forward,” “DVD per-view programming have been Watch,” September 1995]. Who do Michael Folkman more comparable to VHS tape than to the DVD backers think is going to buy Orlando laserdisc. Now the picture resolution into this new format? Outside of com- has improved, and the digital glitches puter applications, who’s asking for it? Hardware and software companies are generally reduced. There’s no way The disc market has been sputtering to tell (there’s been no announce- along for over a decade and a half see DVD as the successor to the VHS ment), but | suspect that the switch to just trying to survive. Just because a MPEG-2 is being implemented. The disc is 5 inches versus 12 isn’t going tape format. We agree that record- picture still isn’t as good as C-band to make people run out and buy it. analog, though. Most consumers are turned off by ability is a key issue; DVD movies discs because you can’t record on Gil Arroyo them, and this feeling will still exist must also be available as inexpensive Seattle with DVD. | know, | know—a record- able DVD is “in the works.” We’ve rentals. The latest word (see “Fast heard that kind of talk before. Forward,” page 16) is that the two Joseph J. Solek Orland Park, IL DVD camps are now working hard to agree on a single standard. —Ed. DISH DU JOUR My RCA dish has two outputs. Can | Thanks for the enlightening technical hook up a Sony receiver to one of explanations of DirecTV operation them? and the review of the Sony DSS sys- tem [“Digital Reality,” “VIDEO Test Edward J. Wojdylak Jr. Beaver Falls, PA O10 [potey surrouno ce AC'3 PRO ~ toaic
DirecTV and USSB are indeed in the of any plane-related problems. video, which, when uncompressed, requires about 20 Mb of information process of “upgrading” to MPEG-2. D-LIGHTFUL per second. At that rate, video would After reading “Tale of the Tape” [“Fast eat up your 600 MB in 4 minutes. (If We’ve found that you can hook up ei- Forward,” July/August 1995], | have you don’t mind changing tapes 15 this response: Hello! Alpha Microsys- times an hour, the Alpha Microsys- ther dish to either receiver. —Ed. tems has provided data storage using tems method sounds great.) And total standard VHS VCRs and tapes for standard-mode D-VHS storage ca- THE PLANE TRUTH years. An ordinary 6-hour VHS tape pacity exceeds 30 gigabytes. /t’s not | live across from New York’s La- could reliably store 600 MB, without just about capacity and speed, Guardia Airport, and I’m thinking of compression. JVC’s upcoming D-VHS though—the D-VHS format’s real format is about as exciting as reruns breakthrough lies in the creation of a buying Sony’s SAS-AD1 DSS system. of Star Trek. complete system, including error cor- Planes routinely take off to the south rection, that’s optimized for video and of my house. Will they affect my DSS Frank Crow audio playback, not data storage. reception? [email protected] TIME BANDIT Frank Albrecht Technical editor Lance Braithwaite Why are the new “large” DV format Flushing, NY replies: Many digital data-recording tapes limited to 2.25 hours of record- systems have been based on video- ing time [“Fast Forward,” “Tape Talk,” Technical editor Lance Braithwaite tape over the years, but that doesn’t September 1995] when many movies replies: It's theoretically possible that make them easily adaptable for video and shows run much longer? you could experience momentary sig- storage and playback. One of D- nal loss if a plane flies directly VHS's primary goals is to offer the da- Philip Cavallo through your dish’s “line of sight,” but ta throughput that’s necessary for Chicago it's very unlikely: The plane would have to block two DSS satellites at once to produce a complete loss of signal lock. To date, we haven't heard T OF TRUTH FLE MOMENT You can feel it in your system the moment you turn your Denon Home Theater on. The experience of lifelike soundscapes reproduced by Denon’s Surround-Sound through discrete Dolby” AC-3 and Pro Logic, Lucasfilm’s THX” and Denon’s DDSC circuitry. This-is what sets Denon’s Home Theater components apart from the rest. Denon Advanced Home Theater. The difference between watching and being there. Deno Electronics ‘a division of Denon Corporation (USA), 222 New'Road;Parsippany, NJ 07054 (201)575-7810 The First Name in Digitat Home Theater Dol AC. Logit rH Ds bi k Dolby Laboratories Corp in.TIHX is aregiste emark of LucasfilnL CIRCLE NO. 75 ON READER SERVICE CARD
The tape you've referred to is spec’d ply eye-popping! Please continue to Definitive Technology fight the good fight for accurate TV images. The LeaderinHigh-Performance Loudspeakers. Anne M. Souter PANU) dave) gh4=\\0 MmBY-¥-(=1)6) to have the capacity for 4.5 hours of Marshfield, MA recording time, with 500 lines of hori- | read the positive review of the Sam- - Alaska Audio: Juneaue Hoitt’s Fairbanks» : Anchorage. sung TXC2726 27-inch TV [“Short- zontal resolution, in DV’s SD (stan- ware,” September 1995] and just had - Cohen's pe Montgomery rea’s TV: Tuscaloosae .to write. My father gave me Sam- ikis Audio: ee sung’s TXB2525 25-inch TV, the - Custom Audio Video: Little Rock. dard-definition) mode. The 2.25-hour younger brother of the TXC2726, last - Jerry's Audio Video: Phoenix, Tucso! year. | think its picture quality is excel- figure applies to DV’s high-definition lent, and | know what a good picture thaeengtto yond LarkspureAécrvaleAW: S. Lake Tahoes Audio looks like. After a year and half of incepts: Long Beach, San GabrieleBay Area Audio: San Jose* hard use, it’s still going strong. Bud- ee West LAsCoast Satellite: Aascatero, Santa Mariae mode, which will be compatible with get-minded consumers should take a Creative Stereo: Santa Barbara, Ventura David Rutledge Audio: look at any Samsung that has a comb HDTV and presumably produce over filter in it. Deserts DB Audio: Berkeleys Digital Ear. Tustine Larson’s: RedingMonterey Stereo: Monterey* Pacific yCooa:roy Newport 1,000 lines of resolution. —Ed. Carol Curtis Beache aradyme: Sacramentos PerformancAeu’ Francisco Boston Sound Co.: Escondido, San Diegor SpeakerCralt: Riversides Systems Design: Redondo Beache Video . lestminster* Westchester TV: Bakestielde Wilson AN: Woodland Hills. GAMES PEOPLE PLAY - Listen Up: Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs. | didn’t realize 64-bit systems would ~ Al Franklin's: Hartlorde Carston’s Audio Video: Danbury be available so soon [“Battle Stars,” lobert’s Audio Video: New London. September 1995]. I'll probably wait to youbs- Audio Buys. see how they look compared to the Studio: Newark, Wilmington. new 32-bit systems you reviewed be- “Absolute Sound: Winter Parke Audio Advisors: West Palm Beache fore | buy. And | hope prices come dio Center: Deerfield ey rope for Stereo: Clearwatere down, and software becomes more Hoyt Stereo: JacksonvillesPalm Audio: Destine Sensuous Sound: - plentiful, due to competition. Tampae Sound Components: Coral Gables* Sound Ideas: Gainesvillee Lagehang wise Secs orye aang Daytona Beache Stereo World: Marvin Chaw ° Sua [email protected] udio Warehouse: Seana ‘Ken’'$ Stereo Jct.: Macone Laser issccEnte rises: Atlantae Merit TV;Columbuse Stereo Connections: Valdostas Stereo Festival: Atlantas Stereo Shop: Martinez. - Audio Center: Honolulu. - Archer Audio Video: FtDodges Audio King: Cedar Rapids, Des inese Audio Video Logic: Des Moines* Camera Corner: Davenporte HawkeyeA/V: lowaCity, Waterloo. - Ulfimate Electronics: Boises Wise Buy: Idaho Falls. ~ United Audio Cirs: Chicago & Suburbs* Camera Comer. ingtone Cars & Stereos: RockfJoonr'sdHsome Ctr.: Quincys Sd Forum: Crystal Lakes SelecStd:Napervilles Sundown A/V: Springtield. - Ovation Audio: Clarksville, Indianapolis | can’t believe that Sega and Sony - Accent Sound: Overland Parke Advance Audio: Wichitas Audio would come out with 32-bit systems Last year, my 1-year-old, major-brand, .: Junction City. when Atari already has a 64-bit sys- major-expensive big-screen TV = Ovation Audio: Lexington, Louisville. tem and Nintendo will be coming out dropped dead. While | was waiting jo-uAgelsleWrrmiagnht'AsuSdoiou:ndNewGallOerrleya:ns,Sharev e Advice: Baton with one soon. (and waiting) for it to be repaired, | eCookin’: Seaors? Goodwins Aude Boston, Shrewsburye happened upon a local store that had — Sound: Hy Greg Wolock Samsung's TXB2525 on sale for a eee NASono patecetny, Laurel, Rockville, Waldorf» Columbus, OH ridiculously low price. So | bought it. Sorolone Soundscape: Baltimore. Imagine my surprise when | discov- = Cookin’: Port tod on Source: angor. Atari's 64-bit Jaguar hasn't caused ered that the Samsung has a better - Pecar's: ay Troy* Classical Jazz HollandeClassic Stereo: much of a stir because game devel- MTS decoder, more features, and just arrazoo, GrandRok s* Front Row A/V: Flints Future Sound: Ypsilanti« as good a picture as my big set. Court St.Listening Rm: Midland, Saginaw. VIDEO welcomes your Bere Resignwse‘Winona Audio{ rms & Suburbs, comments and suggestions Daniel J. Staggers _ Shalerpes Lockport, NY Hg: a ependences Sou: MAIL Metotand WV ttiesbugn rPlayers A/V: RidHt) nd. - Car&Home Stereo Ctr.: Billingse Rocky Mt. HiFi: Great Falls. VIDEO, “Feedback” - Audio Video Systems: Charlottes Audio Visions: Wilmingtone Now 1633 Broadway, 45th floor dio Video: Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh, Winston Salems Audio Lab: Wilmingtone Tri City Elect.: Conover. New York, NY 10019 -- CCouosktino’m: NEalsehcutaro,niMcasn:cheOsmtaehra,, NeLwiinncogltno.n, Salem, S. Nash - Hal's Stereo: Trentons Monmouth Stereo: oases ‘Walle EMAIL inett Northfield* Woodbridge Stereo: West Caldwell, [email protected] oUiimate Elect.: Mouweraue Sound Ideas: Albuquerque. - Ultimate Elect.: LasVi pea er Ear: Las Vegas. WATERWORLD - Audio Brea : * Audio Den: Lake Groves Audio I've had a Sony 36-inch XBR rear-pro- ia. Newburg ohadiojaneilon:Watertowne Clark Mus.: Al- jector for about 8 years, and now racuse* Stereo Exchge.: Manhattan, Nanuet» Hart Elect.: Ithaca, have what one service tech described esteinnovative Audio: Brooklyne as “water spots” on the CRTs. What | {Scninn Rim: Scarsdales Rowe Camera: Rochester* Sound Mill: Mt. see is colored dots all over the pic- Ha — i y eaker Shop: Amherst, Buffalo. ture. | was told that tipping the set for- ngpote CityeK LabsPremiAuudmio:Tulsa. ward would cause the cooling liquid to Aiea ft: Akron ieound Mayfield Hts. beepers wash over the lenses and eliminate c.: Daytone Paragon Sound: Toledo Threshold Elect.: Heath, the visible artifacts—but it just made A Bradord’'s HiFi: Eugenes Chelsea A/V: Portland, Beavertons the situation worse! Is there anything | >elly—’ Ctr.: Saleme Larson's: Medford, Roseburge Stereo opers aren't widely supporting it with can do short of replacing the CRTs... ant: Ben or the entire set? games, and Nintendo's 64-bit Ultra 64 PA- Gary’s Elect.: State Colleges GNT Stereo: Lancasters Hart Elect.: JM Venezia or Fi House: Abington, Broomall. «Hi Fi House: Cedar Grove, NJ Harrisburg, Hille Listening Post: Pittsburgh: Palmer Audio: remains a question mark until it actu- Aeniowne Serta erons Heights Studio One: Erie ally arrives. Yen/dollar intricacies The Stereoshop: Greensburg. Stereo Discount Ctr.: Providence. - AN Design: Charlestone Custom Theater & Audio: Myrtle Beach aside, holiday-season gyrations—and stairs Audio: Columbia. the Ultra 64’s introduction—probably - Audio King: Sioux Falls. - CollegeHiFi: ChattanoogaeHiFi Buys: Nashvillee Now Audio won't result in Saturn and PlayStation ideo: Knoxvilles reugkmae: Memphis New Wave Elect.: JacksonsSound Room: Johnson City. price reductions. —Ed. - Home Paertaltonia Dallas, Houston, Plano.* Audio Tech: emple, Wacoe Audio Video: College Station» Brock A/V: Beaumonts Bunkley’'s Sd. Systems: Abilenes Bjorn's: San Antonios ie Fidelity: Austine Krystal Clear: Dallase Marvin Electronics: Ft. Wo LUCKY 27 Sd. Box: San oe Quest: El Pasoe Sd. Systems: Amarillo | recently purchased the Zenith Sd. Towne: Texarkana. SM2789BT 27-inch TV [“Shortware,” Gently shaking (or tipping) a rear-pro- Alpine Elect: Provoe AudioWorks: Salt Lake CitysCrazy Bob’s: July/August 1995], largely because of sen} Shes Bros.: Logane Ultimate Elect.: Layton, Murray, the features, price, and the fact that it jector is as likely to make this problem Orem, SaltLalyy could be professionally calibrated to YAAudio Bays: Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas* Audio NTSC standards. The picture is in- worse as solve it, so it may be worth innection: Virginia Beache Audiotronics: Roanokes Home Media deed very good out of the box, and the results after calibration were sim- the risk only as a last resort. In your Store: Richmonds Stereo Type: Charlottesville, VT- Audio Video Authority: S.Burlington. - Definitive Audio: Bellevue, Seattlee Evergreen Audio: Silverdales case, unfortunately, the only remedy cific St. & Sd.: Wenatchee Tin Ear: Kennewick. appears to be a CRT replacement; a - Sound Post: Princeton. dio Emporium: Milwaukees Absolute Sd. & Vision: Sheboygan i“- FiHeaven: Appleton, Green Bays Sd. World: Wausau. Sony technician reports that tubes for - Precision Audio: Rio Piedras. your set are available. —Ed. B Sound: Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver& mi S,Victorias Advance Electronics: Winnipege Bay ba Radio: Torontoe Centre Audio Charest: Trois Rivierese CORA: Quebec Digital Dynamics: Clearbrooke Great West Audio: Londons Lipton’ \" 12 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO New Market Ontarioe Peak Audio: — Sd. Room: Vancouvers StereoLand: Windsore Treble Clef: Otta Mexico- Contact Grupo Volumen: Mexico’City.
