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Gift Guide:Home Theatre for the Holidays
By Staff, posted 12/3/2003 2:59:27 PM

Sharpe Aquos
www.sharpelectronics.com
Flat's where it's at when it comes to the cutting edge of television, and Sharp's Aquos has been on that edge for a while. The Aquos line has expanded substantially, with standard 4:3 aspect models ranging in size from 13 to 20 inches, and widescreen 16:9 models ranging from 22 to 37 inches. These models definitely cost some extra cashola, but if you're short on space, they will fit almost anywhere -- you can even hang them right from the wall. Better, with a 170-degree viewing angle in all directions, you'll be able to see the screen from wherever you're sitting, no matter how small the room. Smaller models feature S-Video, composite, component and CATV inputs, and higher-end models also feature computer inputs; check the Sharp Web site for a full breakdown of models and their features.
13-in. standard: $1,000 - $1,150
15- in. standard: $1,150 - $1,500
20- in. standard: $2,000 - $2,300
22- in. widescreen: $3,500
30- in. widescreen: $7,000
37- in. widescreen: $10,500
--Sean Carruthers

Sony DVD Recorder RDR-GX7 http://www.hubcanada.com/Sonystyle
Estimated price: $1,300
Hooked on DVD but still want to record your favourite television programs? In addition to DVD movie playback, Sony's RDR-GX7 can record to blank DVDs (-RW or +RW formats). The nice thing about recording to DVD is that you don't have to search for a blank spot on the disc, like you would with a video tape, because the recorder automatically finds it. With CATV inputs, you can record TV programs directly off the wire, but there are also inputs for other components, allowing you to digitize your old videotapes or movies directly from your video camera. The discs you record will be compatible with Sony's DVP-NS725P progressive scan DVD player ($230), which will also play regular DVD movies and MP3 CDs. --SC

Panasonic Diga DMR-E60PP http://www.hubcanada.com/Panasonic
Estimated price: $1,000
Panasonic's version of the DVD recorder is a bit cheaper than Sony's, but it only handles DVD-RAM and DVD-R media. In addition to CATV, it features composite and S-Video input for recording from other sources, and it has slots for PC Card and SecureDigital media, so you can record your digital photographs to DVD or play a slideshow right from the machine. It also has a DV input on the front, so you can record your digital videos straight to DVD. --SC

RCA CRCU900 Universal Learning Remote Control http://www.hubcanada.com/rca
Estimated price: $99
Let's see... big-screen TV? Check. VCR? Check. DVD player? Check. CD player, receiver, satellite dish? Check, check, and check. An end table to hold all the remotes they come with? ¡Ay caramba! Back in the days when four A/V components constituted serious tech, learning remotes were the only way to keep your sanity. But as gadgets became more complex it became impossible to find a decent universal remote that didn't have either a few hundred buttons for every conceivable function or one that forces you to learn perplexing button substitutions. Thank goodness, then, for universal learning remotes with LCD touch screens. Depending on the device you're controlling, the display shows only the relevant buttons -- the AM/FM button disappears when you switch from the receiver to the TV, for instance.
RCA's CRCU900 is notable because, unlike many multifunction remotes, it's not much bigger than a regular remote, though it's a little heavier. And with the ability to control up to eight devices, there's a good chance you'll be able to retire most of the other remotes from active service. A macro function makes it a snap to execute a sequence of commands with one button. Other LCD remotes control more devices and offer more features, but for the simple purpose of consolidating your remotes into one easy-to-learn device, it's hard to beat the elegance of the CRCU900. --Emru Townsend

Kameleon 8 Remote Control http://www.hubcanada.com/radioshack
Estimated price: $150
The Kameleon 8 remote control can operate up to eight entertainment devices such as a DVD player or satellite, and can be used with a PVR (personal video recorder) as well. It is quite stylish looking, with digital buttons that only light up when in use rather than raised buttons. The Kameleon 8 is available exclusively at Radio Shack. --Jessica Malone

Logitech Z-680 speaker set http://www.hubcanada.com/logitech
Estimated price: $600
As the home PC gets better and better as a stand-in for a home theatre setup, with DVD playback, surround sound, and high-quality graphics, it's not unthinkable to spend more money on a decent multimedia speaker set. While Logitech's Z-680 is pricey, it's also an amazing configuration: not only is it THX certified, you can hook it up to your computer and your component DVD player at the same time, thanks to multiple inputs on the rear of the volume control pod. In fact, it not only has a trio of 1/8-inch plugs for analogue surround input, it also has optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs, which means you can have three input sources, and cycle between them using the remote. And with 500 watts of room-shaking power, you'd better make sure your house's foundation is sound. --SC

Panasonic SC-HT810 Home Theatre http://www.hubcanada.com/panasonic
Estimated price: $1,000
There are a number of all-in-one home theatre configurations that come with the surround speaker setup and a DVD player. If you want an all-in-one but don't want to give up your videotapes just yet, say hello to this bundle, which features both DVD and VHS in addition to the 500-watt 5.1 surround sound speakers. The DVD component handles both DVD audio and video, and will play Windows Media and MP3 files too. It can also play back DVD-R and DVD-RAM files recorded on other Panasonic recorders.--SC