Marantz's affordable pre- and power amplifier combo are among the highlights of today's pdf library update. The HCC top tech test of the AV8003 and MM8003 double act is available here.

Now also available here are the mag's thorough road tests of the Sony VPL-VW40 - the company's mid-market SXRD projector, the Freesat HD receiver from Grundig, the GUFSAT01HD, A single-box Loudspeaker system from ZVox, Panasonic's DMR-EX98V DVD/HDD recorder, and Toshiba's cheap-as-chips 37CV505D LCD TV.

With decades of experience in home entertainment technology, Toshiba continues to claim a spot in the AV limelight. Even after withdrawing from the hi-def player battle last year, it recently added a whole new level of energy to the perennial debate about picture quality with the introduction of XDE (eXtended Detail Enhancement) picture processing to standard definition DVD.  read more »

When Sony announced its BDV-IT1000 5.1 Blu-ray system at 2008’s European IFA tech expo, it predictably made headlines. Elegant and striking, the kit seemed a perfect mash-up of cutting-edge video tech and contemporary aesthetics.

But while much of the coverage focused on the fact it was a pretty-credible looking Blu-ray entertainment centre, the real story lies in the speaker technology behind the system. To make the BDV-IT1000 possible Sony had to reinvent the audio wheel.  read more »

Shock waves rippled through the high-end AV community when Pioneer, famed for the quality of its Kuro TVs, announced that it was closing its plasma factories and buying panels from rival Panasonic instead.

So would the brand’s current 9th generation models be the last to offer its trademark black levels and outstanding picture performance?  read more »

The pdf library of full Home Cinema Choice reviews has been updated today, with the JVC Sophisti NX-F3 2.1 home theatre system given a good working over.

Also recently posted here, are top tests of Bowers & Wilkins' small but perfectly formed ASW608 subwoofer; a pair of tallboys speakers with an iPod dock in the top and bass in the bottom - the Voix MPX & MPY; BenQ's W5000 lower-end DLP projector; the Yamaha DSP-AX763 - an affordable amp with decoders for DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD; And a gizmo for calibrating your HD TV, the Datacolor Spyder3TV. Enjoy!

Very occasionally a sound effect can become almost as famous as a character in a film. The unmistakable hum of a lightsaber being drawn for instance and the chilling scream of a TIE-fighter are as recognisable as the speaking clock and both were created by the same man.  read more »

Could Home, the PS3’s virtual world, emerge as the hot new destination for international business?  British academics are planning to embark on a novel research project that will explore how Home can be used as a business environment where the suited and booted can discuss ideas and collaborate on projects.

If effective, it could change how large companies using virtual worlds as a business tool in the near future.  read more »

The worldwide LCD screen glut is coming to an end. According to market-gazer DisplaySearch, the number of LCD panels entering the global market in November was the lowest since May 2007.

Manufacturers shipped 28.5 million LCDs worldwide, down 21 per cent from the month before. Eight million were TV displays, the rest PC monitors. Revenues fell 24 per cent as a consequence.  read more »

It may be the nation’s favourite destination for groceries, but Tesco doesn’t immediately spring to mind as the place to see and buy hi-def. But that could be about to change. The firm has introduced branded LG HD Zones into 60 Tesco stores across the UK.  read more »

After a flurry of cut-price deals to kick-start the US selling season, the cost of Blu-ray players across the States has begun to rise. Since their Black Friday low, standalone decks have risen by 12 per cent, according to data from retail monitor PriceSCAN.com.  read more »