Category Archives: Equipment

Price falls on Yamaha RX-Z9 receiver

Posted on February 17, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

Now that didn’t take long. Yamaha’s do-everything RX-Z9 home theatre receiver has just fallen in price here in Australia, from $AUS11,999 to $9,999. Perhaps the strong Australian dollar has something to do with it. Or is it getting cheaper overseas … Continue reading →

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Philips backs recordable DVDs in a big way

Posted on February 11, 2004 by Stephen Dawson

The Australian arm of electronics giant Philips says that it won’t be selling VCRs any more. Philips seems to be the first of what will eventually be many makers pulling out of the field, although I expect that it won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in DVD, Equipment, Recorders, Video tape | Leave a comment

New article posted — home theatre receiver setup

Posted on December 26, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

This is a piece I did for Appliance Retailer earlier in the year. It ought to be useful for people who are totally lost when it comes to making the necessary adjustments to their home theatre receivers. Go here.

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Another Australian Technological triumph

Posted on December 24, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

A couple of years ago Sydney-based Lake Technology developed audio processing algorithms and hardware to make headphones sound like they’re producing surround sound. The success of this enterprise is attested to by the fact it was was duly licensed by … Continue reading →

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DVI-D hits the mainstream with Samsung

Posted on December 4, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

A Samsung DVD-HD938 DVD player turned up today (with confusing model numbers, it seems to be variously known as DVD-HD938, DVD-HD937 and DVD-HD935). This is significant in two ways. Apparently the price is going to be quite low (I believe … Continue reading →

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Beating my own drum

Posted on November 20, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

New Zealand audiophile electronics maker Perreaux publishes an occasional electronic newsletter to around 3,000 people around the world. I couldn’t find an archive of the newsletter at Perreaux’s Web site, but it’s easy to sign up on the home page. … Continue reading →

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VAF Research Signature I-93 speakers, marvellous once again

Posted on November 19, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

One problem with the picky hi fi person — such as me — is that one gets so damnably familiar with one’s own equipment, and this in itself engenders a kind of dissatisfaction. Take my VAF Research Signature I-93 loudspeakers, … Continue reading →

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HiFi Writer returns — Yamaha RX-Z9

Posted on November 19, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

What is it about this time of year? Everyone wants articles all at once. Well the great rush appears to have paused for the moment. The morning before last (ie. 3am) I finished my batch of reviews for the most … Continue reading →

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True HD panels coming at last!

Posted on November 8, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Taiwanese computer peripheral maker BenQ (formerly Acer Multimedia) has been seeking to get more into home entertainment equipment. Now it says that it will be offering a true high definition (1,920 by 1,080 pixel) LCD panel in 2004, priced at … Continue reading →

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Microsoft XBox weirdness

Posted on November 4, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve just been rounding off a 4,500 word piece for The Bulletin magazine on home theatre, which includes a section on the suitability of games machines for DVD playback. I got ahold of an XBox and a PlayStation2 to check … Continue reading →

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