Definitive’s New BP2000 Brings You LtihseteUnlitnigmate Experience! “The first speakerIhave been able to audition in my own familiar surroundings that has given me that special thrill that usually costs ten or more times its price to obtain.” —Julian Hirsch, Stereo Review “Frankly, if circumstances The Ultimate Home Theater allowed, I would choose these speakers for myself.” In addition to being an audiophile’s Julian Hirsch, Stereo Review dream, the BP2000s are also the main speakers in Definitive’s AC-3 ready Speaker of the Decade Ultimate Home Theater System. This astonishing system is absolutely the Now, with the BP2000, Definitive finest sounding available. It recreates literally reinvents the loudspeaker. ™ a “you are there” spatial reality that We have combined a six-driver dual j actually puts you into the soundspace D’Appolito bipolar array with a of the original cinematic action. built-in (side-firing) 300-watt powered 15\" subwoofer. (Yes, a The complete system combines the complete powered subwoofer built BP2000s ($1499 ea.) with a C/L/R 2000 into each speaker!) The result is center ($650 ea.) and BPX bipolar sur- extraordinary sonic performance rounds (from $399 ea.). Of course, dual beyond anything you've ever heard. 15\" powered subwoofers are already Both music and movies are | built into the sleek BP2000 towers. reproduced with unequalled purity, Truly the ultimate listening experience! transparency and lifelike realism. Visit your Definitive dealer today. And the astounding high resolution imaging and awesome bass impact eo. : Definitive Technology totally envelop you i5 n soni2c ecstacy. pefiniedtive’s complete AC3 ready BP2000 Home- Thea—t—er System Sp Tar hare dona They are an amazing achievement! 11105 Valleyhe HiLtesa.deDrr.in « BHailgthi-mPoerref,ormMaDnce211Lo1u7dsp+e(ak4e1r0s) 363-7148 is the perfect choice for ultimate music and movie performance. CIRCLE NO. 24 ON READER SERVICE CARD
OU ~ OUTGROWN ataubie). CoeRA Sees TOSHIBA If deep down inside you secretly Screen maximizes color depth and concert hall, even a stadium. All ina cabinet so slim, it takes up less depth long for a heart-pounding, eye-popping richness - forabreathtaking picture in than a regular 27\" set, allowing it to fit in any room. home entertainment experience, you four different screen sizes, from 48\" Best of all, TheaterView not only lets haven't outgrown TV, you've just outgrown to 61\", and two formats, conventional you experience cable, satellite, VCR and videodisc systems today, it's ready now your television set. and widescreen. for whatever tomorrow brings. Toshiba presents TheaterView®. Discover dramatic sound with Toshiba TheaterView. It's as good as television gets. An unprecedented line of projection TheaterView's built-in 4-channel Dolby® TOSHIBAIn Touch with Tomorrow TVs with eight distinct models that offer ProLogic® and Digital Sound Processing. Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., 82 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 astounding image and sound quality. With an incredible 68 watts of total audio Immeasurable excitement. And one power, it lets outstanding sound quality technological breakthrough after another. literally explode from the screen. Turning Imagine brilliant, crystal-clear your living room into a theater, a THEATERVIEW:images. Our High Contrast Dark As GOOD As TELEVISION GETS” TheaterView is a registered trademark of Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc. Dolby and ProLogic are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp. CIRCLE NO. 65 ON READER SERVICE CARD
FAS T FOR WAR D mirror image thx strikes back THX—at the end of STAR WARS January), THX has taken a THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Runco, the well regarded THX's latest project leaves page out of Disney’s wildly front-projection TV the rarefied world of successful, one-time-only RETURN OF THE Jeo} manufacturer, has formed laserdiscs and high-end Christmas '91 release of an alliance with Texas home theaters behind: Fantasia. Applaud NBC Sports Instruments to put TI's They've put their stamp of for making friends in the Digital Light Processing approval on the latest and, THX says they’re right places. NBC has a (DLP) technology in front- reportedly, final release of looking into working on very good buddy in the and rear-projection TV the Star Wars Trilogy, other videotape releases. International Olympic systems. Runco recently which happens to be a Committee, having spent a unveiled a rear-projection FoxVideo videotape. The —PB total of $1.16 billion to buy prototype and expects to Trilogy ($50; $20 per film) the TV rights to the ’88, have models—their first was transferred from money balks '92, and '96 Summer rear-projectors, THX’s digital laserdisc Olympics. masters and will be NBC turned heads incidentally—in A/V shops recently when they Money, apparently, a year from now. available in both pan-and- announced that they'll pay wasn't the only issue for scan and widescreen $1.27 billion for the TV the IOC. They ignored DLP technology is based versions—but only rights to the 2000 Summer Fox’s bid because it on the Digital Micromirror during the holiday Olympics in Sydney, “wasn't credible enough,” Device (DMD), which in season. Australia and the 2002 says Francois Carrard, the simple terms can be Each cassette Winter Games in Salt Lake |OC’s director general. described as a light switch features exclusive City, Utah. No one’s head Translation: The IOC just on a semiconductor chip. interviews with turned further (a full 360 doesn't like the audacious The chip holds between director George degrees, perhaps) than Murdoch and, in all one-half and 2 million Lucas. A “making Rupert Murdoch's; the metal mirrors, each of of” videotape is also Australian-born owner of which is controlled by the Fox TV network had computer signals. The available ($10). just had his $701 million mirrors reflect light from a In releasing a special bid for the Sydney Games source (perhaps a 1,000- alone turned down by the watt xenon-arc bulb) and package just for the International Olympic project it onto a screen. A holiday season (Trilogy will Committee (IOC). DLP set is said to deliver be taken off the market— very bright images with “forever,” according to studying rhodopsin to improved detail, clarity, better understand how color, and contrast true eyes it changes when regardless of screen size. subjected to light of Runco and Tl say DLP Researchers at the varying color and sets will be priced National Institute of intensity. competitively against LCD Standards and and CRT display devices in Technology (NIST) are Since rhodopsin the near term. trying to adapt rhodopsin, molecules respond a light-sensitive protein individually to stimuli, in —Peter Barry commonly found in the theory each one could human eye, for use as a serve as an on/off switch storage technology. for storing data. These Considering how rapidly molecular switches the human eye can would be 1,000 times process enormous smaller than the amounts of sensory data, transistors used in PCs, the technology could yield and smaller switches processing speeds that mean more switches, are 1,000 times faster than which equals faster today's computers. | processing. Proteins in the eye — Douglas Page respond instantaneously to light stimuli. NIST is VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 15
~ Direct IR Input Jack likelihood, his network’s process of sending antenna distribution maverick ways. programming from system will tap into the DSS signal. Experts say that by room to room. accepting an offer that Borrowing a page If the system included Salt Lake City a from the Channel employs one DSS full 7 years before the Plus+ multiroom receiver, only one actual Games, the |OC distribution system, DSS program can probably left some money the receiver in the be viewed at any on the table. But the given time. If RCA’s IOC took the high road: DS7430RA system DRD102RW “We have a common ($1,000) can send signals add-on receiver experience and a sense of over an unused TV ($650) is employed, comfort with networks channel to other rooms via however, two we've done business with,” standard coaxial cable. different programs says Carrard. “Money isn’t can be enjoyed the only thing that counts.” To take advantage of this simultaneously. feature, called Channel —Richard Sandomir Select, you have to runa —Marc Horowitz length of coax from the The top-of-the-line receiver to your home's iH rt} service, possibly with model in RCA’s second- master-antenna iG ty content supplied by NBC. generation of DSS distribution system; a Microsoft is working Microsoft also hopes to packages simplifies the video splitter and/or a with the NBC TV use the vertical blanking signal amplifier may network and DSS interval (VBI) of terrestrial need to be installed in programmer DirecTV to broadcast channels as order to finish the job. develop ways to broadcast well as dedicated DirecTV Then you simply access data, multimedia channels to transmit data the Channel Select feature programming, and online and multimedia clips. from an on-screen menu services directly to provided by the receiver multimedia PCs (MPCs). The possibilities are and enter the number of intriguing: Player stats any unused channel. The computer software Thereafter, tuning that giant expects to offer a channel on any TV that’s broadcast version of their connected to the master- Microsoft Network online industry is desire for a unified e The Video Software standard. said to be the Dealers Association The computer industry’s catalyst. intervention reinforces (VSDA) has formed an how important DVD has That pressure become to the electronics advisory committee of its world at large: DVDs will aHees came in the be used for video, own to concentrate on form of a report audio, and multimedia applications, and neither crucial DVD packaging Sony/Philips nor Toshiba issued last seem willing to proceed issues. Representatives, without the computer August by an world's blessing. including bigwigs ad-hoc “technology One potential side- from Blockbuster effect: If the two DVD Reports from the committee” that included camps don't agree ona Entertainment and Tower International single standard soon, but Funkausstellung, the representatives from still press forward with Records/Video, are huge semi-annual negotiations, the DVD electronics show held in Apple, Hewlett-Packard, launch may have to be pre-emptively lobbying Berlin, confirm that pushed back from the Sony/Philios and Toshiba IBM, and Microsoft. often-mentioned June DVD manufacturers on are for the first time 1996 date. talking seriously about The committee, though uniform packaging, merging their incompatible digital acknowleding that both various environmental videodisc (DVD) standards into a single Sony/Philips’ Multimedia issues, and strategies for unified format. Pressure from the computer CD (MMCD) and differentiating DVD Toshiba’s Super Density packaging from (SD) formats were CD-ROM packaging. acceptable, refused to Does this mean we won't side with either format be dazzled by those big and instead forcefully cardboard boxes with communicated the nothing but a disc and a computer industry’s booklet inside? — MH 16 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
4? an The problem was eventually traced to miscommunication between “enhanced” INGE e)p)eleINe 7NSN) AVAVIVAVS a OsG8 =) == 8) VN) THAT WILL LAST FOR GENERATIONS IN’ ae
process of sending antenna distribution Direct IR Input Jack programming fr system will tap into room to room. the DSS signal. emote Col 7 | J Beseunt Borrowing a page If the system ah from the Channel employs one DSS Claas) DIGITAL ZOOM ae Te Es
devised a solution. The problem was eventually traced to miscommunication between “enhanced” PRECISION VIEW FINDER [SSS ast <= 6 ——] MiniIN’ Digital ideo Cassette eAine nes ir nea CACo Ma Oe
Ks . ap eaase =. \"J process of sending antenna distribution programming from system will tap into cr-_ room to room. the DSS signal. Borrowing a page If the system from the Channel employs one DSS Since the introduction of the Handycam® camcorder a decade ago, Sony has been the unparalleled leader in the camcorder industry. With technological breakthroughs like Hi8, SteadyShot™ Picture Stabilization and RC Time Code, Sony has consistently raised video recording and editing to higher levels of quality and performance. Today, Sony introduces its newest innovation. The Digital Handycam™ camcorder. Sony’s first consumer camcorder featuring the Digital Video Cassette (DV). The standardized format agreed to by 55 leading electronics, tape, and computer companies worldwide. It’s a whole new and superior way to record, playback, edit, and print your video images. With the new Digital Video format, your images will have more precise detail and accurate color than you ever thought possible with an analog camcorder. Because the highly advanced digital technology delivers: e 500 lines of horizontal resolution achieved by a 13.5 MHz sampling frequency—for a resolution higher than the NTSC TV broad- cast standard. e Digital Component Recording that divides the Chrominance (color) signal into separate R-Y and B-Y signals and uses a band width that carries 3 times as much data as analog NTSC video. The result is a virtual elimination (o) mele) (elae)(Slaaialen e Time Base Correction for stable picture and minimal jitter. ¢ Powerful Error Correction system that compensates for tape dropout or other errors.
