DTS-HD is a high resolution 7.1 format that will be used on BD and HD DVD discs. However, no receiver or preprocessor today can process it yet. (The same is true of Dolby’s TrueHD format, also to be used on BD and HD DVD discs.)

But it’s good to know people are working on it.

“Powered by Analog Devices, Inc.’s (NYSE:ADI) SHARC Processor, Denon Brand Company, today demonstrated industry’s first home audio/video receiver system featuring DTS-HD Master Audio (DTS-HD) — the latest high-quality surround sound format from DTS, Inc. Denon previewed the DTS HD enabled audio/video receiver in its booth #20401 at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 5-8 in Las Vegas.

Promising a new level of excitement and realism for movies and music, the DTS-HD format is designed to enable surround sound quality that matches the brilliance of high-definition video. By leveraging SHARC’s superior floating-point performance and optimized software for industry-standard audio decoders and post-processing algorithms, ADI was able to quickly deliver a solution that allowed Denon to be the first to demonstrate the latest DTS-HD audio format.”

Analog Devices - Analog Devices’ Sharc Processor Enables The First DTS-HD Demonstration On Denon’s Home Theater Receivers

Energy makes some tiny little speakers, some medium sized speakers, and huge honkin speakers. The front speakers in this system reviewed by Ultimate AV fall into the latter category. Energy is one of the speaker manafucturers on my watch list, mainly because they’re a builder of great-quality speakers at an especially affordable price for us Canadians, because the company is Canadian too.

But what about the speakers?

“It seems only a few years ago (OK, the early 1990s) that $2000/pair was the sweet spot for serious audiophile speakers. Add in a matching center channel, surrounds, and a sub, and you were still under $5000. Today, all bets are off. But it’s still possible to buy a first-class surround speaker system for that price, a system that performs equally well on both soundtracks and music. The Energy Reference Connoisseur system proves it. Highly recommended.”

Ultimate AV - Energy Reference Connoisseur RC-70 Surround Speaker System

The other day I ordered a DVI - HDMI cable from MonoPrice. The price was right, it looks sturdy, and the connectors are gold plated. What price is that you ask? Just $15. I couldn’t pass it up, especially because it came recommended from others.

So when I get this cable I plan to hook up my SA8300HD to my Hitachi 57T500 using a DVI connection. This should free up a component video connection on my HDTV, which I can then use for my DVD player. (So far I’ve had my DVD player hooked up via S-Video. On my last TV S-Video actually looked better than component. But on this TV I think the opposite will be true.)

I’ll keep you all up to date on how things work out.

monoPrice.com - DVI HDMI cable

A friend of mine has electrostatic speakers. They are so big that his home theater is in two timezones. Thankfully these MartinLogans aren’t quite that big, but they’re still on the plus side of size. That being said, many people love the sound that electrostatics can give, and MartinLogan is one of the biggest sellers of such speakers. They recently announced the introduction of a new speaker in their lineup.

“MartinLogan, the Loudspeaker Technology Company, announced today the introduction of the new Vista™ loudspeaker. The result of years of research, the new Vista™ hybrid electrostatic loudspeaker features advanced technological developments, dramatically reducing cabinet size and establishing new standards for efficiency, dynamics and precision in a floor-standing loudspeaker.”

eCoustics - MartinLogan Vista Floorstanding Loudspeaker Announced

A subwoofer is very important to the performance of your home theater. It not only fills out the bottom end, giving you the oomph everybody wants, but it also relieves your main speakers of that chore, letting them reproduce the other frequencies with more ease.

The Axiom Audio EP500 subwoofer is highly reviewed by Audioholics:

“The EP500 is one truly powerful subwoofer, capable of very high SPL levels, especially in smaller rooms. We recommend securing any expensive china or knickknacks before firing this bad boy up for the first time. Due to its very linear low frequency extension, output capabilities, and EQ options, the less fussy placement nature of this subwoofer is quite invaluable. However, experimentation is always key. Following the guidelines we have established in our Loudspeaker Setup Tips Pages is certainly a good start. The manufacturer’s guidelines and Axiom Audio tech articles available at their site are also great resources to tap into for ensuring you squeeze out maximum performance of this product.”

Audioholics - Axiom Audio EP500 Subwoofer Review

Sony has announced 3 new AV Receivers, one of which supports HDMI.

“The STR-DG800 7.1 channel audio/video receiver has 110 watts of power per channel. The receiver supports HDMI pass-through, providing a simple and robust all-digital one cable interface, designed to connect to the wide array of HDMI equipped sources and televisions.

The model requires only the purchase of an XM Connect and Play antenna for listening to satellite radio in the home. Once you connect the antenna and subscribe to the service, you can navigate XM stations displayed on the front panel of the receiver.”

eCoustics - Sony Announces Three New A/V Receivers

NHT (Now Hear This) has always made some good looking and good sounding speakers. They thought creatively, not afraid to sell speakers in strange configurations in the name of quality sound. Now they’re getting into electronics, and have an amplifier and pre-processor.

From Twice: “The first products launched by NHT since its November 2005 acquisition by Vinci Labs include the home-speaker brand’s first component audio electronics. By the end of February, NHT will ship its first preamp/processor and power amplifier. Dubbed the Controller and Power5, they retail for a suggested $2,750 and $2,000, respectively.”

TWICE - NHT Puts Brand On Component Electronics

Hello everyone and welcome to my new site about home theater. I’ve long been interested in home theater, and have had one for quite some time. But it’s only now that I’ve begun a website on the topic and I’m excited about it. This site will cover all aspects of home theater except for the actual display. That is covered by my other site, HDBlog.net. Unfortunately, because I am still looking for writing help on HDBlog.net, this site will be slow in getting updates for a while. If you (or someone you know) is interested in writing for HTBlog or HDBlog, please contact me.

So welcome, and if you have any suggestions or would like to become a contributor, please contact me.