Week of August 15, 2004 Q: I am thinking about buying a new DVD player because my current one does not play DVDs that I burn on my computer. I would also use the player for music CDs. Are there significant differences in sound reproduction between single disc units and multi-disc changers when playing audio [...]
Week of June 20, 2004 Q: Last fall we finally got a DVD player and surround system. We love it, but we seem to have a problem when viewing most DVD’s. The picture is way too dark. For instance, we just rented Mystic River. I saw it in the theater and it was just fine, [...]
Week of June 6, 2004 Q: Which is a better camcorder format-Mini DV tape or the new recordable DVD? I realize the MiniDV camcorders are lighter in weight, making it easier to travel with. But is the media in a MiniDV easy to use as far as transferring video to a DVD? [...]
Week of May 23, 2004 Q: What are the differences between SACD and DVD-Audio, and what is availability of players and software? Is a universal DVD player that supports SACD and DVD-Audio a worthwhile investment, or is this another VHS-BETA duel? Brian Deviley, Minneapolis, MN A: SACD, or Super Audio CD, is [...]
Week of January 4, 2004 Q: Is there any product that will effectively remove ‘red eye’ from pictures on my computer? -Donald Wallick A: Most image editing programs have a function to remove redeye from your pictures. When you use the redeye removal tools, use the image zoom feature to make the eyes as [...]
Week of December 14, 2003 Q: I just purchased a progressive CD/DVD player and have it hooked to a 20 year-old stereo receiver. When using the DVD, it is hard to hear voices over the background noise. Should we get a newer stereo receiver and new speakers? If so, can you recommend a model and [...]
Week of September 14, 2003 Q: I am shopping for bookshelf-sized speakers in the $300 per pair range. Any recommendations? -Steve Gratz, Washington, DC A: There are several recommendations I give to anyone shopping for speakers. These recommendations are not just for specific speaker brands or models, but also how and [...]
Week of August 24, 2003 Q: I am building a home theater system and have a Denon surround sound receiver that will be its center. In my closet I have a pair of excellent Synthesis floorstanding speakers. I bought them about 15 years ago for around $900/pair. Would it be better to [...]
Week 35, 2003 Q: I have a Sony combination tuner, tape and CD stereo system that is about 13 years old. It has always worked fine, but now the CD player does not work. I suspect having it professionally repaired now would cost more than the whole system originally cost. Any [...]
Week 25, 2007 I am a teacher and have taken a lot of digital camera photographs this year. I would like to transfer those digital pictures to a VHS tape to play on a VCR at school. How would I go about doing this? -Jenny Angelo, Beaumont, Texas A) If you check [...]
Week 17, 2003 Q) I purchased a Canon S830D printer based on your website’s recommendation. I used the sample pack of 4×6 Canon paper that came with the printer for my first photographic prints and they looked wonderful. I then tried some Kodak paper I bought along with the printer, and now the [...]
Week 14, 2003 Q) I have an NAD CD player that I purchased along with an NAD receiver about ten years ago, and it sounds great. Now the CD player needs repaired and I am having trouble finding a place to get it fixed. Can you recommend a repair station? -Mike Medwig, Greentree [...]
Week 10, 2003 Q) I purchased a very small Sony MiniDV digital camcorder (around $1,000) to make videos of my one year-old son. I have not had it long but my results are a very mixed bag. My videos outside look absolutely beautiful, like watching a regular channel on TV; my videos [...]
Week 3, 2003 Q: I have a digital camera and would like to make slide shows on videotape. Is it possible to do this? -Jan Kovac, Sewickley A: You can transfer still pictures from your camera to videotape, though they will not look as good as when displayed directly from your camera. Take [...]
Published December 7, 2002 Q: My husband and I want a 48 inch television. We have been told so many different things by salesmen we are totally confused. We were told that if we buy the 48″ regular screen HDTV there will be black bands at the top and bottom when everyone goes all [...]
Published Nov. 16, 2002 Q) My stereo system is already connected to my DVD player. I’d like to have stereo sound from my TV even when I’m not playing DVD’s. I have a digital cable box, a VCR, a TV with loads of inputs, but my stereo only has the two jacks and [...]
Published September 28, 2002 Some Myths and Misconceptions in Audio and Video Myth: My TV came with the color temperature setting on “cool” and the contrast (called “picture” by some manufacturers such as Panasonic and Sony) at the maximum setting. Since this is the way it came, it must be the correct setting. [...]
Original publication September 14, 2002 Q. I need to transfer my 35-mm slides to either CD or DVD and be able to view them on an analog TV set (eventually on a digital set). Can you tell me what apparatus is necessary for 1) copying and 2) converting to the NTSC video signal? Kodak [...]
August 17, 2002 Q: I do not yet own a DVD player. I have 2 televisions, 2 VCRs and one stereo. One of the VCRs is a 1994 model and I have had it repaired twice already. I am kind of waiting for it to putter out. The stereo was purchased in 1990 and [...]
Original column publication July 11, 2002 Q: I love my DVD player, but I hate the black bars above and below the picture in most of the movies. Why do they make them that way, and can I get rid of the bars? Why do’t they make the DVDs full screen? - Ted Bielecki, Mt. Pleasant [...]
Peace!
Axiom Loudpeakers