devised a solution. The problem was eventually traced to miscommunication between “enhanced” As the unsurpassed leader in camcorder and digital technology, oO Video format. We've re-designed and re-engineered every camcorde to meet the caliber of Digital Video. The result: the DCR-VX1000 high-quality video that will last for generations. Mm. The same advanced optical system For clear stereo separation and used in professional video cameras. Features a dichroic prism that superior wind noise reduction. divides the image into its separate red, green and blue light com- Without using harsh filtering. ponents and directs them oe to one of three CCDs, each with 410,000 active pixels. The result is CCD imaging using over 1.2 million pixels, providing excellent color fidelity and better signal-to-noise ratio. iS bilization. Unlike many sitet stabilization spelt “a Sony Sass SteadyShot system uses horizontal and vertical motion sensors that allow it to work accurately while zooming, shooting moving objects and even shoot- Deere ing in low light. peer ii And because the Super SteadyShot system uses an Active Prism and Precision CCD imagers, your pictures remain superb with no loss in detail or f Microprocessor | reduction in size. tT Even high fre- Sensors quency camera shake can now be minimized. Other Stabilization 20 25 cision 20X Digital Zoom. Unlike other digital zooms that use only a 270, 000 pixel CCD, Sony’s Stabilization digital zoom features a Precision CCD with 410,000 pixels that provides up to 20X zoom for sharper, 5 10 15 Frequency of Shake clearer images.’
process of sending antenna distribution Direct IR Input Jack programming from system will tap into room to room. the DSS signal. Remote Contiot a J teint Borrowing a page If the system Ny from the Channel employs one DSS al H#andycam” Camcorders ly Sony can uniquely exploit the incredible potential of the new Digital feature, function, and technology to ensure the highest performance and DCR-VX700 Digital Handycam camcorders. The first choice for Precision Color Viewfinder. High resolu- Remote Control: Convenient play, record, FF, RR, and zoom controls. tion color LCD with 180,000 pixels delivers Extended Data Code: Automatically stores Date/Time/Shutter lifelike monitoring. Plus, an additional Speed/Gain/F Stop No. for easy recall. Information Sub Panel—with time code, Time Code: Provides hour, minute, second, and frame informa- battery, and tape remaining information— tion for identifying and locating scenes for accurate editing. is incorporated to avoid screen clutter. Program Auto Exposure (3-Mode AE). Pre-programmed Shutter Priority, Iris Priority and Natural Night Mode. Manual Exposure: Iris and Gain (20-step), Shutter Speed (16 speeds, 1/4 to 1/10,000 sec.). Interval Recording: For time-lapse effects. Custom Preset: Allows you to store and recall your own custom settings of White Balance Shift, AE shift, Color Control Level, Gain Shift and Sharpness Control. Lithium lon Battery: For “no memory” effect and ReadyCharge™ system for in camera charging capability. DCR-VX1000 Magnesium Alloy Body. Engineered to be durable, yet lightweight for professional use. DV Interface. Allows multiple genera- tions of editing with virtually no loss in video or audio quality.
devised a solution. The problem was eventually traced to miscommunication between “enhanced” DCR-VX700 The DCR-VX700 offers most of the same features of the DCR-VX1000, except it uses a single 410,000 CCD for imaging and a 2-capsule mic. It also offers special effects like slide wipes and program AE (Sports, High Speed Shutter, Portrait, Natural Night modes). \\ DCR-VX700 a l=latelode\\ilele Mc lal= i@t-](<l ameVATe(-1=] Cassettes: DVMSOME (SO minutes), Printer Expand Your Options In Sony’s unique Photo Mode, you DVMG6OME (60 minutes) can shoot high-quality, still images | with its corresponding audio. Then Sony’s double layered play them back on your TV®. Or Metal Evaporated print the still pictures with Sony’s (ME) tape offers Color Video Printer (CVP-M1). And high signal out- because only Sony offers Adaptive put and has Frame Interpolation (AFI) technology, twice the rem- your images,either as prints or anent magnetic on-screen, will appear smooth flux density of metal and clean without jagged edges or ey=|aiei[@|=Melel=le/ale meal alle|a| “stair-stepping” typical of most still performance. Plus a Diamond-Like- pictures from video. Carbon™ protective layer for durability. Sony also offers cassette memory without AFI using an IC chip. So you can build a “Table of Contents” of the tape that with AFI can be accessed to automatically locate a particular “recording date” or “photo mode” segment. 'DCR-VX1000 and DCR-VX700 only record in 12-bit mode but can playback both 12-bit (both stereo pairs) and 16-bit audio. * Stereo: Stereo sound playback requires the use of a stereo capable TV/monitor. $Direct Playback: On NTSC North American Standard TVs. “At comparable zoom ratios. > |EEE 1394 Draft 7.1v1.
process of sending antenna distribution Direct IR Input programming from system will tap into Remote Corto! room to room. the DSS signal. y/o Borrowing a page If the system é from the Channel employs one DSS Digital Handycam Camcorder Optional Accessories: VCT-GP1 Shoulder Bracket with optional XV-M&30O ¢ LGH-VX1000 Hard Carrying Case e¢ HVL-F7 Flash for Photo Mode ¢ HVL-2ODW 20-watt Light ¢ NP-720 Lithium lon Battery Pack ¢ VMC-2DV Digital Cable High-End Editing: The high quality video and audio delivered by the Digital Handycam camcorders makes professional editing a reality. Add the RM- E1000T and XV-D1000, and you have the ultimate editing Suite. Sony Style is your complete personal guide to Sony consumer electronics. To receive your copy for $4.95, plus $1.50 shipping and handling, call 1-800-848-SONY. Visa and MC. Offer expires 6/96.
devised a solution. The problem was eventually traced to miscommunication between “enhanced” Nothing delivers high fidelity sound like digital technology. Just like Compact discs, the DV format uses PCM ¢= 10] {= ole(— mie(6)l(=eo le) a= ee)]aellalen so you'll enjoy more than 9Gdb of dynamic range. With DV, there are two audio recording modes: ' e 16-bit mode offers one pair of stereo tracks (Left and Right) and achieves up to the same quality as CD or DAT tape. e 12-bit mode offers two pairs of stereo® tracks (L1 & R11, L2 & Re2) which allows you to add stereo music or narration to your on-location stereo sound. Of course with DV, your options don’t end with recording. The DV In/Out means your data can be sent as a digital signal to other DV compatible equipment. So you can now edit multiple generations with virtually no deterioration of picture or sound quality. And since the DV In/Out interface supports ial al=\\ae oleae) ole)—\\=\\e Melolaalagl@lal(et—l(oln— m=)a@l7e/e10) (9)=)= = ee a sleiemel(elic—) lial <ielemiuiea| computers will be possible in the future.
process of sending antenna distribution programming from system will tap into the DSS signal. room to room. Borrowing a page If the system from the Channel employs one DSS CAMELBACK CAMERA EBER ELECTRONICS TRAVISS A/V THE GOOD GUYS! Phoenix San Francisco Des Moines All Locations FOTO FORUM FRY’S ELECTRONICS VIDEO ONLY Phoenix All Locations WOLFE’S CAMERA All Locations RICK’S TV GASSER'S Topeka Show Low ie2)an Francisco BRYN MAWR STEREO & ROH'S PENN CAMERA AV}B)=10) Tucson _USKINS CAMERA Rockville Philadelphia SOUND BANK tockton PROVIDEO CAMERA SOUND Lake Havasu EEBLE & SHUCHAT PHOTO- Rockville Philadelphia DRAAPQHYD GENESIS CAMERA DERSON’S Palo Alto NEWTONVILLE CAMERA Bryn Mawr edwood City MEADOWS CAMERA ewtonville HIFl HOUSE UDIO VIDEO CITY Stockton Broomall iver City. Santa Monica REFERENCE AUDIO VIDEO NATIONAL CAMERA NEW YORK CAMERA wWELwoArIzRvaC,AyMERA Gardena inneapolis Feasterville Los Angeles SAMY’S CAMERA BOOT’S CAMERA Goleta, Los Angeles SOUND CENTER DURY’S Fresno SHERMAN OAKS CAMERA inneapolis Nashville CAL'S CAMERA Sherman Oaks Costa Mesa THE GOOD GUYS! BROAD BROS. 10160)\\)\\|stnA) 40) CANOGA CAMERA All Locations St. Louis All Locations (Store Only) Canoga Park VIDEO ONLY ROSCOE TV ED KELLUM & SON CONVOY AUDIO/VIDEO All Locations Kansas City PETES San Diego WESTCHESTER TV RADIO LAB CROWN CAMERA Bakersfield ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIFI Lubbock Redding Great Falls VIDEO REVOLUTION MIKE’S CAMERA Tulsa M=Yolgammanle)gom-lelele] male) Boulder 1510101,¢5) 51010) @7-\\i\\edVpty WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO new Digital Handycam ROBERT WAXMANS Omaha Dallas camcorders at Sony's Denver World Wide Web Site at: CAMERA STOP TV SPECIALISTS http://www.sel.sony.com/ NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ Medford Salt Lake City SEL/consumer/camcorder/ Select Locations RANDS CAMERA dv.html Toms River CRUTCHFIELD SARASOTA CAMERA RECORD SHOP Charlottesville (Store Only) © 1995 Sony Electronics Sarasota Cherry Hill LEE HARTMANN Inc. All rights reserved. SOUND ADVICE Roanoke in(clelceyelUletlelam iam iualel(omels Miami THE CANDYMAN PALACE RADIO & TV in part without written Santa Fe Arlington permission is prohibited. WOLF CAMERA & VIDEO VIDEO DIRECT Sony, Handycam, Digital B&H PHOTO Handycam, SteadyShot, Atlanta New York (Store Only) Newport News ReadyCharge, DV logo, BERGER BROS. and Diamond-Like- ABT TV & APPLIANCE New York (Store Only) HUPPIN’S Carbon are trademarks Chicago J&R MUSIC Spokane fo) elea)hVA HELIX CAMERA New York (Store Only) KENT VIDEO Chicago NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ Kent SONY Select Locations MAGNOLIA HIFI LEHMAN ELECTRONICS All Locations One Sony Drive Fort Wayne CAMERA WORLD THE GOOD GUYS! rel Gite le(-aN OMOWAotole) ROBERTS DISTRIBUTORS Portland (Store Only) All Locations Indianapolis MAGNOLIA HIFI Avi70)10m@)\\\\|4 All Locations All Locations STEINER ELECTRONICS NELSON'S TV & RADIO Lewiston Klamath Falls CAMERA CORNER STEINLEYS PHOTOCHART SYSTEMS NW SONY ONLY Green Bay Coeur D'Alene Portland HALL TV SHUTTERBUG THE CAMERA CORNER Salem Milwaukee Davenport
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devised a solution. in this innovative solution,” Room Correction System, The problem was adding that as a result of which uses digital signal eventually traced to could be simulcast to miscommunication their confidence the processing (DSP) to complement a televised between “enhanced” sporting event. A special DSS signals and the warranty on ail Sony DSS correct for acoustic online offering could be MPEG decoder simulcast to enhance a TV employed by the units sold through the end anomalies in even the show. Or a broadcast system could be used as a receiver in the two of 1995 would be funkiest of rooms. How do download engine for bulk systems, according data—an MPC, for to Sony. The extended to 1 year parts it know? A calibrated example, could receive “enhanced” signals big-bit A/V clips overnight. appeared to be and labor. — Bill Wolfe microphone measures the upgraded MPEG-2 signals, DirecTV plans to launch which DirecTV and USSB way in which up to six a multimedia service that'll were phasing in at the provide programming time. Though the decoders room service speakers interact with for MPCs. And computer are essentially MPEG-2- hardware companies are compatible, a software Nothing makes a the room. Using this discussing the possibility code was required to home-theater system of building a DSS receiver clarify decoding protocols. sound ordinary faster than data, the unit employs into MPCs. In an unprecedented a bad listening space—no move, DirecTV and USSB matter how much you've proprietary digital — Marjorie Costello began transmitting the spent on the components. code as a corrective If your living room is technology to correct for “patch” via their satellites acoustically challenged, during the week of Snell has just the thing for amplitude and phase September 11. you: The RSC 1000 Digital At presstime, there was problems. But there’s one no word whether the patch had been successful. But catch: The RCS 1000 is for an official Sony press release noted the home theaterphiles only, company’s “confidence running a princely $18,000. —MH sky patch viewmaster Not much larger than a a plot synopsis. The credit card, MovieViews downside: MovieViews Owners of Sony’s SAS-B1 You're out to dinner and ($50) is powered by an can't be updated as new and SAS-BD1 DSS you need to settle a bet. integral lithium battery. A films are released. systems reported seeing You're sure the cast of mini keyboard lets you numerous freeze frames Alice Doesnt Live Here search for films by title, But that won't stop you and green streaks Anymore, Martin cast, director, MPAA from collecting on your when watching DSS Scorsese's 1974 slice-of- rating, Academy Award bet. By the time you've programming over a American-life, includes winners, year of initial punched in “Alice D” on roughly 4-week period longtime Scorsese release, or theme; cursor MovieView’s mini beginning in mid-August. favorite Harvey Keitel. keys let you scroll keyboard, it’s found the Though Sony said the Your friends disagree, through the listing for a film, and you've proven freeze frames and artifacts and you're itching to film, which includes cast that the cast does indeed were confined to only 2.5 prove them wrong—and and director details pius include Keitel. Time to percent of all Sony DSS pick up a free meal in the send for the wine list. systems that had been process. Your best bet: sold, they stopped Just reach into your —MH shipping the two pocket or purse and pull systems to retailers for out MovieViews, a pocket several days in early movie guide from September while they Franklin (800.762.5382) researched the problem that stores vital and, along with engineers information on over from DSS programmers 5,000 films. DirecTV and USSB, VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 17
