On February 25, 2003, Capitol Records will release the Beach Boys classic, Pet Sounds, on DVD-Audio (plays on all DVD players). This is the first time you will be able to get the complete album in stereo, mono and 5.1 surround sound.

The disc will play five different ways: Advanced Resolution Surround, Advanced Resolution Stereo, Advanced Resolution Mono, DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and DVD-Video Compatible Dolby Digital 5.1.

The new DVD includes the original 13 tracks plus seven bonus tracks, sessionography, track-by-track notes, liner notes by noted Beach Boys author David Leaf, discography, and photo galleries along with a Pet Sounds promo film (featuring three songs from the album). The record has been produced and engineered by Grammy-winning producer Mark Linett, who has engineered and co-produced the entire catalog of Beach Boys Capitol-era CD releases including the landmark Good Vibrations and The Pet Sounds Sessions box sets.

Logitech Z-680 First THX Certified Speaker System to Simultaneously Connect to and Play from PCs, Video Game Consoles, DVD and Portable Audio Players

Logitech has announced the flagship 5.1 speaker system in its award winning Z-Series family, the Logitech Z-680. The Z-680 comes equipped with Dolby® Digital and DTS® hardware decoding for true 5.1 digital sound. These speakers make it possible to bring THX-certified home theater surround sound to multiple platforms, by enabling simultaneous use with PCs, video game consoles, DVD players and portable audio players. The Z-680 offers tremendous value, and is currently available in retail outlets, and online at Logitech’s Web site, for a retail price of $399.95.

The Z-680 is a THX-certified, 5.1-surround sound system with 450 watts of RMS power. Its high-end features include:

• Eight-inch, long throw subwoofer driver with a flared bass port for powerful, distortion-free bass
• Dolby® Pro Logic II for creating realistic 5.1 surround sound from stereo music, movies and games
• Digital optical and coaxial inputs, as well as six channel analog inputs, for simple connection to nearly any audio device
• Digital SoundTouchTM Control Center with a wireless remote, for easy adjustment of the speaker controls from anywhere in the room

“Last year, with the introduction of the Z-Series speakers, Logitech established itself as a top player in the multimedia speaker market,” said Bob Wick, senior vice president and general manager of Logitech’s Audio Division. “This year we plan to raise the bar for high-end multimedia speakers, with the introduction of the Z-680. This 5.1 system will surpass the competition by offering a single system that is THX-certified, includes Dolby Digital and DTS hardware decoding, and simultaneously connects to four different audio sources. The extraordinary power this system brings to both the desktop and the living room will revolutionize the multimedia speaker market.”

THX certification involves rigorous testing of sound performance, user interface and construction. With the launch of its second THX-certified speaker, Logitech is underscoring its commitment to providing superior clarity and power in a multimedia sound system. “We are extremely pleased with Logitech’s entry into the 5.1 speaker market with the Z-680 speaker system,” said Mark Paddack, director of sales for THX. “All speakers that receive THX certification must meet stringent performance parameters, including: bandwidth, frequency balance, peak sound pressure levels and the ability to play up to their rated output level. The Z-680 exceeded all requirements, and has received the THX seal of approval.”

Logitech plans to continue its successful Z-Series speaker line, by offering a wide variety of products to meet varying consumer needs and budgets. The Z-680 is the company’s current flagship 5.1 speaker system. Earlier, this fall, Logitech introduced another 5.1 speaker system, the Logitech Z-640. The Z-640 provides over 50 watts of RMS surround sound power, and includes adapters for instant connectivity to game consoles, TVs, DVD and CD players. These speakers let users experience Dolby Digital 5.1 sound in conjunction with a PC sound card or software DVD player with a built in Dolby Digital decoder. Using the adapter that is provided with the system, the Z-640’s provide immersive 5.1 surround sound with gaming consoles, TVs, DVD and CD players. The Z-640 uses Logitech’s patented dual-chambered Pressure Driver subwoofer, which enables lower and louder bass sound than conventional subwoofers for rich deep bass and greater tonal purity. This speaker system is currently available online and in retail outlets for a list price of $99.95.

Logitech’s Z-Series speakers are known for industrial design quality, and the ability to bring a home theater feeling to the desktop. The Z-680 and Z-640 speaker system satellites feature innovative stands that rotate for either desk or wall mounting. The Z-680 includes removable grill covers that can be detached to create the more aggressive, “audio-tech” look of the aluminum phase plug drivers. Both speaker systems utilize home stereo style connectors and standard gauge speaker wire.

About Logitech

Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal interface products that enable people to effectively work, play, and communicate in the digital world. The Company’s product family includes Internet video cameras, mice and trackballs, keyboards, headsets and speakers, interactive gaming devices and 3D controllers.

With operational headquarters through its U.S. subsidiary in Fremont, California, and regional headquarters through local subsidiaries in Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded in Switzerland on the Swiss Stock Exchange under the symbols LOGN and LOGZ, and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Just when you thought Jukebox technology could not go any further, Archos got seriously retro with the launch of a petite personal MP3 player/recorder with built-in FM radio, the ONDIO.

Containing 128MB of solid state memory with smart card slot to increase capacity, the ONDIO supports up to three hours of MP3 playback (at CD quality) and adds two unique features to the functions of its big brothers in the Archos Jukebox Recorder series.

