0310wv08 accessories

15/8/2003

10:11 am

Page 105

accessories

Speaker stands

89 PER PAIR

Freeview adaptor
Alphason Designs Aragon AG50-s
These chunky, funky silver stands from the Aragon range are a treat for the eyes and ears. Theyre designed with sound quality in mind, boasting a weighted, shaped base with mineral aggregate filling to provide a solid platform. Adjustable top-plate cones isolate the speaker and reduce the transmission of unwanted vibrations through the stand to the floor. Conical spiked feet fit discreetly into the base and the stands also feature Alphasons unique Cable Tidy channel built into the main column to hide unsightly cables. In short, theyre everything you need from a speaker stand. They will certainly add a touch of class to any room.

Thomson DTI-550

Contact
Alphason Designs www.alphasondesigns.com

Verdict

OVERALL.77777

QED Qunex OT

This optical digital audio interconnect will set you back 30, the kind of price that wont break the bank but almost guarantees solid build quality and performance. It can be used to connect a DVD player to a multichannel amplifier and carry raw Dolby Digital and DTS bitstreams. The signal is carried along the cable using fibre optics, as opposed to the electrical type of digital audio connection. Qunex OT boasts a medical grade fibre-optic core, polished at both ends for maximum light-signal transfer. Its shrouded in a durable, flexible metallic graphite-grey PVC jacket and at each end is a precision moulded plug with a spring-loaded tip and zinc-plated barrel. In other words, the build quality is magnificent. In use, the Qunex OT is flawless digital DVD soundtracks are conveyed superbly with a lack of unwanted noise or interference. A top class cable for those who care about sound quality.

QED www.qed.co.uk

The DTI-550 is the second digital terrestrial receiver from Thomson and acts as a companion to its first effort, the DTI-1000. This cheaper version is better suited to a second TV for viewing only, as many crucial features have been stripped away. The most obvious omission is the second Scart socket. This makes it impossible to simultaneously connect to a VCR and TV. Even more galling is that the provided Scart is not RGB-capable. Youll have to settle for inferior composite video, which could have consequences on a large-screen TV. Also, theres no RF modulator, so you cant watch digital channels on a TV with no Scart. Neither are there audio outputs for connection to a hi-fi or AV receiver. Inside are all the basic digital receiver tricks: auto tuning, favourites lists and access to MHEG digital text and interactive services. Theres also a choice of display options for 4:3 TVs. More unusual is the timer. This automatically switches to a pre-selected channel at a programmed time and will even start your VCR recording by sending Scart pin 8 high (if your VCR supports this function). Theres an onscreen banner that provides information about the current and subsequent programmes, as well as a fullscreen guide that places live TV in a small box with relevant programme information below. The well-labelled remote and logical onscreen menus make it easy to use. The menu design is the same as previous Thomson/Grundig receivers not a patch on Nokias navibars or Samsungs jazzy OSD. The DTI-550 is quick in operation, calling up teletext
pages with minimal hesitation and swapping channels with only a brief pause. However, picture quality is nowhere near as good as rival digiboxes, as the composite images suffer from edge tizzing and less vibrant colours than RGB. Theres also a strange intermittent juddering effect, which becomes distracting after a while. Recent receivers from Nokia and Samsung (both reviewed in the September 2003 issue) are similarly stripped down in terms of socketry, but both still provide RGB output. Granted, both sell for 20 more than the DTI-550, but its a small price to pay for best-quality pictures and a better user interface. Not even Thomsons timer function can redeem the DTI-550, as its intended for use with a VCR and theres only one Scart output. Disappointing s

Specification

FEATURES 10-event timer with VCR trigger; autotuning; letterbox, centre cut-out and full frame picture modes; programme information banner and TV guide; digital text and interactive access; favourite list; parental control SOCKETS 1 x RGB Scart; RF in; RF loopthrough DIMENSIONS: 252(w) x 43(h) x 153(d) mm WEIGHT: 0.7kg CONTACT www.thomson-europe.com

Verdict 77777

Under specified and not the best performance
October 2003 s WHAT VIDEO WIDESCREEN ENTERTAINMENT