PASSIWE SUBS “0 rag =\" = oa ‘ = “ (. Oe) aati 7 C & wl « The I1T-10D - ere & 10” DUAL VOIGE COIL SUB, FOR SMALLER ROOMS. ACOUSTICALLY MATCHESOUR HT-S5 SATELLITES } / The H17-12D 12” DUAL VOICE COIL SUB, IDEAT MATCH FOR OUR HT-MDG OR HT-S6 SATELLITES. 150 WATTS/VOICE COIL The HT-110 10° SUBWOOFER, ACOUSTICALLY MATOURCHTH-S6 ESATESLLITES SPL? 121 DECIBELS. BUCKLE UP. The HT-210C MAGNETICALLY SHIELDED, 125DB PV STAND. DUAL 10” SUBS, 6.5\" CEN- TER CHANNEL. HANDLES 300 WATTS ACTIVE SUBS -_ The HT-1OPHR 10° SUBWOOFER, WITH 100 WATT INTERNAL POWER AMPLIFIER AND REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL They make big screen TV huge. The HT-12PWR Part of the audience? With Cerwin- 12° SUBWOOFER, WITH 150 WATT INTERNAL POWER AMP AND REMOTE VOLUME CONTROL. KABOOM! Vega SenSurround, youre part of the action. Six home theater subwoofers (two of which have in- ternal power amps and remote volume controls). Deep bass? Down to 30 Hz. Power handling? Up to 300 watts. Television, for your ears. SENSURROUND /1o01 CERWIN-VEGA! TiLuaTL LE Lip. ©1995 Cerwin-Vega, Inc, All rights reserved. For more info on Cerwin-Vega® please write to us at 5 East Easy Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065. Or call 805-: Surround® is a trademark of MCA Systems, Inc. AWARes? Cerwin-Vega SenSurround subwoofers systems we s and Engineering Awards . 1994, and 1995. (The audience sheering.) CIRCLE NO. 9 ON READER SERVICE CARD
DIGITAL REALITY Toshiba’s family of SD DVDs THE BIG ONEpushes the technology envelope VERY NOW AND THEN, TECHNOLO- from a huge industry convention in DVDs are cut, also laserdisc-like, with Berlin suggest that the MMCD/SD fight constant linear velocity (CLY). gy radically shakes up the world, may turn out to be less confrontational forever changing the consumer than the recent Tyson—McNeeley fight, On a microscopic level, SD-DVD uses landscape and the way in which we in which Mr. McNeeley lasted about a track pitch of 0.74 pm, and the mini- live. Consider how altered our real- half as long as the “Star Spangled Ban- mum pit/land length is 0.4 um; these di- ity would be without such wonders as ner.” In fact, the prospects of a single mensions are about half that of the mu- the microprocessor chip or geostation- unified format are burning brighter sic CD and similar to those of the ary satellites. But it’s still difficult to de- every day. MMCD. The SD-DVD also specifies a termine exactly how big any given techquake and its aftershocks will be. Whether there’s war or peace, we ex- lens with a numerical aperture of 0.6; The introduction of the CD, for exam- pect to see players in one or two DVD this is close enough to the MMCD’s ple, measured an eight on the Richter formats on shelves sometime in 1996. lens, which has an NA of 0.52. Also like scale. But the launch of the DCC format And in terms of sheer performance, we the MMCD, the SD-DVD stores hours was only a one (most people, in fact, have every reason to be very excited, as and hours of high-quality digital video slept through that mild disturbance). and multichannel digital audio, but, un- All of which brings us to our examination of Sony/Philips’ MM- like MMCD, it can do so on either one the digital videodisc CD-type DVD [“Digital Reality,” Octo- (DVD). After seeing ber 1995] proved. A close look at Toshi- or both sides of the disc. the technical speci- ba’s Super Density Digital Video Disc As with MMCD, the (SD-DVD), and their family of SD SD-DVD employs fications, I’m fore- discs, only adds fuel to the fire. MPEG-2 data cod- casting that this will be ing to perform The Big One. AT FIRST GLANCE, THE SD-DVD SEEMS data reduction. very familiar. It looks like an MMCD Digital process- DVD should prove to be a and a CD, being the same size (120 mm) ing is required to monster storage device for movies, and thickness (1.2 mm). But SD discs squeeze the vast quan- multimedia programs, and music. It will are actually comprised of two 0.6-mm- eventually prove to be superior to all ex- thick discs bonded together—like the tity of digital data that repre- isting consumer formats in terms of per- laserdisc—on the data-pit side; the read- sents the original video/audio file— formance and capacity. It will be more ing laser’s light travels through half the which may comprise 300 GB or convenient and more durable than tape. substrate thickness as in a regular CD. more—onto one small disc. Fortunately, And I expect that it'll seriously chal- Toshiba engineers point out, correctly, a good coding algorithm enables MPEG-2 lenge the CD within 10 years. Think that a thinner disc is advantageous be- to perform its squeezing act with very about a single disc—and a single player, cause it’s inherently more resistant to er- modest degradation. of course—that can spin movies and rors that result when a disc is slightly music albums with images and sound tilted relative to the laser pickup. Data is MPEG-2, unlike the MPEG-1 process that surpass anything you’ve seen or placed on the disc surface over a diame- heard before. That’s DVD. Nothing is ter from 48 to 116 mm, with lead-in and used with Video CDs (and, with increas- simple in the technology marketplace, lead-out areas before and after it. SD- ing frequency, in multimedia applica- of course, and that happens to go double tions), is a smart coding method. It al- for DVD. lows a variable bit rate in which the flow of data depends entirely on the sig- In addition to all of the usual engi- nal’s demands. A complex, rapidly neering and manufacturing hurdles, the changing picture requiring high resolu- format has already spawned one of the tion, for example, would receive a high most complex corporate ballets ever. The Sony/Philips forces and the Toshiba bit rate, whereas a simple low-resolution forces have proposed similar but incom- picture that was static would demand patible DVD formats (MMCD and SD, and receive far fewer bits. In this way, respectively), and they’ve danced circles bits are used more efficiently, effectively around the question of head-to-head saving them for the most demanding CPBITRMHOWOAOMSGT-I.EOFC:cAFSCEo/ESWnTA/fRDNCrERontation or cooperation. Reports signals. Bottom line: SD-DVD is adver- tising a picture resolution of 720 x 480 pixels, and in early auditions industry experts have given it high marks for pic- VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 BY KEN C. POHLMANN 19
ture quality. The format also provides DVD is its ability to store multiple tion codes, Cl and C2, which can be for both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Fur- camera-angle and story functions. This decoded multiple times to improve per- thermore, Toshiba and their format allows program producers to include formance. Toshiba engineers claim that partners—including Time Warner, various scenes, images, and camera an- RS-PC will prove to be superior to Thomson, Matsushita, Hitachi, and sev- gles, and the user can interactively CIRC Plus in read-write applications eral Hollywood movie studios—are choose which to view. Up to nine dif- committed to supplying both NTSC ferent camera angles can be coded, for because of the limited (32-kB) data (United States and Japan) and PAL example. In addition, SD provides a area over which RS-PC operates; the lockout-type option so that parents can larger CIRC Plus areas, they say, will (Europe and South America) discs and keep kids (or grandparents) from get- make it difficult to deal with random players. ting into programs that may not be write errors. Sony and Philips disagree, good for them. of course. The choice of audio coding for SD- DVDs is slightly surprising—Dolby When all is said and done, SD-DVD Similarly, the SD-DVD beefs up the Surround AC-3 will definitely be used will support a maximum data rate of standard EFM specification, creating for NTSC discs, but MPEG-2 audio cod- 10.8 Mbps, including video, audio, and the eight-to-fifteen modulation code. In ing will be employed for PAL discs. some header information. In compari- The overall MPEG-2 structure allows for son, the MMCD’s maximum rate is 8-15 modulation (I guess we shouldn’t either method, and the decision to em- 11.2 Mbps. On the other hand, the SD- call it EFM), 8-bit words are converted brace both audio formats was probably DVD’s average bit rate is about 3.5 to 15-bit recording data using conver- politically motivated, based on local fa- Mbps, while the MMCD’s average rate sion tables, with a minimum run length voritism. In any case, the format sup- of 2 and a maximum run length of 12. ports 5.1-channel digital audio with a Eight-to-fifteen An analysis of modulation codes isn’t bit rate of 384 kbps. modulation trivial, and it’s difficult to compare 8- records 1.2 times 15 to EFM Plus. But that hasn’t An interesting wrinkle is that each more data than stopped Toshiba’s engineers, who feel disc will have the capacity to hold three EFM Plus in the that 8-15 is the better choice because it independent 384-kbps audio channels. same data area. can record 1.2 times more data than Theoretically, an SD-DVD could store EFM Plus in the same disc area. Other its soundtrack in three different coding is 3 Mbps. A two-sided SD-DVD has a factors, such as error correction and da- schemes—two channels could use AC- total capacity of 10 GB, while the sin- ta clocking, make this a complex and 3 and MPEG-2, for example, and a third gle-sided dual-layer MMCD has a ca- very debatable issue, however, and it could use a maverick format such as pacity of 7.4 GB. wouldn’t be wise to draw conclusions DTS or Sony’s SDDS. unless you did some pretty detailed These differences can be interpreted analysis. Also somewhat surprising, but entire- in at least two different ways. Sony and ly welcome, is the decision to specify Philips say that because their coding is That’d be possible only if the two an SD disc that has high-quality linear so efficient, they don’t need the extra formats don’t merge, so I hope we nev- PCM audio tracks. This stereo disc for- bits. Toshiba says “bits is bits,” and be- er get the chance to compare the two cause they have more of them available methods—though it’d be nice to know mat, which Toshiba calls SD-Audio, every second, they can provide higher which was superior if a merger were will offer sampling rates of either 48 or quality signals. Everything else being pending so that we could press for it to 96 kHz and word lengths from 16 to 24 equal, Toshiba’s position seems more be included. Why wouldn’t the superior bits. Audiophiles with a technical bent logical. Bottom line: At an average rate method be included automatically? Be- will realize that this is a theoretical of 3.5 Mbps, the SD-DVD is said to cause a DVD merger would be big dream come true—basically, it doubles surpass the picture quality of a laser- business, and cooperation at this level the music CD’s sampling rate and in- disc. And at that average rate, one 5- always includes compromises and give- creases maximum word length by 50 GB side of an SD-DVD can hold 142 and-take. percent. All the technically challenged minutes of programming. need to know is that SD-Audio should THOUGH THE EXACT DETAILS ARE be an improvement over the best CDs Now I said “everything else being still sketchy, Toshiba envisions an en- you can buy today. In terms of sheer equal,” but everything else isn’t equal. tire family of super-density formats, in- performance, therefore, music aficiona- The MMCD uses variations on the cluding SD-DVD, SD-Audio, SD- dos may feel compelled to upgrade to CD’s CIRC error-correction code and SD-Audio. And if everything turns out its eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM) ROM (doing for the CD-ROM what alright, you’ll be able to use one SD code, called CIRC Plus and EFM Plus, SD-Audio may do for the CD—that is, player to spin high-quality movie and respectively. As with CIRC and CIRC surpass it), and SD-R (write-once) and audio discs. Plus, the SD-DVD uses a Reed- SD-RAM (phase-change rewritable) Solomon code for error correction; recordable DVDs. SD-DVD would The SD-DVD accommodates up to here, however, the code is known as store video and audio material, SD-Au- eight language tracks and up to 32 sub- RS-PC (Reed Solomon-Product Code). dio would store audio only, and SD- title texts. Subtitles have a resolution of ROM, SD-R, and SD-RAM are intend- 720 x 480 pixels and are compressed RS-PC uses two interleaved correc- ed mainly for computer applica- with run-length coding. Because these tions—though SD-Rs could be used for channels can also be used for simple graphics, they’re sometimes called recording movies, TV shows, and other “subpicture” channels. A/V programming. Because the family members share the same file format, Another interesting feature of SD- 20 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
