Features

• Features redesigned and backlit navigation and remodeled headphones; headphones with wired remote are optional
• Discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by model #M9460LL/A
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Optional docking station makes charging and synching easy
• More than 8 hour battery life on a 3 hour charge (1-hour fast charge to 80% capacity)

Reviews (218)

Small but great
I have one of these and I listen to it everywhere I go, great sound quality and good battery life. I have run out of space however, so I would recommend a newer one with a larger hard drive.

ayyeee
So easy to use, and really cool in the with a tape deck or itrip.

Recommend to anyone.

It's No Mini-Disc Player!
My Sony mini-disc player died after a short life (moment of silence). So when I got a new job, the toy of choice was an iPod. What a difference!

The bad as compared to the mini-disc player is that the iPod doesn't have an LCD display remote control. So with so many songs, it's hard to blindly navigate if your iPod is stashed away. Hopefully Apple will create such a remote. Otherwise, it wins over the mini-disc player hands down!

The new mini-discs hold 5 hours of music. 2 years ago that was a big deal. My 20 Gig iPod has 17 hours of music already and I am using merely 390 MB. That's less than a fraction of its capacity. The iPod's looking at me like, "When are you gonna REALLY add some music?"

The 3 lines of music data display the song title, artist, and even album! And the sound...oh boy. I feel like I'm at a concert! Excellent sound! You can also tweak the sound with the equalizer.

Editorial Review

Take the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.

The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, and who knows what else?

But Xbox has more going for it than fancy innards. The Xbox's Windows-based operating system is a breeze to program on, earning it grateful accolades from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, THQ, and other game producers. The less time developers spend struggling with the operating system means the more time they spend tweaking gameplay, which ultimately results in better games. And games are what it's all about.

Well, games and the fun of owning a green-glowing game console that looks like it came from Darth Vader's living room. --Mike Fehlauer

The Xbox Holiday Bundle includes the Xbox console, the popular "S" style Microsoft controller, the games Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Tetris Worlds Online, a two-month trial subscription to the Xbox Live service, and all necessary cables to connect your Xbox to your TV. A DVD kit (sold separately) is required to access DVD playback ability. Xbox Live requires a broadband Internet connection and an Ethernet cable to connect your Xbox to your cable or DSL modem (sold separately).

Features

• Open environment based gameplay allows players to take multiple paths and approaches to defeat the enemy
• Featuring an all-new reward system, unlockable extras, and realistic environment rendering
• For 1 to 4 players
• 10 massive gameplay levels spread across 5 major missions
• Fight off the attack on Pearl Harbor, lead the assault on Guadalcanal, blow up the bridge over the River Kwai, and much more

Reviews (89)

Over-hyped, under-produced
So many of my friends absolutely raved about this game that I ended up buying it and am totally disappointed.I have never played a first-person shooter that is as little fun as this game.The multiplayer is lackluster in comparison to Quake, which came out almost a decade ago, and as far as consoles go, Halo has it beat hands down.My opinion, of course, but the world that this game tries to put you in doesn't strike me at all as immersive and I was very disappointed with the feel of the controls as it's nearly impossible to make any sort of coordinated-looking assault on the enemy.Not to say that it's difficult seeing as the enemy guys have almost no autonomy whatsoever so once you know where they are you can easily pick them off even though it takes a great deal of effort simply to shoot one of them.I am a master sniper on Halo so it's not a problem with my ability to use the actual controller, just in case you were wondering.

That all being said, this game COULD have been really cool.My main complaint is that it just wasn't fun for me.Not in the slightest.I've been having more fun with my copy of Sega GT 2002 that I picked up for $3, and I'm not even usually a racing game fan.If you want a cheap first person shooter go out and get Goldeneye for the 64.They had it right back then... not sure why they can't get it right now...Hm.

No Men on team
There are no men on youre team pretty much.I would strngly suggest Frontline which is long and has men on youre team.I do like the bots in multiplayer.I also like co-op mode.Bottom line: TOO SHORT ANDNO MEN ON YOURE TEAM.

