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CNET editors' take Shawn, focusing on just four pieces of gear barely scratches the surface of your supercool setup. In addition to your HDTV, your TiVo, your HD satellite receiver, your 6.1-channel receiver and speaker system, and your DVD-Audio/Video player, the inclusion of an Xbox, a 200-disc CD changer, an S-VHS VCR, and--for major old-school props--a LaserDisc player makes your system a sort of digital Valhalla. The modified Dell HTPC (home-theater PC) is simply the icing on the cake. When you're ready for an upgrade, we'd like to see you go for a rear-projection LCD HDTV, a universal DVD player with HD upconversion, and an HD TiVo. In the meantime, though, you have all the bases covered. |
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--John P. Falcone, associate editor
Television |
Hitachi 65S500 Rear-projection CRTs such as Shawn's Hitachi Ultravision 65S500 are big and heavy, so they lack the sex appeal of their thin and light LCD and DLP counterparts. The advantage? CRT-based sets still produce the best picture quality available, and they're much more affordable than competing technologies. But the images delivered by the latest generation of LCD rear-pros--such as Sony's KDF-60XBR950--are narrowing the quality gap significantly for those willing to pay the premium. Read related review: Sony KDF-60XBR950 |
DVR
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Hughes GXCEBOT DirecTV receiver with TiVo For DirecTV subscribers, the so-called DirecTiVo is a must-have. In addition to DirecTV/Hughes-branded version, nearly identical versions of the combined satellite receiver and TiVo DVR are available from several manufacturers, including Samsung, RCA, and Philips, for as little as $99. But HDTV owners such as Shawn should give serious consideration to the high-def TiVo. It's the perfect solution for HD-enabled DirecTV subscribers--if they can swallow the lofty $1,000 price tag. Read related review: DirecTV HD DVR (HD TiVo) |
DVD player
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Toshiba SD-4700 When progressive-scan output and DVD-Audio support were still big-ticket features, the Toshiba SD-4700 was a top choice--witness CNET's glowing 2002 review. More than two years later, we'd opt for a universal player that can handle DVD-Audio and SACD, as well as one that's able to upconvert the video to HD-friendly resolutions. Read review |
A/V receiver
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Onkyo TX-SR600 It may be last year's model, but the Onkyo TX-SR600 can hold its own with many of the brand-new receivers just hitting the market. In addition to all the standard surround-processing modes, the SR600 features component-video switching and 6.1-channel surround modes--a perfect match for the 6-channel Onkyo SKS-HT500 speaker system to which it's connected. Read review | Check latest prices |
More resources:
 Digital homeHDTV WorldTV buying guide |
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