there is compatibility between family data layers (they’re only about 40 pm crease the cost of the player. The SD-10 types. apart) by simply moving the objective could be used for longer films or for lens—a simple bit of engineering that, adding “supplemental” material rele- In all of these formats, SD data is in practice, can be switched in a matter vant to the film, such as interviews with recorded in a basic recording unit of milliseconds. Because the SD-9’s the director or stars, outtakes, original called a sector. Each sector holds 2,048 construction particulars slightly reduce trailers, the movie’s screenplay, or kB of data along with header informa- reflectivity, overall storage capacity is videogames. tion and error-correction data. All SD slightly reduced—down to 4.5 GB per family members will adhere to the OS- layer from 5 GB. Finally, the SD-18 disc is a double- TA (Optical Storage Technology Asso- sided double-layer disc in which two ciation) file system or the Micro-OSTA SD-10 is a double-sided disc, with different 0.6-mm substrates are bonded format, both of which are based on the one layer per side. Two 0.6-mm-thick together and read from opposite disc ISO 13346 standard and govern how substrates are bonded together and read sides—providing a total of four data data is stored on digital media. This from opposite sides of the disc. The layers. Toshiba also envisions single- helps ensure compatibility among many disc would have to be manually flipped, and double-sided SD-R discs, holding 4 computer platforms. In addition, SD- the player’s laser would have to skate and 8 GB, respectively, as well as sin- DVD, SD-Audio, and SD-ROM will al- around to the second side after it was gle- and double-sided SD-RAM discs, so adhere to the ISO 9660 file format, a done playing the first side, or they’d holding 2.6 and 5.2 GB, respectively. widely used means of representing data have to build in two laser pickups; in computer applications. clearly, the first and third options in- SINCE TOSHIBA HAS FIXED THE SD FAMI- Various types of SD discs are denoted WEB WATCH by their storage capacity. SD-5, SD-9, SD-10, and SD-18 are all envisioned, | know, it's only rock and money roll with subindexes declaring their capaci- ty. SD-5 is the basic, single-sided sin- IF YOU SURFED THE NET IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU’LL RECALL THAT YOU NEVER HAD gle-layer type, with a manufacturing cost that’s pretty close to that of the CD to dodge ads of any kind—because there weren’t any. Netiquette forbade any kind (it'd be 14 percent more expensive than the CD, to be exact). An SD-5 disc is of selling or promoting, and anyone who broke the rules got severely flamed. Oh, very much like a regular CD. The main technical difference is that, in a CD, the how times have changed. Today, the Web is swimming in thinly veiled commercial- reflective data layer is at the top of the 1.2-mm substrate; in a SD-5, the layer ism—and, ironically, for all its rebel roots, rock-and-roll is at the heart of it. is at the top of a 0.6-mm substrate, with another 0.6-mm substrate applied I’ve never visited Cleveland, and qP above it for protection and rigidity. Toshiba estimates that 96.6 percent of most people I know haven’t either. all Hollywood movies could fit on a single SD-5 disc, which can hold 142 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was minutes of better-than-laserdisc pro- gramming. built to change that, by luring tour- SD-9 is a single-sided double-layer ists to town. The Hall’s web page disc, and both layers can be read with- out disc flipping, laser skating, or the (http://www.rockhall.com) lets you use of two laser pickups. With SD-9 discs, one 0.6-mm substrate is formed visit the museum virtually, read and its data layer is covered with a re- flective aluminum layer. Then a second about its exhibits, rummage through 0.6-mm substrate is formed, but its data layer is covered with a semi-reflective its archives, and listen to brief sound- material. A Uv-hardening resin is placed on the semi-reflective layer, the bites and historical narratives from first substrate’s data layer is pressed against it, and a Uv light is shined on the top 500 songs that shaped rock- the disc to bond the substrates together. (This is similar but not identical to and-roll. The site is kind of boring, Sony/Philips’ MMCD; Toshiba says the SD-9 is less expensive to manufacture actually, and pages from Mobil than the dual-layer MMCD, since the MMCD’s second data surface must be and Fodor’s travel guides don't pressed into the internal resin before it’s hardened.) The reading laser’s light stir things up much. can be focused on either of the SD-9’s Though it’s the ultimate in crass commercialism, Molson’s site (http://www.molsonice.com/) is pretty cool: It’ll let you check out the Labor Day concert at Tuktoyaktuk, a chilly place a mere 200 miles from the Arctic Circle (it definitely isn’t mentioned in Fodor’s). You'll al- so find lots of information on new music and a collection of QuickTime “movies” you can download. Attempting to deflect any thoughts that selling beer is the only thing on their minds, Molson’s conscientious execs also let you visit the Center for Marine Conservation. : If Rockhall is stale, Rocktropolis (http://underground.net/Rocktropolis/) is anything but. The Trop is a rock-and-roll theme park, and their net page promises that it’s only a “prototype of things to come.” After you choose a “bandwidth an- gel,” you can wander through the Trop’s surreal space; irritating text is in short sup- ply, and fantasy graphics are plentiful. You'll need a Netscape browser to make sense of Rocktropolis—even with Netscape, you may have a tough time (I did). Commercialism occasionally rears its ugly head when, like a soldier stepping on a land mine, you click on a page with an 800 number for ordering rock-and-roll mer- chandise. Still, like most things in cyberspace, I don’t understand Rocktropolis . . . but I like it. —KCP. VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 21
“Cambridge SoundWorks Ome Theater For For many speaker designers and standard for Our Surround Speakers manufacturers, home theater is a home theater relatively new idea. But the people who components. magnetically shielded so they can be work at Cambridge SoundWorks - placed near a TV or computer monitor. including our cofounder Henry Kloss Because we Center/Surround IV is a compact, one- (who also founded AR, KLH and sell carefully way speaker identical to our Ensemble® Advent) - have been involved with the matched and IV satellite speakers. $49.99. Center/ concept of home theater from the tested home Surround III is a small, affordable two- beginning. In 1969 (years before VCRs theater speaker way speaker. $79.99. Center Channel is and cable TV), Henry Kloss founded identical to a Cambridge SoundWorks Advent, the company that introduced systems factory-direct, Ensemble satellite (but with magnetic the first home theater audio/video with no expensive middlemen, shielding). $149.99. Center Channel systems - complete with big-screen TVs you can save hundreds of dollars. We Plus uses an ultra-low, ultra-wide and digital surround sound. We have believe the products on these pages design that is ideal for placement above had an ongoing relationship with the represent the country’s best values in (or, with optional support stand, below) people at Dolby Laboratories, creators high performance home theater a TV monitor. $219.99. of Dolby Surround Sound, since Henry components. Audio critics, and thou- Kloss introduced the first consumer sands of satisfied customers, agree. Surround Speakers products with Dolby noise Stereo Review said Cambridge SoundWorks makes two “Cambridge “dipole radiator” surround sound Our Center Channel Speakers SoundWorks speakers. Dolby Laboratories recom- manufactures mends dipole radiator speakers for use reduction over 20 years ago. And now loudspeakers as surround speakers. 7he Surround has at Cambridge SoundWorks we believe a very high power handling capacity we have set a new price-to-performance that provide excep- and is often selected for “high end” tional sound quality at surround sound systems. Audio, affordable prices.” Audio suggested that describing a system that included 7he we “may have the best value in the Surround said “In many ways the world.” surround sensation was every bit as good as far more expensive installa- Center Channel Speakers tions.” $399.99 pr. The smaller 7he Surround IT is arguably the country’s Cambridge SoundWorks best value in a dipole radiator speaker. manufactures four speakers $249.99 pr. for use as center channel speakers in Dolby Pro Logic home theater systems. All four are
ns The War Killer Affordable @ Stereo Review Powered Subwoofers Our Most Popular Home Theater » The original Powered Subwoofer by Speaker System. Cambridge SoundWorks consists of a S— is incredibly easy to hook up and to heavy-duty 12\" woofer housed in an use. It consists of an Aiwa center unit acoustic-suspension cabinet with a 140- Home Theater Speaker Systems that includes a Dolby Pro Logic receiver, watt amplifier and a built-in electronic CD changer, dual cassette deck, remote crossover. Stereo Review said it pro- We have assembled a number of home control - and our Ensemble IV Home vides “deep powerful bass...31.5 Hz theater speaker systems that consist of Theater speaker system. It sounds bass output was obtainable at a room- great, fits into any room, and sells for shaking level... they open the way to center channel, surround and an introductory price of only $899.99. having a ‘killer’ system for an afford- main stereo speakers. able price.” $799.99. The combination we Factory-Direct Savings show here is our best Our Powered Subwoofers seller. It includes our The speakers in this ad are critically acclaimed available only directly Our Slave Subwoofer uses the same Ensemble dual sub- from Cambridge woofer driver and cabinet, but does not woofer satellite speaker SoundWorks, and through “ include the amplifier or crossover. It can system, our Center only be used in conjunction with the cost-efficient Best Buy stores- so you Channel Plus and a pair Powered Subwoofer. $299.99. The new of our best surround can save hundreds of dollars. Order speakers, The Surround. them, then listen in your own homes. If Powered Subwoofer II uses a You could spend hundreds you aren't completely satisfied, return more than its $1,219.97 price without them within 30 days for a full refund. 120-watt amplifier withan 4g improving performance. To Order Factory Direct, For a 8\" woofer. $399.99. Complete Home Theater Free Catalog, Or For Sound Systems Rosen 1-800-FOR-HIFIThe Nearest Store Location, Call We offer a range of complete home ReWissines theater surround sound ~SOUNDWORKS ., systems, ranging from Critically Acclaimed. Factory-Direct. $649.98 to $3,069.93. 311 Needham Street, Suite 130NOV, Newton, MA 02164 The system shown here Tel: 1-800-367-4434 Fax: 617-332-9229 _ Canada: 1-800-525-4434 Our Featured Outside U.S. or Canada: 617-332-5936 Home Theater Sound System © 1995 Cambridge SoundWork: ademark of Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc. KLH is a tra Advent are eieetrademarks of International Jensen Incg dW affiliated with KLH, Advent or AR. CIRCLE NO. 29 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Audio Catalog ly’s major design criteria, work is pro- on a common format and forgo a format ceeding rapidly on both SD hardware war. And the two DVD camps appear to At Cambridge SoundWorks we make unique, and software. According to Toshiba en- be listening. critically-acclaimed speakers and music gineers, first-generation SD-DVD play- systems designed by Henry Kloss (founder of ers will be able to read both single- and How can the computer industry have AR, KLH & Advent). We sell them—and double-layer discs, though all first-gen- this kind of impact? It’s simple: The re- components from companies like Sony, eration discs will have a single data lay- ality is that the swing to digital technol- Pioneer, Philips, Carver and others—factory - er. In addition, first-generation players ogy has essentially merged the comput- direct, with no expensive middlemen. Call are being designed with an eye toward er and audio/video industries. When it today and find out why Audio magazine said future compatibility with read/write became clear that a single family of we may have “the best value in the world.” SD-ROMs and SD-RAMs. Toshiba is discs could be used for all of these ap- * Call toll-free for factory-direct savings. also looking into higher density discs— plications, it became an all-or-nothing ¢ Save hundreds on components and systems possibly manufactured with a shorter proposition for the inventors of the wavelength blue laser. The company DVD formats. And that’s precisely the from Cambridge SoundWorks, Sony, Pioneer, expects these discs to provide a mon- sentiment that underlies the computer AIWA, Harman Kardon, Philips, Carver strous 42 GB of storage! And the plan industry’s call for a single format. and more. is for first-generation SD-DVD hard- ¢ Audio experts will answer your questions ware to play them. At this writing, both Sony/Philips and before and after you buy, 8AM-Midnight Toshiba have acknowledged that sub- (ET), 365 days a year-even holidays. Because of its small pit/land dimen- * 30-Day Total Satisfaction Guarantee on all sions, some critics have questioned First-generation products. whether even the basic SD-5 disc could players are ¢ 7-Year Parts & Labor Speaker Warranty. be economically mass-produced with being designed today’s technology. When I asked a with an eye “Best Buy.” Toshiba spokesman about that, he veri- toward future fied that over | million single-layer SD- compatibility. PC Magazine DVDs have already been manufactured by SD alliance manufacturing partners, stantive talks are being held to deter- Add our award- with defect rates that are similar to winning $219.99 those of the CD. Based on the success mine if a common format can be devel- SoundWorks system of this pilot production run, he says, to your computer, pressing plants are scheduled to begin oped. From an engineering standpoint, radio, TV, or Walk- mass production later this year, with the goal of having 250 movie titles avail- it seems that slight modifications to ei- man for able when the hardware is launched in room filling 1996 and over 750 titles available with- ther side’s error-correction and modula- sound and in a year of the launch. Laserdisc manu- powerful bass. facturing, which also includes a bond- tion methods would result in compati- ing procedure, is mature enough to 1-800-FOR-HIFI minimize worries about bonding prob- bility with the other. The only real lems—particularly “laser rot”’—with Critically-Acclaimed. Factory Direct. SD discs. difference, therefore, lies in the optical CAMBRIDGE ASK ANYONE WHO’S EVER WATCHED A readout. Because disc construction dif- SOUNDWORKS . movie at home whether they'd prefer fers between the formats, it would be one unified format or two competing 311 Needham Street, Suite 130 NOV, Newton MA 02164 formats, and they’ll tell you that the necessary to develop a laser pickup that Tel: 1-800-367-4434 Fax: 617-332-9229 two DVD camps should sit down, have a nice chat over a civilized cup of tea, could read either disc equally well or, Canada; 1-800-525-4434 Outside U.S. or Canada: 617-332-5936 and agree to pool resources to launch ©1995 Cambridge SoundWorks. one DVD system. As the launch date preferably, drop one construction draws near (both sides are aiming for June of 1996), the possibility of cooper- method in favor of the other. Early re- ation has seemed dim. But things are looking up. ports suggest that the common format The. catalyst, interestingly, has been may employ Sony/Philips’ error correc- two reports issued by the computer in- dustry’s Technical Working Group. tion and modulation, while everything This group—representing such heavy- hitters as Apple, Compaq, Fujitsu, else about the disc—including the basic Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Mi- crosoft—urged the two camps to agree disc construction—would follow the Toshiba design. But that has by no means been confirmed. One thing seems clear, though: If the negotiations extend well into the fall, DVD’s launch may be pushed back from the June 1996 target date. Will one DVD or two emerge? Previ- ous talks didn’t end with an agreement, so we shouldn’t be overly optimistic. But there is hope. The economic reality, certainly, is that a single DVD format could be The Big One. The wisest plan would be to approach that ideal in a straight line. a CIRCLE NO. 29 ON READER SERVICE CARD 24 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