Features

• Over 12 interactive environments authentically reproduced from the films
• Battle vicious boss monsters including Shelob, the Witch King and the final showdown with the Dark Lord Sauron
• For 1 to 2 players
• 8 playable and secret characters with exclusive voice-overs provided by the actors from the films
• All-new co-op multiplayer mode will allow players to team up with a companion

Reviews (80)

not bad, but not what i expected

First of all, the good things:

- The game follows completely the film and the screens are quite well adaptated to admit someone controlling the characters from the movie.
- The game characters' voices are recorded by the original movie actors, which gives the additive of playing and hearing gandalf!! the real one!!
- The graphics are excellent, the EAGames designers have really been good at this, for with a good video card the game is really nice and the movements are very nicely designed.
- The music, as in the movie: great.

Right, now for the bad things:

- The game is "the lord of the rings", but if instead of Gandalf and orcs you had mr. Duke Nukem and his martians they would be the same game: a shoot-em-up type.
- The game requires really low strategyc movements, most of them are really well indicated so that nobody has to think!!
- And as a result of the past reasons: This game is just to spend hours and hours kicking lots and lots of orcs with gandalf!!! you gain nothing like the satisfaction of having to plan the strategy to take the troops here or there... it's just too mechanic...

Too everybody out there thinking whether to buy it or not, i'd reccomend them to play the demo, play it a lot, and that's how the game is going to be, some additional monsters, some additional powers... oh, and some different scenarios...

Awesome Game!!!!!!!
This game is awesome. It has great grafics, and cool levels. Trust me you will love it.

Editorial Review

Take the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.

The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, and who knows what else?

But Xbox has more going for it than fancy innards. The Xbox's Windows-based operating system is a breeze to program on, earning it grateful accolades from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, THQ, and other game producers. The less time developers spend struggling with the operating system means the more time they spend tweaking gameplay, which ultimately results in better games. And games are what it's all about.

Well, games and the fun of owning a green-glowing game console that looks like it came from Darth Vader's living room.--Mike Fehlauer

The Xbox Video Game System with Controller S includes the Xbox console, the popular "S" style Microsoft controller, and all necessary cables. A DVD kit (sold separately) is required to access DVD playback ability.

Features

• Listen to tunes on the road with the integrated MP3 audio player and optional Memory Stick PRO media
• View native Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and PDF documents
• Write letters naturally with Decuma handwriting recognition software
• High resolution color display produces over 65,000 colors for amazing clarity
• Stay organized and entertained--at home or on the road

Reviews (20)

Sony CLIE PEG-TJ35/U from Tech for Less
I recently returned my reboxed Sony CLIE PEG-TJ35/U from Tech for Less.PalmOS 5.1 caused some of my repair tracking programs to not work so I returned it within four days.Tech for Less charges a 20% restocking fee; fair enough but I asked to defer that until I can research which older Palm OS will work.

It seems that PalmOS 4.1 works with my program but now Tech For Less says that I had to take store credit at the time so no deal on credit the $19 that they charged for restocking fee towards a older Sony Clie PEG-T665C.

Oh well, they loose and another seller on Amazon .com got my business.

I wish this could be a better review...
I bought my TJ35 about 6 months ago.As others here have said, I am a true Sony fanatic.I researched carefully before choosing this item, and felt as though I got the best PDA for my money.Considering I use my PDA about 4 hours a day, that is saying a lot!

Let me say that I love the screen of this unit.It hardly scratches, is crystal clear, and the picture is very sharp.The software bundle is very robust.The flip cover is cheesy and the telescope stylus drove me nuts, however!

IMPORTANT: The batter will last a long time for any PDA if you do this one important thing: in the Prefs general section, look for the item labled "beam receive" and turn it off.I think it is under the general section, but I'm not positive.This will vastly improve your battery life!!!

