With ticket prices getting more and more outrageous and the wait time for movies to be released on DVD getting ever shorter, it's no surprise that more people are investing in home theaters. Whether they want an all-out “theater” room with reclining chairs and a special lighting design or just a big plasma screen with a primo sound system in the family room, homeowners are looking for equipment that replicates the cinema experience.
Outlaw. The Model 990 is a 7.1-channel audio-video controller and processor for music and home theater. It allows the user to control all the inputs from a variety of audio and video source components, ranging from high-definition satellite TV receivers, advanced DVD players, and cable TV to VCRs and even turn-tables, the maker says. Dolby and DTS sound processing provide high-level acoustics. 866.688.5297. www.outlawaudio.com.
Atlantic. The FS-4000 flat-screen speaker system combines three speakers into a single, low-profile housing for use with modern flat-panel displays. It can be mounted on the wall or on a rocker base above or below the display. Each speaker comprises a 1-inch soft dome tweeter, a 4 ½-inch woofer, and a 4 ½-inch bass pressure driver. The system is available in metallic silver or gloss black. 781.762.6300. www.atlantictechnology.com.
Theta. Boasting improved sound and picture quality, the Casablanca III digital music and cinema controller features a new operating system and hundreds of crossover choices. Users can watch cable television while listening to satellite radio, for example. It features several advanced sound processors and nearly unlimited speaker configuration options, the maker says. 818.597.9195. www.thetadigital.com.
PSB Speakers. With optimal sound quality as its goal, the CHS40 speaker is designed for in-cabinet installation. Its dimensions (17 by 11 ½ inches by 9 ¾ inches) ensure it will fit in nearly all equipment cabinets. The mid-range and tweeter are mounted on an 8-inch circular plate that can be turned 90 degrees so that, whether the main cabinet is horizontal or vertical, the system's response is always optimal across the seating area. 905.831.6555. www.psbspeakers.com.
Nippura. Highest of the high tech, Blue Ocean rear projection screens promise sharp high-definition viewing and frameless, edge-to-edge projection. The screens are finely cast at an extreme thickness tolerance in high-grade acrylic monomer between two clear, optical cell-cast acrylic plates. Standard screen sizes are 72, 84, and 100 inches. 704.370.7720. www.usnippura.com.
Canton. The Karat M 90 DC three-way floor speaker has displacement-control technology that filters subsonic signals to prevent undesirable woofer excursions at very low frequencies, delivering more accurate bass, the maker says. The speaker also features a side-firing 10-inch woofer and a front baffle width of less than 7 inches. 612.706.9250. www.cantonusa.com.
Accell. The HD15/VGA to 5 BNC cable features five individual coaxial cables bundled together. All connectors and contacts are 24-karat gold-plated to maximize conductivity, and a ferrite core on the HD15 cable end reduces electromagnetic interference. 510.438.9288. www.accellcables.com.
Onkyo. Compatible with LCD or plasma displays, the CB-SP1200 video display stand has integrated left, right, and center channel speakers. The 17-by-47-inch stand is 17 inches deep and shines with a hand-rubbed black lacquer finish. Each speaker is magnetically shielded to prevent interference with video displays and has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 100 kHz. 800.229.1687. www.onkyousa.com.
For more product information, visit ebuild, Hanley Wood's interactive product catalog, at www.ebuild.com.