GIVE OR GET@& MOVIES FORGREAT MOVIE GIFTS AT A MERRY PRICE. EA. See details below. AT GREAT SAVINGS. WHOOP GOLOMERG MARY LOUISE PARKER TOR HAREY AMOLOYDEVERYDAY 5A NO-MAER. DREW BARRYMORE &ihBOYS ON THE SIDE 1372903 98 1386309 BORN TO BE WILD 1378801 THE RIVER WILD 1336304 GRUMPY OLD MEN 1251503 |THE LAND BEFORE TIME II 1314103 THE COWBOY WAY 1292705 THE LAST SEDUCTION 1372507 TIMECOP 1332204 ACE VENTURA: FRIED GREEN TOMATOES 1005404 BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA _| 1102904 1300409 PET DETECTIVE 1242908 SON-IN-LAW MURDER IN THE FIRST 1371103 THE CLIENT 1192301 WHAT'S LOVE GOT THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE 1362102 THE BODYGUARD 1105907 TO DO WITH IT? ; BABES IN TOYLAND (DISNEY) 0530006 MARY SHELLEY'S 1363803 |THE SHAWSHANK DANCES WITH WOLVES 1218007 BULLETS OVER BROADWAY | 1374503 |FRANKENSTEIN (1994) 0805200 |THE PELICAN BRIEF 1251305 A FAR OFF PLACE 1376904 |MAVERICK 1297209 |REDEMPTION 1345503 |THUMBELINA [1365909 |BLOWN AWAY 1291301 A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME |1370709 |MRS. DOUBTFIRE 1221605 |SILENT FALL 1347806 |WYATT EARP RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK [0910802 READY TO WEAR 1379601 1314905 |A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE 1353309 |THE COLOR PURPLE THE SECRET GARDEN (1993) |1188804 THE ROCKETEER 1377308 THE SPECIALIST 1341700 THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER| 0825000 SAFE PASSAGE THE WAR 1352905 BLUE SKY 1353408 FERN GULLY: 1006808 CAMP NOWHERE THE LAST RAINFOREST DOUBLE DRAGON 1353606 THE FUGITIVE 1197706 ED WOOD 1366202 \\ IN THE ARMY NOW ae EXIT TO EDEN 1348804 | (ia eMeRNe SCARFACE (1983) Ly FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR [0544601 NEW) palsesi GHRISTMAS:,, »0907806 = TRIHCEHIREETRUIACNH OF THE JED 1353705 — =| fae 3|DIRTYDANCING _—=*[ 0495507 |z THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK |1415801 | JUST CAUSE CIRCLE OF THE BEGINNING POMTO8| MAN OF THE 10 5. 1386408 F1R3I3E32N0D2S NACTHIROINSATLMALSAMVPAOCOANT'ISON 0952507] Moaey, ele} |THEBELNLSEOWFSTR.EMLAREYA'SSE[S0404608|i>= CLUB FAVORITES PLO MARS 1416007 |STEEPLESS IN SEATTLE [1154905 |'T’S AWONDERFUL LIFE 0392308 JUNIOR 3 1287804 |aFnOnUR A WFEUDNDEIRNAGLS 4302900 NELL ANGELS IN THE NATURAL BORN KILLERS 1327709 | 45TH ANNIVERSARY ED. 1364504 |& OUTFIELD (1994) 1374909 THE NUTCRACKER (1994) 1382100 |=4 \"SHTAHRREETMEOVIE) 11333343950039 |LDIMeENSeIONn-TeH:E DIFRIENCATLOR |~13S7E8E0S0S9 |wORaG.RrIeSNECUHGSuSR:SiTsOHLTOEMWAsCTHHREISTMAS 0i271n1 TMHOEHILCAASNTS OF(19T9H2E) 1071406 edsetae lieirs L—i_es 2E; TRUE LIES 1327105 |HOOP DREAMS 1358704 |miRACLE ON 34TH STREET 0054700 |BABY'S DAY OUT 1310705 |paRKMAN 2: THE RETURN 3 THE MASK (1994) 1318807 |JASON’S LYRIC RUDOLF THE COLOR OF NIGHT 1343805 | OF DURANT 1372101 |5 SPEED 1297407 |(THEATRICAL VERSION) [1278704] DEATH AND THE MAIDEN 1384809 |= TOMBSTONE 4254200 |LOVE AFFAIR (1994) 1341205 | RED-NOSED REINDEER 0801704 |8 SECONDS 0207407 |DEMON KNIGHT: 1349109 |FROSTY THE SNOWMAN 0801902 |GREASE = JURASSIC PARK 1264001 |MILK MONEY 1241504 | TALES FROM THE CRYPT 1330307 |A CHRISTMAS CAROL 0271007 |BEETHOVEN'S 2ND 1372200 |© THE WIZARD OF OZ 0001404 |NATIONAL LAMPOON'S 1297001 |DROP ZONE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE THE SHADOW 1364306 FREE WILLY 1147503 |ANIMAL HOUSE 1071208 | HIGHER LEARNING 0211508 | CHOIR: LIVE HE’S SISTER ACT 1381805 WHEN A MAN ONLY YOU 0597807 |HOUSEGUEST LOVES A WOMAN 1310507 |THE PAGEMASTER 1342708 | BEEN FAITHFUL 1365204 |STEEL MAGNOLIAS 1330208 |IMMORTAL BELOVED 1400308 |> THE SOUND OF MUSIC 1277409 |PRINCESS CARABOO 1338409 |A CHARLIE LITTLE GIANTS 1033208 |MIAMI RHAPSODY 1372309 |5 SISTER ACT 2 1268101 |PRISCILLA QUEEN OF 1340306 | GROWN CHRISTIIAS 1328707 |BILLY MADISON 1388909 |2, _ _|CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER 1326305 |THE DESERT 0338509 Fpasic INSTINCT {298603 |THE QUICK & THE DEAD 1389402 |2 TT MEE ESEAROL 1376508 |RENAISSANCE MAN 1411107 |& 1345206 |varaLie COLE: HOLLY & WY 1385103 |MONKEY TROUBLE FORREST GUMP 1333202 |THE PROFESSIONAL 1364801 WILLY WONKA AND SWAN PRINCESS 1374008 = SPEECHLESS [1352509 |Quiz SHOW 1366103 |E.7.: THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY {0606103 |THE 3 NINJAS KNUCKLE UP 1401504 | 5° STREET FIGHTER |1384007 |CORRINA, CORRINA 0000802 |SCROOGE 0090001 |3 1334101 |THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL —_|0681106 |THE GODFATHER ANDRE 1335009 | PHILADELPHIA 1251404 |PRETTY WOMAN 0904102 |THE GODFATHER: PART II 0001800 | COBB 1371806 |2 THE JUNGLE BOOK (1994) 1374701 | ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 0289702 |THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS |0805309 | THE GODFATHER: PART Ill 0842302 | MIXED NUTS 1380500 z use your credit card Dept. and our toll-free number. Call 24 hours a day. (For New Video Club Members Only.) LNY nothing—it will be sent automatically. r Advance Selections Columbia House Video Club Dept. LNY Then do your hol- If you'd prefer an alternate selection, P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, IN 47811-1112 iday shopping with the Columbia or none at all, just mail the response House Video Club. You can choose card always provided by the date Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As a member, I need buy just six more any six movies for 1¢ each (plus specified. And you'll always have 14 movies at regular Club prices within the next three years. You may order one or two more movies now for shipping and handling), when you days to decide; if not, you may return $6.95 each—and have less to buy later! And each plus $1.60 each shipping and handling (a total of $9.66). discount purchase reduces your membership join the Club. In exchange, you the selection at our expense. obligation by one! agree to buy just six more movies Also send my first selection for $6.95 plus $1.75 shipping/handling which I’m adding to my in the next three years, at our regu- $9.66 payment (total: $18.36). + then need buy only 5 more lar Club prices (which currently As soon as you become a member, (instead of 6) in 3 years. start as low as $19.95, plus ship- you'll be eligible for our generous Also send still one more selection for an _ ping/handling)—and you may can- money-saving bonus plan! It enables additional $6.95 plus $1.75 shipping/handling (total: $27.06). I then need eed _ cel membership at any time after you to enjoy more great savings on Please check how paying: BRW BRZ BR3 buy only 4 more (instead | doing so. What’s more, you can the movies you want—right from the My check is enclosed. of 6) in 3 years. get two more movies for the low start of your membership! BRX BRI BR4 price of $6.95 each and have much We'll Charge my introductory movies and future Club purchases to: less to buy later (see details in MasterCard (1) Diners Club 1)AMEX) VISA C) Discover coupon). send details of the Club’s operation Account # with your introductory package. If sent every Exp. Date Signature four weeks (up to 13 times a year), not satisfied, return everything reviewing our Director's Selection— within 10 days for a full refund and Name plus scores of alternate movies, no further obligation. including many lower-priced cas- VY Entertaining Address Apts City: settes, down to $14.95. And you may e receive Special Selection mailings up America... State Zip Phone ( ) to four times a year (a total of up to 17 VIDEO buying opportunities per year). One Person Do any of the following apply to you? (41) ata Time If you I own a Personal Computer (1) QO Town a PC with a CD-ROM (2) © I plan to buy a PC with a CD-ROM (3) want the Director’s Selection, do CLUB Note: Columbia House reserves the right to request additional information, rej nyly application or cancel any membership. Canadian residents will be serviced from Toronto. Offer lin -d to residents of th tiguous United States. Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, APO and FPO addres please write for separate offer. Applicable sales tax added to all orders. 1400 N. Fruitridge Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47811-1112. 1614/F95
w % pagPeerrera a 4. i] rw 26 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
10 srie)petelej lz THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT THE i {eq =f tested VCR has become a fixture in rale| compared American households. Many people take them for granted, ROO viewing them as just another ap- pliance in a home full of electronic wonders, Conversely, comedians still like to make fun of their complexities, especially in regard to pro- gramming them for time-shift recording. Nei- ther perspective is really relevant to today’s VCR, though. As we discovered in this test, VCRs are easier to use than ever, but there are significant performance differences between models in a common price range. For starters, something in the neighborhood of $300 will net you a relatively feature-packed VCR with Hi-Fi audio—a must for any model that’s destined to be used in a home-theater system, where soundtrack reproduction is criti- cal to the system’s overall effect. VHS Hi-Fi’s sound quality is excellent indeed, residing sev- eral notches above the analog audio cassette and just a notch below the CD. And practically every movie you'll find at your local rental shop carries stereo or surround Hi-Fi audio tracks. Play one on a well designed home the- ater and the results will be thrilling! A $300 VCR also offers plenty of conve- niences—features that truly make the deck more useful and easier to use. The VCR Plus+ system makes time-shift programming a simple matter of entering a multi-digit code (after you've completed an initial, one-time setup procedure). Cable-box control methods let a VCR time-shift multiple cablecasts in your ab- sence. The clock in some VCRs sets itself auto- matically—and automatically resets itself twice a year for Daylight Savings Time, guarding the integrity of your time-shift commands and pre- venting the dreaded flashing “12:00” in the deck’s display—when your local PBS station inne PBTCHOYONRTYDOSZA _ _~ —sVIDEO. “NOVEMBER 1995 27 i Oe a
MHz), a video sweep (which increases ; frequency from the top to the bottom of the screen), cross hatch, dots, and reso- ; lution. The tapes were played back si- multaneously in two groups of five |) VCRs. We used JVC’s JX-S900 A/V se- HITACHI lector, connected via identical, 6-foot- Four Horsemen: Fisher FVH-4914, Sharp H942U, Hitachi VT-F392A, Optimus Model 59. long Phoenix Gold EVC-2 A/V cables, Overleaf: Toshiba M-661, Panasonic PV-4562, Sony SLV-740HF. to switch between them and compare the test patterns. For viewing, we used Most VCRs in this price range come Hitachi’s VT-F392A, JVC’s HR- Sony’s PVM-2530 broadcast-grade Trinitron monitor (which was first ad- with a universal remote control, which VP624U, Optimus’ Model 59, Pana- justed using the A Video Standard test is capable of operating other brands of laserdisc spinning in a Pioneer CLD- TVs and cable boxes. Some VCRs even sonic’s PV-4562, Samsung’s VR8805, have jog/shuttle controls, simplifying Sharp’s H942U, Sony’s SLV-740HF, D703). Winners in this initial round the process of finding specific spots on and Toshiba’s M-661. then slugged it out in A/B comparisons a tape; sometimes you'll find them on a for top ranking. deck’s front panel and on its remote We discovered plenty of differences (though many offer slightly less useful among these VCRs. But there are simi- To see how the VCRs performed with shuttle-only lookalikes). And picture larities as well. All but three of the ordinary prerecorded movies, I also quality, even at this relatively afford- models delivered very good to excel- took a look at several scenes from Al- able price, approaches the ceiling of the lent sound quality, for example, and bert Brooks’ Defending Your Life. This standard VHS format. even the exceptions to this rule did rea- film isn’t particularly noteworthy in sonably well. All of the VCRs offered a terms of performance, but it happens to To get a fix on what $300 or so can be one of my all-time favorites, so I can buy in terms of features, ease of use, number of what, by extension, we must watch it again and again without losing and performance, we assembled a cast my mind. As expected, differences of 10 VCRs from major manufacturers consider standard features, including were less noticeable here—though they and put them through their paces both were still visible. in the lab and in a home-theater system. four video heads, still-frame and slow- Manufacturers who accepted the invita- motion playback, frame advance, and In ranking the VCRs, I was looking tion to participate were given only two auto rewind. primarily for the best picture quality. stipulations when deciding which of But to help distinguish between simi- their models to send—the VCR had to As mentioned, our test procedure in- lar performers, other factors were have a Hi-Fi audio section, and its sug- volved both technical measurements weighed—overall ease of use, the gested retail price had to fall between and actual in-system evaluations. Tech- swiftness of search speeds, still-frame $300 and $400. The cast includes Fish- nical editor Lance Braithwaite recorded quality (I rated the quality of the pic- a series of standard video test patterns ture when the VCR was paused), even er’s FVH-4914, GoldStar’s GVR-E468, on the VCRs, using JVC’s base-grade front-panel styling. And they’re off! SX blank tape for all. Test patterns in- cluded color bars, a yellow field, multi- FISHER FVH-4914 burst stripes (six sets of vertical lines The FVH-4914 ($330) is fairly light representing 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 3.58, and 4 on features. VCR Plus+ and cable-box control aren’t on tap. The remote con- trol is well designed, however, with a big PLAY button and a shuttle dial that offers two rapid-search speeds—a rela- tively slow 5x at sp and a relatively quick 27x at EP are the maximums (the front panel doesn’t offer the shuttle). Another button on the remote triggers the slow-motion function. Rewind time for a T-120 tape was comparatively slow, clocking in at 3:45. The 4914 has a confusing menu sys- tem—after I selected my preference for English-language instructions, it auto- matically initiated channel search, which took several minutes and could only be canceled by turning the VCR off. While this may prove handy for technophobes, it literally took the ball out of my hands. Test patterns showed that the 4914 had trouble with picture detail: Hori- 28 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