All worked well until about 45 days later when the unit suddenly stopped hot synching and charging.I mean, I literally hot synched the unit, installed another program 10 minutes later, and nothing would work.I tried everything I knew, but couldn't get it to work.As I built the three computers in my house and have an IT degree, I feel that I did an extensive amount of troubleshooting.I called the company and had to go though the "Did you reboot your computer" steps with the person for 45 minutes just to get a ticket to send the product back.Then I had to wait 17 days for Sony to send the item back to me.

This is where it gets interesting.They determined that they couldn't fix my brand new device and sent me a refurbished model.I called up the company to complain, stating that I didn't want someone else's rejected model, I wanted a new one like I sent them.Especially with all the backlight problems the model has had.I was assured that the model sent to me had no backlight issues.

Wrong.Less than 30 days later, the backlight goes out.I call up customer service again, demanding that I receive a new model, since this is the second defective one I've received.No go.I told them I didn't want to go without a PDA for three weeks every two months.I was told by a supervisor that he didn't care how long I had to go without my device.

After more than 25 phone calls to Sony Customer support, I finally received a service return box in the mail.And then another.And then another.With three different return authorization numbers.These boxes came the week I moved, so of course I didn't have time to send the item off then.And after that, I became seriously ill and was diagnosed with a significant long-term condition that has left me barely able to leave the house.So now I will send the PDA and the three authorization forms to Sony and see what they will do.Probably nothing, because it's obvious that the company cares little for the insignificant hard-working customers who shell out two week's worth of grocery money for their product.

Who knows, maybe next Christmas one of my family members will buy me a Tungsten!

Features

• Built-in QWERTY-layout wide-pitch keyboard with backlight
• What's in the box: Clie handheld, Charger Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Retractable Stylus, AC Adapter,Hand Strap, Installation CD-ROM, Instruction manuals
• A new concept in handhelds: an extremely portable personal entertainment communicator
• 6 oz. with stylus
• Integrated wireless LAN (802.11b) and Bluetooth interface

Reviews (30)

Very nice and beautiful clamshell look but some cons
PROS
1. It is a very nice look .
2. has very good features like a camera and can also rotate.
3. It also has both bluetooth and WIFI that is a good for people on the
go.
4. It now has a low price than 2 years ago.
5. will atract and impress many people

CONS
1. bad battery life (can buy extra battery . 3X longer also sold at amazon
very cheap.
2. limited applications

I think this is a very good p.e.o. and you shoud buy it if you like attention or really need it

Love mine, but there are some problems
I bought my UX-50 off eBay for about half the going rate of a refurbished new unit. Since I paid so little, I really don't have much to complain about. However, if I had paid $500 for a new-refurbished unit - or $800 for a brand-new unit when the UX-50s were first released - I probably would not have given a 4-star review.

Here are the positives:
- I don't understand why so many people complain about the UX-50 only having a "landscape" screen option. I got used to using the landscape screen in no time. There are third-party programs you can download to convert some applications to portrait mode if you want, but I really didn't feel the need. Granted, the landscape screen means there's a lot of wasted space on the touchscreen, but I didn't have any problems using the screen as-is. I also think the screen size is AWESOME considering the features packed into this little gadget.
- The functionality is, without a doubt, amazing. The UX-50 can replace your keychain digital camera, digital voice recorder, PDA, MP3 player AND you can check your e-mail with it! They managed to pack a lot of features into this little PDA.
- Sound on the MP3 player is great. I have a Sony VAIO laptop that has a built-in Memory Stick port so it's really easy for me to put a ton of music onto my 512 MB stick and have music wherever I go. I have a Nomad MP3 player but I rarely use it because the UX-50's MP3 player is so easy to use.
- The camera is great and takes good pictures in enough light. The zoom feature is neat.
- The PDA functionality is exactly what you'd expect - it works well. The UX-50 has enough internal memory for you to load lots of programs into it.

