2008 spring preview

Home theater

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Home theater

While HDTVs continue to steal the spotlight, the home theater category still includes plenty of worthwhile non-TV audio and video gear. Spring 2008 sees continued consolidation of recent trends: single-speaker "surround" audio systems, improved streaming media products, and all-in-one home theater packages that are including more features for less money than ever before. Two other developments worth noting: the death of HD DVD means that Blu-ray players become the de facto high-def viewing choice--for optical media, at least. And the federally mandated February 2009 analog TV shutoff means that plenty of digital-to-analog converter boxes will soon be available for next to nothing.

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Product

Type of device

Price and availability

The outlook

Logitech Harmony One	Universal remote control	$250; available now	While it's missing an RF option, Logitech's Harmony One is one of the best -- if not the best -- universal remote we've ever tested.
Definitive Technology Mythos SSA-50	Single- housing surround sound speaker	$1,100; available now	Definitive Technology uses nine drivers embedded in a single speaker bar to simulate surround.
Logitech Squeezebox Duet	Network digital music player	$400; March	With its excellent iPod-like remote, the Logitech Squeezebox Duet is an ideal way to stream the full range of digital music--including files on your computer's hard drive, premium subscription music services, and free Internet radio--to your living room stereo system.
Panasonic SC-PT760	Home-theater in- a- box system	$400; March	The SC-PT760 packs a 5.1 surround system with wireless rear speakers, a five-disc CD/DVD changer, and an integrated flip-down iPod dock into one inexpensive package.
Polk Audio SurroundBar 360	Single-speaker home-theater in- a- box system	$1,200; April	The Polk SurroundBar 360 aims to deliver virtual surround sound from a single speaker bar and a tiny DVD player/amplifier unit.
Sony STR-DG920	AV receiver	$600; June	The top receiver in Sony's "budget" DG line includes four HDMI inputs, an icon-driven onscreen menu system, analog-to-digital video upscaling, and support for all Blu-ray-friendly audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. Step-down models start as low as $200.
EchoStar TR50	HD DVR	Price TBD; July	Antenna-only TV households will finally get a high-def DVR alternative to the TiVo HD when the EchoStar TR50 ships this summer.
Funai NB500	Blu-ray player	$300; spring	The Funai NB500 is expected to be the first Blu-ray player with a retail price of just less than $300 when it hits the shelves later this spring.
RCA DTA800	Digital- to- analog TV converter box	Price TBD (less $40 coupon); spring	Antenna-only viewers don't need a new TV once analog broadcasts cease in February 2009: a digital-to-analog converter box, such as the RCA DTA800, will ensure they can see their favorite shows--and a government coupon makes the cost next to nothing.
Panasonic DMP-BD50	Blu-ray player	Price and release date TBD	When it arrives later this year, the Panasonic DMP-BD50 will be the first Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player, meaning it can support the BD-Live (Internet-enabled) Blu-ray discs coming later in 2008.

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