‘We couldnt have said it better ourselves. — excerpts from Audio Magazine, by Anthony H. Cordesman 5? hie tars dhe él: sieae of: Adcom GFA-5800 stands out even ina (6 this is a product that ome ee nies world where almost deserves attention. ” all amplifjiers now deieae abeie eeee sound good. yy truly affordable. yy i “yoy may be 61 is also a little difficult to surprised to find believe that this amplifier is in out how good the $1500 price range. yy your speakers are _— 7 soe, an @ L this quality. 9” a{3 fiaoe‘ 9 ©The ima ging, soundstage, Rhee!as Adcom once ‘ mits riive aid aieewn neek dthyenaAmdiccso,m aGnFdA-t5r8an0s0parheandcytheof pcohwaenrgedamptlhiefisetranmdaarrkdest owfimthe overall musicality are kind of realism and integration the 559, it has introduced a had oie) aa I only expect to find in far more new product that may similarly fier noveosting attean expensive products. 9 change the market again. yy twice its price range. yy The Adcom GFA-5800 amplifier is quite possibly the best amplifier you may ever hear. We know it sounds better than others selling for more than twice its price. Delivering 250 watts continuous per channel into 8 ohms between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, its circuit design and component specifications are in a class by itself. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Send us your name and address and we will send you a reprint of Audio’s review as well as detailed literature. Or better yet, simply ask to listen to the GFA-5800. Your ears will tell you Feet teats ee aaa aaaeiaiaieieeeiaiatae | all you need to know. A [_] Send me Audio’s review and detailed literature on the @ \"S| Adcom GFA-5-§800 ; c8s r5a:i Name State - Zip itiOtey 9! << 3! Address | 19 a 1@ 3} City © 11 Elkins Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 U.S.A. (908) 390-1130. x Mail to: Adcom, 11 Elkins Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 U.S.A. Distributed in Canada by PRO ACOUSTICS INC. Montréal, Québec (514) 344-1226 Par ace A Shatner sy actbait 4 teleRSP AO ec SRR ae Rt Aa a CIRCLE NO. 1 ON READER SERVICE CARD
zontal resolution was just 220 lines at both sp and ep. Picture-noise levels were respectably low, however. This probably reflects a conscious design de- cision—noise can be reduced by filter- ing out high-frequency picture informa- tion. Unfortunately, this type of fil- tering reduces fine picture detail. A lot of rainbow shimmering was vis- ible in the resolution and multiburst test patterns, indicating inadequate comb filtering. Still frames looked very jittery at SP speed, though they were slightly better at EP; in both cases, however, a double image that resembled a vertical ghost was evident. GOLDSTAR GVR-E468 Three’s company: Goldstar GVR-E468, JVC HR-VP624U, Samsung VR8805. The GVR-E468 ($340) looks fairly group, the remote control has illuminat- as with some other models. Still frames ordinary, though its basic transport con- ed buttons—a real plus when you’re were torn at sp speed, but they looked trols aren’t unified: The PLAY button is watching tapes in a darkened room. much better at EP. built into a mock-shuttle arrangement Search speeds were on the slow side, of fast-forward and rewind buttons on however, clocking in at 5x in sp and 15x JVC HR-VP624U the right side of the front panel, while in EP. The T-120 rewind took a re- If looks could kill, the HR-VP624U the stop/eject button is on the left. But spectable 2:40. the remote control is excellent: It’s ($399) might be worthy of a year-long compact, has a true jog/shuttle dial, and Color distortion was severe, with the trial on Court TV. It has a unique am- includes glow-in-the-dark transport- yellow-field test pattern appearing or- ber-colored display (amber is big in control buttons. A quibble: You have to ange. This can be compensated for with car-stereo circles) and an attractive press a special button to activate the a TV’s tint control, but you’d have to metallic-purple finish. The display in- jog/shuttle. A more significant annoy- readjust it when you switch back to an- cludes a counter, but lacks motion indi- ance: You have to press and hold the cators—you have to activate the on- fast-wind buttons during playback to other source, such as broadcast TV or screen display to see if the VCR is get truly speedy rapid-search speeds cable; this may not be a huge hassle if rewinding, for example. The 624U of- (9X in SP, 27X in EP); if you just press your TV lets you store at least two dif- fers VCR Plus+, cable-box control, and ferent groups of picture-control set- 30 to 120-second commercial skip. The one of these buttons momentarily, rapid tings. There was also quite a bit of rear panel features a simple remote- search just isn’t rapid enough (5x in sP, chroma noise in the yellow field at EP; pause edit-control jack for use with a 15X in EP). The E468 is the only VCR in sp performance was better. Resolution camcorder; the only other deck that fea- this group to offer true double-speed was noticeably worse than that of most tures any edit provisions is the Sony. playback, though you get it without other models at sp. But the comb filter sound; there’s also a time-search func- seemed better than average—though Maximum search speeds measured 7x tion. It was way up there in the tape- there was some rainbow shimmering in at SP and 27x at EP. To slow things rewind heat, clocking in at 2:20. VCR down, the remote offers the unusual Plus+ is part of the feature package, but the multiburst pattern, it wasn’t as bad cable-box control isn’t. The E468 put up mixed numbers, ul- timately landing it in the lower-middle of the pack. While resolution was very good at both sp and Ep, the chroma- noise figures were mediocre at sp and poor at Ep—the yellow field and color bars really didn’t look good at the slow speed. Still-frame quality was pretty good, though a bit of noise was visible near the top of the frame at SP; it was fine at EP. HITACHI VT-F392A The VT-F392A ($349) scores high on the convenience-feature meter. In addi- tion to auto clock setting, you get VCR Plus+ and 60-second commercial skip, but not cable-box control. Alone in this 30 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
The Client *4300409 The Silence Of The Lambs The Making of Jurassic Park 0805309 (Special Edition) 1372606 Bram Stoker's he oes cena Dracula “1102904 The Specialist *1341700 Ace Ventura: a The Adventures of Seta Baron Munchausen *0594309 Pet Detective \"4242908 Grumpy Old Men _ *4251503 See Details Below. Maverick % rey “4297209 Pink Floyd: The Wall 1293802 Rambo: First Blood *0650309 Plus 1 More At Great Savings! 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And you'll always RS oe ee ee ee Sa ee en S| of your favorite movies — on laserdisc! have 14 days to decide; if not, you may Just write in the numbers of the 3 return the selection at our expense. Columbia House Laserdisc Club laserdiscs you want for $1.00 each, plus shipping and handling. In exchange, you Money-Saving Bonus Plan. If you Dept. KK7, P.O. Box 1112, Terre Haute, Indiana 47811-1112 simply agree to buy four more laserdiscs continue your membership after fulfilling in the next two years, at regular Club your obligation, you'll be eligible for our Yes, please enroll me under the terms outlined in this advertisement. As a member, | need to buy only prices (currently as low as $29.95, plus generous bonus plan. It enables you to 4 more selections, at regular Club prices, in the next 2 years. shipping/handling)—and you may cancel enjoy great savings on the movies you Send me these 3 laserdiscs for $1.00 each-plus $1.50 each shipping and handling (total $7.50). membership at any time after doing so. want — for as long as you decide to What's more, you can get still one more remain a member! SaalBUY YOUR FIRST SELECTION NOW—AND HAVE LESS TO BUY LATER! movie for the low price of $19.95 and Also, send me my first selection for $19.95, pllus $1.50 shipping/handling, which I'm adding to have less to buy later (see complete 10-Day Risk-Free Trial We'll send my $7.50 payment {total $28.95), |then need to buy only3more (instead of 4) in the next 2 years. details in coupon). details of the Club's operation with your introductory package. If not satisfied, Please Check How Paying: My check is enclosed A35/A37 Free Magazine sent every four weeks return everything within 10 days at our (up to 13 times a year) reviewing our expense for a full refund and no further C1 Charge my introductory laserdiscs and future Club purchases to: A36/A38 Director's Selection — plus scores of obligation. alternate choices, including many lower- MasterCard Diners Club AMEX Oo VISA Discover priced laserdiscs. And you may also receive Special Selection mailings up to Acct. No. Exp. Date. four times a year. (That’s up to 17 buying opportunities a year.) Signature Buy only what you want! If you want For fastest service, use your credit card Name the Director's Selection, do nothing — it will be sent automatically. If you prefer and call us toll-free 24 hours a day: Address Apt. an alternate selection, or none at all, just State mail the response card always provided 1-800-538-2233 Dept. City KK7 ) ’, Entertaining Zip Phone No. ( e America... 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Shuttle Plus system: By pressing the convenient, because you can kick in its pleasure to use. It features a unique opposite scan button (reverse while the 5X (SP) and 15x (EP) action from the re- thumbwheel that makes navigating the mote; unfortunately, these figures really on-screen menu and programming the VCR is searching forward, for exam- aren’t that rapid. The 59 has a faster timer easier than with most other mod- ple), the speed slows down. The 624U rewind time than the Sharp, clocking in was also our T-120 rewind champ, with at 2:35. Otherwise, it’s pretty packed in els: You rotate to the selected entry, a world-record speed of 2:10—critical, terms of convenience features. Instant then press down on the wheel to make perhaps, if you’ve got to fly in order to replay repeats the last 20 seconds of the your selection—that’s it! It doesn’t avoid a midnight cutoff and rental late- tape you’re watching, which is useful if fee at your local video store. you’ve stopped a tape to get a snack or have cable-box control, but it does have answer the phone and then need to ease VCR Plus+ and a 60-second commer- In terms of performance, the 624U back into the program. VCR Plus+, ca- ranked way up there—just a notch be- ble-box control, auto clock setting, 30- cial-skip function, and it’s the only low our top performers at SP speed and to 120-second commercial kill, and model in this group that can record at basically on par with them at EP speed; Tamper Proof circuitry, which prevents the intermediate LP tape speed (provid- this VCR is clearly optimized for EP kids from fiddling with the VCR’s set- ing 4 hours with a standard T-120 tape). use. Resolution was excellent, and the tings and modes, also make a welcome Rapid-search speeds measured an im- comb filter seemed reasonably tight, appearance. pressive 9X at SP and 27x for EP—as fast with just a bit of rainbow shimmering as any VCR in this group. The 4562’s in the multiburst pattern. We could Performance was below average for Achilles’ heel is its rewind speed, even see a hint of detail in the 4-MHz this group. Chroma noise was exces- which I clocked at 4:30—over a minute stripes—most VCRs filter out that de- sive, and the comb filter allowed con- longer than any other model. tail entirely. Still frames looked a bit siderable rainbow shimmering in the jittery at both speeds. multiburst test pattern. Resolution was More importantly, the 4562 was the average at best. Still frames, on the oth- top performer at both sp and ep. It had OPTIMUS MODEL 59 er hand, looked very good and were ever-so-slightly higher resolution and This model, which is manufactured truly stable at the sp speed, and they less in the way of visible picture noise looked almost as good at EP. than its peers. The minimal chroma by Sharp and sold at Radio Shack and noise was particularly impressive, as Incredible Universe outlets, appears al- PANASONIC PV-4562 was its comb filter—we saw virtually most identical to Sharp’s H942U. The Though the PV-4562 ($379) has a ba- no rainbow effects in any of the multi- main difference is that the Model 59 burst stripes. Still-frame quality was ($379) has a set of front-panel A/v input sic look, its remote is compact and a very good for both sp and EP speeds, jacks. Its rapid-search function is more with a very stable picture. The LP recording speed did indeed appear to Make, Model STATS & SPECS Cable- Phone Models listed alphabetically in general performance tiers Box Control Cue & Review Search? Fisher FVH-4914 $330 3.8 x 14.2 SP, EP) 5x; 27x 8/365 (@) Oo 800.421.5013 $340 x 11.4; 8.6 Ibs. SP, UP EP $349 5x, 9x; 4 e (au Goldstar GVR-E468 $399 36x 142 SF EP 15%, 27x 1 8/365 201.816.2000 $379 x 12.0; 9.7 Ibs. SP LP EP 5x) 15x u e Oo ae 1 8/365 ia ojo Hitachi VI-F392A 3./x 149 Tx, 27s 8/365 O/O 800.241.6558 X 12.6; 9.9 lbs. SF EP) 8/365 e ;e @/O SP LP EP JVC HR-VP624U ee 201.794.3900 87x i142 SP EP: { x 11.7; 8.4 Ibs. SF LA EP i Optimus Model 59 800.843.7422 36x 14.9 oF Ee: Ox, 15x x 113, 77 lbs. Se Le EP Samsung VR8805 $330 5% 157 SP. EP; ox 7 8/30 3) e oe } 201.229.4000 x 12.51 0 ibs, SP LF EP \\) : Sharp H942U $390 3.6 x 14.9 SP EP, Sx, OX 8/365 o Oo @/O 201.529.8200 K 115) 77 ibs. SP LF EP Sx, 15x KEY @ Yes O No F=FrontPanel R = Rear Panel NOTES 1. Suggested retail. 2. Height x width x depth, in inches. 3. SP; EP. 4. Number of events/number of days. 5. On front panel/on remote control; see text for details. 6. Controls TV, VCR, and cable box, unless otherwise noted. 7. SP/EP, in lines. 8. Unweighted video, SP/EP; weighted video, SP/EP; (bottom row) chroma AM, SP/EP; chro- ma PM, SP/EP, in decibels. 9. Hi-Fi mode, range in hertz with decibel deviation. 10. In decibels. 11. Hi-Fi mode, in percent. 32 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