Negatives:
- It took me a lot of tinkering and research to get the 802.11B wireless feature to work. Apparently there was some kind of problem with the wireless connection software in most UX-50s, and if yours has the problem you have to download a special program, called Mobile Manager, to get it to work correctly. Not that Sony tells you this - I had to research it for myself on user bulletin boards. After a LOT of tweaking my wireless works - sometimes. The mobile browser, NetFront, won't load graphics-heavy pages and is quick to give "insufficient memory" and timeout errors. Unfortunately there's no way to upgrade NetFront 3.0, which came with the UX-50, to NetFront 3.1.
- Battery life truly does suck. I solved this by purchasing a third-party manufactured case and car kit off of eBay - the case has a USB port integrated, so now I can plug the USB sync cable into the case's port and charge my Clie. The car kit consists of a USB cable and an adapter that fits my car's cigarette lighter. Now I can charge wherever I go, which helps greatly with the battery life issue. And I don't have to use the stupid "charging sled" to do it. Which brings me to my next point...
- I would really like to know why Sony made a PDA that you can't charge with a USB cable. It seems ridiculous to me. Before I found the USB-port case I had to lug the stupid charger and sled around with me. The charger is bulky and the sled makes the UX-50 too thick to fit in a pocket or small purse. As it is, now I can't plug the UX-50 in and let it charge while I sync it throughout my workday, which is always what I've done with other PDAs. This was a really dumb design idea.
- The only other negative thing is that some parts of the UX-50 feel flimsy - I often feel like I am going to break the screen off rotating it back and forth, and the USB sync port has a small cover that feels like it could rip off at any time.

Overall, though, this is a great productivity tool and very nifty to carry around. It has a considerable "cool factor" and there's great functionality to boot. The negatives are bummers, but this thing is basically a mini laptop computer with a camera built in, so I don't expect everything to be perfect. I'm just bummed Sony's no longer going to be selling PDAs in the U.S. - hopefully they will change their minds before my UX-50 dies or becomes obsolete.

Editorial Review

Powerful multimedia and productivity wrapped in an attractive body, the Palm-powered Sony Clié PEG-NR70 offers great organizational tools, an MP3 audio player, and a built-in keyboard. You also get exclusive Sony features like the Memory Stick media expansion slot and Remote Commander software.

The unique design of the PEG-NR70 enables the screen to flip and rotate (180 degrees) to allow optimum use of the built-in QWERTY keyboard. It features 16 MB DRAM memory, a fast 66 MHz DragonBall processor, a TFT color display with support for over 65,000 colors, and a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

With the proven, reliable Palm operating system, the Sony Clié PEG-NR70 comes complete with all the standard Palm OS applications you need for organizing your life. It comes with Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad, Mail, and Expense tools, and the Sony-enhanced Address Book that enables you to add photos to your contacts listings. It also comes with a wide range of entertainment and productivity applications, including Documents to Go for viewing and editing Word and Excel files. Plus, the Clié is fully compatible with thousands of Palm OS add-on applications available for download.

Connect to your PC and synchronize your contacts and date book using the included USB cradle. You can also beam information to other Palm OS handheld owners using the IrDA infrared port.

The Sony Clié PEG-NR70 comes with a number of exclusive Sony features. You'll get virtually unlimited data storage with Sony's Memory Stick removable media. Transfer digital content between your Clié handheld and other Memory Stick-compatible products, including digital cameras, digital camcorders, and PCs. You can also use the PEG-NR70 as a remote control for audio and video components using its enhanced infrared port and Clié Remote Commander software.

Listen to your favorite music with the built-in audio player. Simply load MP3 audio files onto Memory Stick media and take your newest albums with you anywhere. You can also watch video clips on the high-resolution 320 x 320 reflective color LCD screen.

The Sony Clié is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, 2000 Professional, Me, and XP, and connects to your PC using the USB port. It comes with a USB HotSync cradle (which also charges the lithium-polymer battery), detachable AC adapter, and a stylus.

