By Donna Andrews Russell
Shunyata Hydra Series Power Distribution Systems
Protect your expensive equipment with one of Shunyata Research’s award-winning power-distribution systems, preferred by audiophiles worldwide. The company is currently breaking into the home market with products such as the Hydra Model-4, with four outlets, 2,400 watts at 20 amps continuous, surge protection up to 20,000 amps and a seven-element Venom noise filter.
Retail price: $700
Available at: Century Entertainment & Furnishings, 13055 Middletown Industrial Blvd., 253-6922
La-Z-Boy Matinee Seating
TV and La-Z-Boy recliners go hand-in-hand. With the Matinee collection, La-Z-Boy comfort is now available for home theaters. The reclining chairs and chaises feature pillowtops and built-in cupholders and snack trays. Seating for two — one manual single-arm recliner and one manual two-arm recliner — will set you back $1,400 (fabric) or $2,000 (leather). Add power footrests for $500-$600.
Available at: La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, 2921 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 671-0033, and 5100 Robbs Lane, 961-0090
D-BOX Motion Simulation
Imagine watching action-packed films like Star Wars or Jurassic Park from a seat that moves front/back, left/right and up/down with the movie’s action. Once found only at theme parks and arcades, motion simulators are now available for your home theater, thanks to D-BOX Technologies’ Quest integrated motion recliners. F/X motion codes are already available for more than 400 movies via CD-ROM or Internet for $250 a year. (And no, there are no XXX titles available!)
D-BOX controller retail price: $3,000
Available at:
Corrigan Home Systems, 2621 Holloway Road, 267-4604
Digital Lifestyles, 12336 Shelbyville Road, 489-9696
Ovation Audio & Video, 4600 Shelbyville Road, 894-8970
Sony 400-Disc ES Mega Changer With Control4 Home Theater Controller
Store your video collection and keep R-rated movies away from the kids with Sony’s 400-Disc ES Mega Changer video jukebox. For super-sized libraries, up to four changers can be networked. Add Control4’s Home Theater Controller and its DVD recognition software will catalog your collection, retrieve cover art from the Internet and allow you to select an evening’s entertainment by genre, director, actor, rating or alphabetical order without ever leaving your recliner. The controller also doubles as a universal remote.
Sony Mega Changer retail price: $800
Control4 Controller retail price: $800
Available at: The Tr/files/storyimages/Companies of Kentucky, 11216 Decimal Drive, 267-8313
Crestron Web Tablet
Home-automation innovator Crestron has moved universal remotes light years ahead with easy-to-use touchpanels. These computer displays not only control your home theater, but also your security and heating/cooling systems, lights, audio, sprinklers, and even open and close the drapes. Embedded in Crestron’s 10.4-inch wireless Web tablet are PC applications, so multitaskers can surf the net and check their e-mail while viewing their favorite shows — something Americans 18-49 spent an average of 300 minutes a week doing in 2004, according to Universal McCann’s Media in Mind survey.
Retail price: $3,800
Docking station/charger: $500
Programming: $600-$2,000
Available at: Digital Lifestyles, 12336 Shelbyville Road,
489-9696