• built-in FM radio
• 30-second retro recording buffer

Not only can you listen to your favorite radio station and MP3 music, you can also record/encode MP3 from any audio source, or from the integrated FM radio itself, while on the move!

The ONDIO gives the freedom to capture any track, clip or quote from the radio with a simple push of a button. The user can also retro-record 30 seconds before the button is pushed, as well as front-end edit the file on the first playback (records up to 3 hours with 96 kbits/s).

As with all Archos products, these recorded files can be dragged and dropped onto/from the computer via the supplied USB connector, and can be e-mailed to friends.

At a tiny size (3-1/4 x 2 x 1 inches), this dynamic little player’s futuristic design is eye catching.

The ONDIO is the first product in the Archos range of personal entertainment systems to utilize “Flash” memory and offer memory expansion by incorporating a slot for Multimedia cards.

The ONDIO also includes the following functionalities:

• Store 2 hours minimum of music MP3 in quality CD (from a computer or directly off the FM tuner and other analog audio source)
• Use the integrated microphone to turn it into a dictating machine (capacity of over 4 hours vocal recording)
• Transport data by storing them on the 128 memory Flash (USB 1.1 interface)
• Multiplatform — compatible with Mac or PC
• Hot swappable (the computer immediately sees the ONDIO as another drive without the need to re-boot)
• Simple to use menu
• LCD screen

The new Archos ONDIO is available for an MSRP of $179.95. Additional information is available from Archos Technology, 3 Goodyear, Unit A, Irvine, Calif. 92618, visit the Web site, or call 949-609-1400.

About Archos Technology

Archos Technology, based in Irvine, Calif., the U.S. division of Archos SA, Paris, France, has designed and manufactured peripherals for notebook and desktop computers since 1988. Archos products include mobile solutions for professionals on the move, such as the Jukebox Multimedia 20, Jukebox 20 Recorder, Jukebox Studio 20 player, Cesar CDRW/WPM, MiniDVD, MiniHD and the FireHD. Archos products are lightweight and multiplatform, easily moveable from PC to Mac.

Archos engineers are continuously creating new standards by Thinking Smaller. New Products build on the success of current and earlier models such as the Archos Jukebox 6000 player, which was awarded the Retailvision Best Products Peripheral award, the Product Excellence Award from the French magazine, PC Achat, the Silver Award from PCHome, and the 5-Star Award from MP3.com.

Aspire Digital’s AD-6000 is a DVD-Audio/DVD-Video player that makes the best and latest in digital technologies available to consumers at a value price. The AD-6000 player delivers superior-quality playback from a multitude of media, including DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, CD, MP3 and Kodak Picture CD, all for an MSRP of only $179.00. Aspire Digital specializes in manufacturing high-quality consumer electronics products, and making them available at very affordable prices.

Progressive Scan, Dolby 5.1 audio output, Dolby Digital AC-3 decoder and DTS digital audio output combine to provide expansive sound and crisp images.

The unit includes 4:3/16:9 display conversion, as well as parental lock settings. The AD-6000 includes both NTSC and PAL formats for worldwide compatibility. Optical outputs are provided for higher speed digital processing . Coaxial outputs are also included for compatibility with all amplifiers.

The player’s sleek design, brushed-aluminum finish, bright display and compact footprint make it an attractive addition to any home theater cabinet.

The AD-6000 will be available in December 2002 at an MSRP of $179.00 at Tiger Direct, Technobrands, B&H Photo, and the Aspire Digital Web site.

AudioWorld Rating:

Got Streams if You Want ‘Em

If your reason for searching music on the Web is to check out some new sounds and artists, and listen to the music you like while you’re at your PC, Listen.com’s Rhapsody has you covered.

The subscription service has a good, wide-ranging selection of material from more than 50 labels, including three of the five “majors” (EMI, Warner Music and BMG), plus independents like Virgin, GNP Crescendo, and Naxos. If you’re looking for files you can download and transfer to CD or to a portable MP3 player, look elsewhere: Rhapsody offers online streaming only.

As a search and discovery service, Rhapsody is a winner. You access the database through the Rhapsody browser, an application you download and install on your Windows PC (Mac and Linux users need not apply). The browser is set up to provide ready access to a variety of search and browse functions. It incorporates a Windows Media player that integrates audio playback seamlessly with both the search environment and a database of music and artist info supplied by Muze.

You can search by artist name, track title, album title and composer. Results include both content available through Rhapsody (linked and highlighted in blue), and information about other tracks and material not available for streaming. When you are listening to a selection, either via on-demand or radio-style streaming, the player shows links to the performer’s main information page, and to the specific album page, so you have quick access to further exploration.

Rhapsody’s search and browse interface is elegant, logical and provides useful results quickly. It also integrates the track data with additional background information, and the music itself, in an intuitive way that takes the experience of searching for music online to a new level.

As for audio performance, what you get here is near-CD quality, the best streaming performance available within Microsoft’s Windows Media (WMA) environment. It’s perfectly adequate for casual listening, especially when it’s tied to playback on your home computer – but for serious listening I’d rather have the CD.

Now what the service needs is about ten times as much content (currently around 100,000 tracks), the right to burn CD’s or transfer files to portable players, and higher quality audio performance (maybe use Liquid Audio infrastructure instead of WMA?), and we might have a service worth subscribing to.