What's in the box

• Clie handheld
• Headphones
• Audio remote controller
• USB HotSync cradle
• AC adapter
• Stylus
• Sony CLII installation CD-ROM
• Read This First
• Add-on application guide
• Graffiti sticker
• EULA/Limited warranty statement

Editorial Review

Research in Motion's BlackBerry wireless handheld has been one of themost talked-about handhelds on the market recently--and the press coverage itreceived due to it being the communication gadgets of choice for Al Gore'spresidential campaign certainly didn't hurt. But thanks to its full-functionorganizer, synchronization with many popular desktop PIMs (personal informationmanagers), thumb-operated QWERTY keyboard, and, of course, wireless e-mail, theRIM 957 BlackBerry is more than just hype.

You won't receive instant wireless gratification right out of the box--you'llneed to juice up the internal rechargeable battery via the docking cradle (ACadapter included). Also, the activation process requires you to first registeronline and wait three to five business days for a confirmation e-mail.

The biggest challenges we faced, thanks to years of Palm usage, were thekeyboard and the trackwheel controller. There's no need for a stylus with theRIM 957--all text input is performed using the minikeyboard. At first we wereall thumbs, but we got the hang of it after a day's usage and could type away--evenhitting the ALT keys (which cover numbers and symbols)--like a pro. And forlonger e-mail messages, the RIM 957 is certainly easier and quicker than writingGraffiti characters with the Palm stylus.

And instead of tapping screen icons to access functions or scroll through ascreen (the RIM 957's screen is not touch sensitive), you use the trackwheel onthe right side of the device. Just roll to a desired item and press it in toselect it; this is also how you access menu items when in a list, such as theaddress book. To return to the previous screen (or get out of the menu), simplypress the Escape key below the trackwheel.

We easily synchronized the device with our Outlook contacts, to-do lists, andcalendar. The RIM 957's desktop software includes Intellisync, which cansynchronize the device with Microsoft Outlook and Schedule+, GroupWise, LotusOrganizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, Goldmine, and Netscape.

Once out on the road, e-mailing was a breeze--we maximized our time by sendingmessages back to our office from New York taxis and while waiting for a delayedflight. With the device on, e-mail was received automatically, and we werenotified with a simple tone. You can also set the device to vibrate, which ishelpful when the RIM 957 is stored in the included belt-clip case.

The RIM 957 does have some shortcomings. There's no Web browsing, and you won'tbe able to use applications developed for the Palm OS, the predominant handheldplatform. Also, you will have to work with your company's system administratoror your ISP to receive messages from your company or other e-mail account.Finally, if you are in a rural area, you might not get any connection, as themonthly wireless service (provided through Aether Systems) is primarily focusedon larger metropolitan areas.

That said, if you're a modern-day road warrior who needs to be connected to e-mailat all times, the RIM 957 offers all the tools of a personal organizerwithout the hassle of having to jack into a modem or cell phone to get online.--Agen Schmitz

Pros:

• Wireless e-mail as easy as paging
• Typing long messages with built-in keyboard is easier than writing usingPalm Graffiti
• Full-function organizer and easy synchronization with desktop PIMs

• Not compatible with Palm OS applications
• Most rural areas won't receive service--be sure to check Aether Systems foravailability in your area
• Won't automatically connect to your company e-mail account

Editorial Review

The RIM 950 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld offers a complete wireless e-mail solution for the mobile professional. Compose e-mail messages using the built-in keyboard, then send and receive e-mail via the embedded wireless modem. Integrate e-mail sent from the RIM handheld device with your primary desktop e-mail account. The RIM 950 also comes with a full-featured organizer, allowing you to keep track of your contacts, schedule, and to-do lists. You can then synchronize this data using the included docking cradle with such desktop PIMs as Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Organizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, and GroupWise. To check coverage in your area, check the Aether Systems Web site: www.myaetherbb.com/start.asp.

About the size of a pager, the RIM 950's screen has a sharp LCD screen with six to eight lines of viewable text. The main menu features intuitive icons and menus that are accessed with a thumb-operated trackwheel. The device has 4 MB of flash memory (plus 512 KB SRAM) and operates on a 32-bit Intel386 processor. It runs on a single AA battery.