offer intermediate performance. dle of the pack in terms of perfor- circuitry. Rewinding took a relatively mance. While resolution was about av- slow 3:10. SAMSUNG VR8805 erage, the color bars appeared very The VR8805 ($330) is relatively noisy at the EP speed, and there was a Resolution was good, but visible pic- lot of rainbow shimmering in the multi- ture noise was rampant. Chroma noise loaded, featurewise. Its green, busy- burst stripes at both speeds. The red was below average at both tape speeds, looking display presents lots of infor- color bar was slightly shifted toward and there was a lot of rainbow shimmer mation, including a graphic of the cas- magenta, and reds in general were par- with our multiburst pattern. We also sette reels in motion and a tape- ticularly noisy. Still frames showed a noted that the luminance level was remaining bargraph. The remote con- lot of tearing at the top of the frame at slightly elevated compared to that of trol has a true jog/shuttle system with sp, but they were fine at EP. the other VCRs—this could require variable-speed slow motion. Rapid lowering the TV’s brightness control search, unfortunately, is limited to 5x at SHARP H942U whenever this VCR is used. Still sp and 7X at EPp—extremely weak for The H942U ($390) has a convenient frames were very jittery at SP speed, but this group. Rewind time was excellent, they were very good at EP. however, tying for third at 2:20. The re- shuttle dial on the VCR itself (though mote control also triggers a repeat func- there isn’t one on the remote); play, SONY SLV-740HF tion that, like a similar function on the stop, and pause buttons are cleverly The SLV-740HF ($399) has a strong Optimus, rewinds for about 20 seconds placed inside (similar to the layout of and then triggers the play mode. the Sony and Panasonic VCRs tested roster of convenience features. There’s There’s a 30- or 60-second commer- here). Rapid search is an abysmally auto clock setting, and cable-box con- cial-skip function. Cable box-control is slow 3X at SP and 5x at EP. You can zip trol is on tap using the handy, detach- along a bit faster if you use the shuttle able cable-mouse system. Both the re- provided (though VCR Plus+ isn’t), dial (5x and 15x, respectively), but you mote and the VCR have a shuttle and excellent charts in the owner’s have to get up and poke the front panel control, with play and stop buttons in- manual explain how the universal re- to do that. The 942U’s best conve- side (there’s no jog dial, unfortunately). mote operates different brands of TVs. nience feature is its front-panel SETUP You also get VCR Plus+. The control The 8805 is unique in providing an ex- button, which brings up an easy-to-fol- knob illuminates on the VCR for con- tra set of audio output jacks on the rear low menu system. There’s no VCR venient nighttime operation. The dis- panel, and there’s a special dubbing Plus+ or cable-box control, but you do play is bright blue, and you can dim it mode that’s said to improve the quality get 30 to 60-second commercial skip, a if you find that it’s too bright for your of your copies. time-search function, and Tamper Proof tastes. The jack that the cable mouse Our tests landed the 8805 in the mid- CONTINUED ON PAGE 104 STATS & SPECS LAB MEASUREMENTS Performed by Berger—Braithwaite Labs Double- Remote Input/ Horizontal Picture Audio Audio Audio Control® Resolution’ S/N& Distortion\" Speed Output Frequency Dynamic Play Jacks Response? Range”? ce) Universa FIR 220/220 4506..03//4493..13;; 4563..63//4531..97 204-0.115,,0-030 84.4 0.4 FIR | e Universal F/R 240/230 447d.,98//4453..16;; 5413..64//5403..26 2400.-12,0,-02.060 83.3 03 fe) c(TeV oeny) FIR re) Universa FIR 230/220 4495..27//4399..35;; 5426..54//5319..48 2O401-,20,20400 87.7 0.3 FIR : is R 240/230 4454,.27//4460..73;: 4484..97//4480..11 +200.-12,0-,30.040 92.8 03 e) Universa . fe) (UTnVivoenrlsya) 230/220 4486..84//4492..24;; 5425..93//5421..26 204-01.15,,-0300 87 0.4 e) Universa 240/230 4496..62//4501..62;; 5430..44//5391..79 2+00.-12,0-,20.100 O17 04 230/230 4497,.64//4492..49;; 5426..72//5422..12 2400.-41,5,-30.070 78.4 04 VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 33
Deep sea divers: spend time in hyperbaric chambers: to. decompress. (What do you do?) A few hours with a Pioneer® Advanced Home Theater system will bring you back to normal. At the heart of our system you'll find our VSX-604S Dolby® Pro Logic®A/V Receiver. It opens up the stunning world of surround sound, delivering a full 110 watts to all channels (front, rear and center). And with the Intelligent System Control you can even operate all your non-Pioneer components with just the touch ofabutton. Hit the VCR button and on goes your TV, VCR and receiver, each adjusted to their proper input and surround modes.To find out about our complete range of home theater equipment and for a dealer near you, give us a call at 1-800-PIONEER. And while another way to unwind may come along someday, don't hold your breath. AS DEV OA NCCE DO AMO OME wt HUACET OE R Ove fe Naae The Art of Entertainment ©1995 Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., Long Beach, CA. Dolby and Pro Logie are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Custom home theater cabinetry by ECLECTICS, North Hills, CA 91545.
Intro to AC-3, Part III: The Dipole-vs.-Monopole Debate OLBY SURROUND AC-3, THE NEW, in a no-holds-barred high-end system; Lucasfilm Ltd.’s Home-THX certifica- 5.1-channel digital surround- standard-size surround speakers should tion program, which specifies them for sound format from Dolby Labs, suffice in most systems that employ a surround reproduction in THX-ap- poses many questions for the apt home- single LFE-fed subwoofer.) proved home theaters. Dipoles use theater enthusiast. As we’ve discovered identical arrays of speaker drivers on [“Surrounded,” September 1995], a Another obvious question springs to their front and rear faces, and the two high-end incarnation of AC-3 outper- mind, however: Since AC-3 employs driver arrays work out of phase—that forms a comparable Dolby Pro Logic discrete surround channels that are ca- is, when the front drivers are moving system in terms of basic performance, pable of independent “rear-stereo” op- out in an effort to reproduce sound, the thanks to the former’s enhanced vocal eration, and may be employed by the rear drivers are moving inward. This clarity, discrete-stereo surround chan- technicians who mix soundtracks to di- out-of-phase action produces a strong nels, and dedicated “low-frequency ef- rect specific sonic images into the room “null” to both sides of the speaker. fects” (LFE) subwoofer channel. We al- at precise locations, should an AC-3- Dipoles are designed to be set up to ei- so focused on the capabilities of equipped home-theater system—or a ther side of the primary listening posi- AC-3’s discrete surround channels home-theater system that may be up- tion, so it falls within the null area. The {(“Surrounded, Part II,” October 1995], graded to AC-3 sometime in the fu- result is that most of the surround- wondering whether their full-range na- ture—use “dipole” or conventional channel output that reaches the listener ture requires that they be served by “monopole” surround speakers? is “reflected” rather than “direct” full-range “tower” speakers or sub/ sound, creating the “diffuse-field” sur- satellite combinations. (It does, at least Dipole surrounds have become some- round-channel sound that THX favors: PCTBYHOONRTYDOOZA thing of a standard among high-end VIDEO NOVEMBER 1995 home theaters, thanks in large part to 35 BY DANIEL KUMIN
spacious, enveloping, highly ambient, surround channel didn’t permit? After Series II tower mains and their HTM center up front, a B&W 800ASW pow- and difficult to localize. Each of these all, dipole surrounds evolved in a Dol- ered subwoofer, and Acurus and Ad- com amps rated to deliver 100 watts qualities is generally accepted as desir- by Surround world. per channel all around. AC-3-encoded laserdiscs included Clear and Present able traits in a Pro Logic system. (Qua- Lucasfilm’s answer is unequivocal: Danger, Stargate, and True Lies. si-dipole and “bipole” speakers use Dipoles are still it. According to a re- For this comparison, I set B&W’s 805 monopoles against their THX-cer- variations on the dipole’s driver config- cent THX paper entitled Home THX tified SCM-8 dipoles. In terms of driver arrays and fundamental tonality, the uration and/or work in phase, with and 5.1 Channels, “Theaters don’t two B&W models have a strong family | resemblance; the SCM-8, in fact, is sort | somewhat similar if not identical re- switch to single pairs of speakers [ver- of two 805s set back to back. The 805 has one 6.5-inch woofer and one 1-inch | sults.) sus numerous surrounds arrayed tweeter on its front face. The SCM-8 has one of each on its front and rear | In my experience, dipole surrounds __throughout the cinema] . . . for 5.1- faces, and, following dipole practices, the two driver arrays operate out of that are properly located (high and to _ channel soundtrack[s]. A pair of dipole phase with one another. the sides of—not behind—the listeners) | surround speakers will provide the In addition to long-term listening with numerous back-and-forth switches are almost always superior to conven- _—same type of soundfield in the home. (and careful surround-level calibration each time), I also performed direct A-B tional monopole surround speakers, They will easily localize as left and comparisons using a level-compensat- ing speaker-level switchbox. The two which use one driver array that faces right surround soundfields . . . [but] speaker pairs couldn’t be in the same into the room. And this holds true — what they won’t do is cause the sound- place at the same time, of course. The SCM-8s were wall-mounted about 6 whether or not THX’s enhancement of _ field to collapse into the speaker.” feet off the floor and about 1 foot for- ward of, and 7 feet to each side of, the Dolby Pro Logic is being used. In virtu- Skeptics may not be surprised when ally every test I’ve made, switching to _ they hear this pronouncement, grousing dipoles has “opened up” the surround that Lucasfilm is hardly going to aban- effect and substantially reduced the don dipoles after they’ve been telling ear’s tendency to “pull” to one sur- _—_everyone to use them for the last 5 or round speaker or the other. In other so years. After auditioning a high-end words, I’ve very rarely found myself AC-3 system with both dipole and thinking that specific surround effects | monopole surrounds, however, I’m sid- are coming from the surround speakers. ing with Lucasfilm. But do the same rules apply in an AC-3 The basic setup was the same as that setup, where the surround speakers are _ featured in both of our earlier AC-3 tri- fully discrete, independent channels als: Enlightened Audio Designs’ The- that can be used in ways that Dolby Pro _—_aterMaster preamp/decoder and T-8000 Logic’s monaural, bandwidth-limited II combi-player transport, B& W’s 803 POW E EFt art AC-3 system with full-range effects PLAY speakers, equal power all around is the only way to go. Do you need equal power for all of AC-3’s channels? You may not be a state-of-the-artist, of course, and other paths don’t have to AS YOU PONDER THE INTRICACIES OF cal A/V receiver delivers two-thirds to introduce unacceptable compromises. Dolby Surround AC-3 and its won- Consider that, even though AC-3’s sur- drous surround channels, a thought three-quarters less power to the sur- round channels have full-range capabil- suddenly occurs to you: Do I have ity, it seems probable that soundtrack enough power? For that matter, what is rounds than to the front channels. In mixers will only rarely ask the sur- enough power? rounds to reach the full-band, full-scale most cases, this configuration works output levels of the fronts. (“Seldom” AC-3’s five-plus-one channels are doesn’t mean “never,” though.) Also substantially different from Dolby Pro reasonably well: Dolby Surround’s consider that, in most home theaters, Logic’s four. Up front, AC-3’s left, the surround speakers are considerably center, and right speakers will enjoy in- monaural rear channel only requires re- closer to the listeners, so if the sur- creased dynamic range thanks to the round speakers have the same sensitivi- format’s direct digital connection and production from 100 to 7,000 Hz, and ty ratings as the front speaker trio, digital-domain decoding—but the in- somewhat less power to the surrounds crease will be slight, given the general- lopping those two-plus octaves off the should do the trick. ly excellent performance of current laserdiscs and Hi-Fi videotapes. In oth- bottom end cuts power requirements Lastly, and most importantly: All er words, if you’re enjoying satisfying AC-3 decoders, whether freestanding output levels and dynamics from your roughly in half. (The treble rolloff’s or integrated into an A/V receiver or front speaker trio today, you’ll continue similar component, will include a com- to enjoy them tomorrow with AC-3. impact on power needs is almost in- prehensive digital crossover that lets you send surround-channel low-fre- The situation isn’t so simple with sur- significant.) : quency content to the main LFE sub- round speakers and subwoofers. A typi- woofer, where it’s added to the sys- AC-3, on the other hand, employ tem’s “point-one” low-frequency discrete-stereo surround channels that, performancewise, are identical to the front left and right outputs: full-range and fully dynamic. In theory, this means the surround channels should be driven with the same amount of power as the fronts—especially if you plan to use full-range surround speakers. So if you want to build a fully state-of-the- 36 NOVEMBER 1995 VIDEO
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