Audio|Video|Misc

The Tiché PC HDD Vibration Killer is an aftermarket internal hard drive suspension system that is simple but effective and cost efficient.

Western Digital's Livewire powerline AV networking kit provides a reliable, effortless method of extending a home network using the existing electrical grid rather than running ethernet cable or using WiFi. Our full review compares the Livewire networking performance and benefits against 100 and 1000 mbps wired ethernet as well as Wifi G and N.

Sound bars were created to bring home theater sound to match HD TVs without the complexity of amps, receivers, multiple speaker boxes and wires running between them all. Our first sound bar review: Samsung's slick, modestly priced HW-D550 2.1 system.

Comprising MilleniaOne main speakers and MilleniaSub, this stylish, mini-sized, all-aluminum, high-tech speaker system from Paradigm packs a big, convincing punch, whether playing music in a classic 2.1 stereo or movie soundtracks in a full-blown 5.1 home theater.

The new WD TV Live is barely the size of a mobile USB drive and costs only a C-note, yet can stream 1080p24 video from any local or networked storage via gigabit LAN or wireless-N, access 20 online media services, and work as a music jukebox or a photo/slide viewer.

Plasma was the first technology to bring us big flat screen TVs. They're still considered tops by videophiles. We take our first close look at a big 58" plasma 1080p TV from Samsung.

Our review of the Soundscience Rockus 3D | 2.1 by Antec is the first time that the acoustic analysis capability of the SPCR anechoic chamber and advanced acoustic analysis tools have been used for speaker testing. Happily, the test results have been helpful, shedding light on subjective impressions and putting the review on a more empirical footing. It was also a good excuse to revisit the AudioEngine A2 speakers, reviewed just before the anechoic chamber came into service.

Inky blacks and vibrant colors from any angle, high contrast yet natural colors: Sounds like what you get a with a high price LED TV (or energy gobbling plasma)? Without resorting to expensive, exotic technologies, the Samsung LN55C650 55" 1080p web-enabled LCD TV turns in a great video performance at a very attractive price.

QWERTY still rules, even with handheld devices, and as long as there's a computer lurking, a keyboard seems unavoidable. Couch potatoes (and HTPC users) rejoice: Here are two wireless keyboards with integrated mice, designed for relaxed in-lap use.

Logic Supply offers a Broadcom BCM970012 PCIe mini card that enables any Intel Atom system to play 1080p HD video. We give the card a compare/contrast before/after on a Intel D945GSEJT Atom board, and against two ready-made ION systems from Lenovo and Asus.

It's not exactly an LED TV, but an LCD TV with LED backlights. Nevertheless, the UN55B7100 is the largest of Samsung's mid-level 7000 series HDTVs and sports a bewildering array of technology and features. Our focus, as usual, is on performance and practical considerations: Does it look and sound great? Does it serve martinis and peanuts?

The Samsung YP-S3 is a small, slick, touch-sensitive portable audio/video media player priced at $100. SPCR's first Short Take article.

Xonar's top-of-the-line sound card tries to do everything, including a few things that, strictly speaking, it shouldn't have to. It's the first audio card to support HDCP and PAP, which means it can stream high resolution audio formats like Dolby Digital TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio without downsampling. It also boasts high quality analogue circuitry, including Burr Brown DACs and replaceable op-amps from National Semiconductor. It designed to make audiophiles and home theater nuts excited about audio. The only question is, can it make them shell out over 200 bucks?

The high pitched noise from many LCD monitors when their brightness is reduced can be utterly distracting. Here's a simple workaround that can work quite well with most monitors for many users. Also, please participate in our Quiet / Noisy Monitor Survey!