The RIM 950 Blackberry comes with a docking cradle, a belt-clip case, Blackberry Desktop Manager software, and a Blackberry installation and user's guide.

Features

• Device specific design
• Crafted of premium quality leather
• Complete access to function buttons while in case
• Snap closure
• Interior business card storage

Asin: B00009ADGZ
Sales Rank: 51740
Subjects:  1. Accessories (Accessory)    2. Bags (Bag)    3. Cases (Case)    4. Notebook (Note Book)    5. Laptop   

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Reviews (68)

Lots of Flash, No Bang.
Wired purports to be a cutting edge high tech magazine. In fact, it is little more than a Nerd's version of People magazine, with a lot of short, unconnected articles purporting to offer inside information from the tech community. It is most likely to be of interest to Gamers (and has lots of ads addressed to that crowd).

The best thing about it is its (expensive) graphics, but that doesn't justify wasting your time or money on it.

BEWARE OF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
I got a letter from a collecting agency stating WIRED hired them "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat:

"This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."

I never subscribed to this magazine yet I got this letter. I called the handy number right at the top of the "bill" and I was forwarded to a recording with the following instructions:

press "1" to make payment
press "2" if already paid
press "3" never received subscription
press "4" never renewed subsciption
press "5" never ordered subscription


I pressed 5, and that was that. Talk about a low way to get subscribers. This is bottom feeding. Magazines used to offer you incentives. Now they threaten to louse up your credit rating.

Anyway, I am writing this to inform and warn existing and future subscribers about this magazine. Based on the options given above, not only "non-subscribers" like me get a letter from a collecting agency to subscribe to this magazine, but also existing subscribers who did not renew their subscriptions.

I think this is taking guerilla marketing a bit too far - not only are you being billed for something you didn't order, but they're skipping right over you and sending your name directly to a collection agency.

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Reviews (3)

More like Interior Decorating than Electronic Home
This magazine emphasizes articles on really expensive professional home theater installations with lots of emphasis on photos and much less on technical details.Product reviews are shallow (Why you need this:It's way cool!).After a few issues you get tired of nothing new, especially if you're on a budget or a DIYer.

Wonderful Magazine
I love this magazine.It is great for anyone that wants to be on the cutting edge.I also like the fact that they give prices on each product they review.

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Asin: B00005U5EE
Sales Rank: 1603
Subjects:  1. Home (Houses, Homes)    2. Electronics & Audio    3. Home Theater Sytems   

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Reviews (2)

Friendlier end of the scale...
It can be kind of fluffy and thin, with maybe one or two really good meaty articles (usually too short) per issue, with a bit too much fluff in between, too many press releases (jeez I hate press releases that pass for "news"). For that, 3 stars.

Nevertheless, it has a friendly, engaging, and easy-to-read approach that isn't as podunk as Home Recording, but sadly not as cool as EQ, and certainly not as seriously professional as Mix ($$$). It'd be a great subscription for a teenager or new musician just getting into songwriting and/or recording, but who doesn't necessarily aspire to be an engineer.

Which I guess is the whole idea.For that, 4 stars.

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Reviews (2)

on point
i often read this Magazine at my Local Book Store&it truly hits home.I Play Keyboards myself&always read on what they have to say on the latest technology also Interviews with different Artists&the Sounds they are Vibing On.you can't miss with this Magazine.very detailed on the subject matter.

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Reviews (3)

An Excellent Magazine
The Absolute Sound is an outstanding magazine for the serious audio enthusiast. There are two main reasons why I would recommend this magazine.
The first and (to me most important) reason is that this magazine looks at the US market. Components available here are reviewed and rated according to their US price levels. Most of the high fi magazines out there today are from the UK and carry reviews and ratings based on that market. Since relative prices for the same components can be different across the pond, the ratings (which always take the price point of the component into account - eg no $500 amplifier can sound anything but bad next to something 20 times its price) in the UK magazines aren't always a good reference for US readers. Another point of difference is that that certain brands aren't available in both markets- Klipsch, Polk and Theil speakers being examples of items common in the US but not in the UK.
The second reason to recommend this periodical is that it reviews the sonic quality of items in terms serious listeners cannderstand. Audio components and recordings are described as they would sound. The dense technical descriptions and tests are omitted here, since not everyone (myself included) can fully understand them. The descriptions of how you would percieve the sound is what they pay attention to, and pay attention to well.
Add to the above factors the range of products (though as other reviewers have mentioned, the universe of products they examine is very limited compared to the overall electronics market), the honesty and accuracy of the reviews and you have a magazine that is a good read for anyone interested in Hi-Fi.

Very High End Audio Information
This review is not intended to be worthy of its subject, but I'm surprised no one else has proferred, so here is some brief comment, until a more educated audio reader comes along (hopefully soon).

I first picked up this magazine at Tower Records last year.It only comes out once every couple of months, it is expensive, and it is thick.You will not be done getting everything out of it in just one or two brief readings.If you are "into" audio, or if you have really caught the bug, this is a magazine that will help you define the unatainable heights.... the super-expensive Ferrari-level equipment that few of us will ever own but is fun to read about.I also have found in reading just two or three issues that there are sometimes highly educational pieces that really delve into important current topics in-depth.

Absolute Sound is a sort of no-compromises, not-going-to-cave-in to the latest industry fad magazine, and in a way it's kind of offensive because most of us need or want to hear about the latest industry gizmos and many of us don't want a cost-no-object assessment for our purchases.

But the strong point of Absolute Sound is the real commitment to trying to discern the very best Sound, with cost being more-or-less not so much of an object.

There is also of course some review of music and recordings, as there should be.

I've found AS to be educational and so I recommend it, particularly for those who are well-heeled enough to afford the best Sounding components and recordings, or who have a super-interest in reading about them.

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Reviews (4)

Solid But Not the Best
HOME THEATER was once the earliest to devote themselves exclusively to home theater video gear. Unfortunately, the somewhat wacky, full-of-personality magazine was replaced with a much more boring corporate version when it was sold to a bigger publishing house.

It is a solid magazine but that may not be enough these days when TV and video systems range from a minimum of 4 figures to over 6 figures. Even if you're not planning on buying a $100k system, you want to know what is available in the highest end system so you can scale down and ultimately feel you are getting the best value for your money at your price point. (If you're not building an HD setup with surround, there's not that coverage anyway in any mag not just HOME THEATER).

You want knowledgeable testing so you know what you might be willing to trade in for buying something a few $k less ... and you want to feel confident that you've been presented all the choices and then you can decide what factors to trade off and in terms of costs.

Compared to PERFECT VISION magazine, HOME THEATER comes up way short. HOME THEATER mag does cover more topics (also published more often) so if are interested in seeing more photos and blurbs about lots of AV gear, it's a fine complement to PERFECT VISION magazine - just don't expect the depth or breadth in testing and knowledge about high-end video gear.

If you're just starting out in your decision process in HD sets and perhaps other home video electronics gear, then HOME THEATER is a solid place to start to learn the basics. Then you will want to add PERFECT VISION magazine. As I noted in that review, HOME THEATER is in the ballpark of PERFECT VISION but in the sense that PERFECT VISION is the star and HOME THEATER is a utility infielder - still useful, just not indespensible.

Fun read... and does not take itself too seriously
This magazine is great if you enjoy reading about new equipment and audio/video software, in a rather tongue-in-cheek style.You will probably be disappointed if you are the type who truly enjoys the in-depth articles of The Absolute Sound or the old Stereophile, or if you are very proud of your latest 12 watt SET amplifier that "only" cost you $8.000.

If the subject was wine, this magazine would not spend half a page discussing whether the berry bouquet is actually raspberry or blackberry.Rather it would try to determine which of the 5 wines reviewed would be best for your next BBQ (and while doing this, crack a few jokes about the French).